X-Factor #102: Polaris and Random

 

Comicsfan commented on my comparisons among Marvel's X-Teams of the 90's in my last post on X-Factor #100, comparing then newcomer Random to Wolverine. Like Wolvie regards Cyclops' leadership, Random defies Havok's principled approach, standing just outside the group dynamic. I was thinking about Lobo's similar dress, but Comicsfan is right. To further illustrate, Random has a painfully obvious attraction to Havok's girl Polaris, not unlike Wolverine has to the X-Men's Jean Grey.

 

X-Factor #102, "The Polaris Plot", 1994

 

 Initially hired by the government to test Lorna's abilities, the mercenary is refused payment for failing to kill her. Disenchanted with his ex-employer, Random is bribed by Forge to expose their dark machinations and join forces against them. after X-Factor exposes Colonel Malone's secret plans to brainwash Polaris to use her like a weapon against Magneto any other threat. Lorna felt Random held back in his initial attack on her, and her female instincts weren't wrong- he was definitely sweet on Lorna  :D  He tries to be cool dropping her off at the airport, claiming he did it all for the money and the car, but Lorna knows there is more to his tough guy front than Random will reveal....

 

 

I enjoyed Jan Duursema's drawing in this issue, particularly in the splash page at the top of this post where Polaris & Random take on Col. Malone's goons, Avalanche & The Commando! Jan (wife to fellow comic book artist Tom Mandrake) is an artist I was unaware of, now two years into my rediscovery of comics as an adult, ironically having read way more comics now than during my entire youth. There is of course more to issue #102, which you will have to seek out yourself- the purpose of this post was merely to share the dynamic between these characters I found interesting, come to terms with my own fascination with green-haired comic book vixens, and scan that killer battle scene for you little weirdos  ;D

 

*See my posts on ToyBiz's 10" Deluxe Polaris action figure from 1997, and Diamond Select's MiniMate Polaris!

 

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X-Factor #100: the Death of Multiple Man?!

 

Sure, this X-Factor #100 from March of  '94 has the flashy foil embossed cover, a not so subtle sign of the type of hubris prevalent during this time, but I like it  :)  I've enjoyed reading the thirty of so issues of  X-Factor spanning from 1986 to '96 I picked up this summer. The 90's team with Havok, Polaris, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, & Multiple Man is both like X-Force and the X-Men. Alex fits the role of reluctant young leader that X-Force's Sam Guthrie was at the time, and shares his principled sense of responsibility (not unlike Alex's brother Scott, leader of the X-Men for that matter). Feral and Wolfsbane share obvious comparisons of course, Strong Guy shares physical might & comic relief with Beast, and Alex & Lorna share a similarly dysfunctional love that Scott & Jean do. Hey, why not publish another X-Book since the others seem to be making so much money, right- who could blame Marvel? Who else could replace all the original team members in a book and still be able to sell it- maybe that's what X-Factor needed, not unlike Len Wein & Dave Cockrum's 1975 revitalization of the X-Men with Giant-Size X-Men #1.

 

 

Haven was the best-selling author of a book about the new humanity that would be the result of humans and mutants evolving into one race. However, her true goal was to bring about this change by destroying three-quarters of the world in a Mahapralaya, or 'Great Destruction', as foretold in her Hindu teachings. In spite of X-Factor's opposition, Haven was able to sway Wolfsbane by curing her of the genetic engineering that had turned her into a mindless Genoshan mutate, allowing her to once again assume human form. Havok insisted the confused girl rejoin ranks, and when she refused all hell broke loose. After Haven sends the team into an interdimensional limbo in attempt to bend their will, X-Factor comes back slugging. Insiders Monsoon and Valerie Cooper alert the team to Haven's satellite, which only Havok & Polaris' combined powers at full tilt can eliminate, foiling her fanatical plan. SsshhaaaKOOM!

  

 

A final ploy to make X-Factor accept her maniacal delusions, Haven brings a deathly ill Jamie Madrox before them, revealing his until then hidden infection by the Legacy Virus- the viroid and was released by Stryfe which targets organism's mutant gene sequence. Something goes wrong however, and to the shock of both Haven and his teammates, our troubled hero dies ...!

 

 

As we all know, even a nasty case of death rarely keeps a Marvel hero down, and it would later be discovered that Madrox escaped the Virus by containing it in one of his duplicates, the shock of its death causing Madrox to lose his memory. Jaimie would later be found by and rejoin X-Factor, until the team's disbanding after the apparent death of its leader, Havok. But that's another story  :D

(Sources: Wikipedia, Marvel.com, X-Factor #100 Vol.1)

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X-Factor #87, 1993

 I'd been reading assorted issues of X-Factor Vol.1 found in the dollar bins for some time now, up through where Havok, Polaris, Multiple Man, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy, and Quicksilver took over for Beast, Iceman, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Archangel in issue #71. This new X-team wasn't as popular as X-Force or the X-Men, but has some good writing, popular culture references, and interestingly conflicted members. In X-Factor #87, "X-aminations", the team is required by government agent Val Cooper to submit to a counseling after any mission the government deems "traumatic"- part of their occupational obligations to their employer. This made for a fascinating little issue...

Rhane (Wolfsbane) is the first to be analyzed, telling of her strange dreams, the doctor offering her sense of self seems absent in them, such as in her "Ren & Stimpy" dream where she and Feral are morphed into the 90's cartoon characters. Joe Quesada did a fun job aping the Spumco style on the penciling here! They go on to discuss her attraction to her authority figures, including Havok, and Rhane turns ugly when Reverend Craig is mentioned- the abusive pastor who tried to kill her, later revealed to be her biological father. Talk about issues!

Quicksilver is as obtuse and fascinating as ever, clamming up when confronted about his loner status among his team mates, if he feels affection toward any one of them. "None of your business." Finishing the doctor's puzzle during their talk, Pietro compares his loathe of everyone's seemingly sloth-like speed to the incompetence of watching someone who can't operate a cash machine. Now we can begin to understand why he's always crabby  :D  Guess it's all relative! 

Polaris tries to be cold, but can hardly contain her self esteem issues that seem to repel those who try to get inside, ironically contrary to her mutant power of magnetism. The appointment ends in tears, her broken relationship with Havok remained unresolved.

Guido (Strong Guy) tells of the horrific moment as a nerdy teen when he discovered his mutant ability to channel kinetic engergy into mass and power. He then confesses that his wise-cracking ways are to mask the constant agony suffered due to his mutation.

 Jaimie Madrox attributes his need for attention to a fear of being alone- an odd phobia for the duplicitous nature of someone called Multiple Man, who creates a duplicate before the doctor to illustrate sarcastically.

  

 Alex Summers' inability to let down his guard are compounded by the struggle to maintain control over his team are rooted in self comparison to his brother Cyclops.  Havok shares many characteristics with Cyclops, most noticeably his sometimes overly serious and/or moody nature.

 Lorna returns later to defiantly proclaim herself free of repression, dressed in a sexy new outfit underneath the overcoat she wore, taking her counselor by surprise...

Anxious to be validated, the antagonistic Val Cooper demands their counselor reveal their psycholigical flaws...

Confounded by the couselor's answer, that the group is refreshingly human, Valerie stroms out his office. As she laments his prognosis, the indignant agent ponders resignation from her post before  being captured by some tentacled monster, and the identity of the counselor is revealed to be Doc Samson! I was delighted by this surprise! I also liked how the story title was on this last page, the credits listed on the windows down the hallway of the facility- nice touch!

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Labor Day Weekend Haul

Some finds from around town during Labor Day weekend  :)   More assorted issues of X-Factor, both 80's and 90's team. Buy one, get one free from the dollar comics bins at V-Stock and one 64-page Annual from '89...

... and more graphic novels...

X-Force books 2 & 3, buy one get one free, $5.99, and X-Force: Sex & Violence hardback $11.99. Not the same team as the early 90's, a new version of X-Force was formed in 2007-2008 that had Wolverine leading a more militaristic black ops branch of the X-Men, Cylops delivering the assignments. These are pretty gritty, but the art and story in these art good- I enjoyed the first book, and the second was no disappointment. While on the subject of X-Force, I also found a double-sized 50th issue Special of Cable (Jan. 1998). I have a few issues of Cable from this period- the art is entertaining and I'm a huge fan of the character...

Two UNBELIEVABLE finds:  DC Direct Blackest Night Series 3 Arisia I got for about ten bucks after the sale markdown at V-Stock, and Green Lantern Series Batman as Green Lantern for $14.99 at Slackers! Both of these are hard to find at a reasonable price, going for upwards of sixty dollars or more on the secondary market. I have been obsessed over the Batman as Green Lantern for awhile, never having seen him in the wild until Saturday. So great!

Finding any of the last two or so waves of Marvel Universe around here has been a challenge! I found Psylocke about three months ago, and have been waiting to find Jubilee and Blastaar among others, but no dice until I wandered into Jennifer here at Wal-Mart. I love She-Hulk and was thrilled when she made the Hasbro 3 3/4" roster- awesome! That included "collectible comic shot" was a cheapass move though, Hasbro- where's my figure base?? They cost more now as well, which makes it additionally insulting *sigh* At any rate, I was happy to find her- she was the cherry on top of an already good three-day weekend  :)

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X-Factor MiniMates 4-pack

I've been reading a bunch of X-Factor I found in the dollar comics bin lately, so it's a good time to bust out this killer X-Factor MiniMates 4-pack! Having read a lot of X-Force and Uncanny X-Men from this era, it's only natural for me to have wandered over to this title starring the original X-Men. This unusual spinoff from the X-Men titles finds the original X-Men estranged from the current team due to their old nemesis Magneto taking Professor X's place as its leader. The five set up a business in New York posing as as mutant-hunters for hire, capturing and secretly training mutants to control their powers and blend into society. Realizing the error of this ruse and it's resulting escalation of mutant discrimination, the group came out to the public with it's true intentions. Wierd idea, but it ends up turning into another X-Men book ultimately, eventually introducing new characters/mutants, and pushing previously "B" characters to the front.

Not everyone's favorite costumes, I kinda like the crossed chest emblem stretching over the member's torsos in different colors, Cyclops done appropriately in blue and yellow for the beginning of this title back in 1986. I'd be willing to bet this is the least favorite and lesser known Cyclops outfit and the 90's outfit is the most popular. I'd also bet most people don't notice as much because the basic elements remain: yellow & blue/or black, some bandolier/chest emblem, and optic blast visor.

Original field commander of the X-Men, Scott Summers was the first young mutant recruited by Professor Xavier for tutelage of his special powers, away from growing persecution of the general public. The unknown "X-Gene" that caused Scott's mutant evolution is extremely dangerous, revealing itself in the form of powerful concussive beams that shoot from his eyes. This "optic blast" can only be controlled by ruby quartz, fused into either his special visor or sunglasses, revealed when removing this MiniMate's visor/mask. He also come with a hairpiece pictured below, Cyclops sporting the extra set of flesh tone hands included in this set.

Jean Grey, the original Marvel Girl, was killed during the seminal Dark Phoenix Saga in the late 70's, yet retconned in a sort of wishy-washy fashion (just sayin'!). It was decided that Jean Grey had never actually been the Phoenix, kept in a cocoon on the ocean floor while the Phoenix entity performed it's evil machinations under her guise. Marvel had to do away with Cyclops' wife in the process so the pair could fall in love again! All is fair in love & comics  :D

Jean kinda goes well with fellow mutants Polaris and Boomer, sharing the same yellow as Boomer, and green with Polaris... all color coordinated n' stuff. Girl Power!

I think a lot of fans were bummed about Beast returning to his more human features in the early X-Factor books, but I love this! Don't get me wrong: I'm a huge fan of the furry, blue version of Hank McCoy, but I loved those early Jack Kirby issues of X-Men. Beast's costume changes color later in the series, but it's not long before Marvel brought back Hank's blue fur. Marvel more recently started an X-Men reboot in the First Class title, Hank as a "more human" Beast like this, as Jack Kirby created him in 1963. I like this  :)

Like most all toy collectors, I am mysteriously drawn to translucent plastic. It just looks cool, and what better material to render Iceman from? The original version of the character looked like a snowman, shortly thereafter revamped as the icy, angular hero we know today. It seems odd he wears that metal inhibitor belt while the rest of his outfit takes on his icy form, but that's how Bobby Drake looked in in X-Factor, a result of Loki's trickery in attempt to overpower the Frost Giants. Iceman came with an ice structure arm accessory that looks good, but does not fit well over his arm with the hand removed or not. He looks perfect on the flight stand I got with mu Magneto/Zero MiniMate 2-pack!

I love this set! It would have been nice to have Archangel in the set, or the coveted X-Force Angel that has a large white on red X pattern on his chest matching the rest of the X-Factor costumes (included in a 2-pack with Warpath).  These may seem somewhat plain individually, but make a nice grouping of a somewhat odd, but ambitious period in X-Men history. I've enjoyed reading some of the earlier issues of X-Factor, and look forward to reading some more, including the 90's Version with Polaris, Havok, and Multiple Man.

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X-Factor Annual Vol.1, #2 1987

Franklin Richards is kidnapped by Quicksilver, under control of Maximus. His Power Pack teammates nearly save the day until Lockjaw appears, teleporting Quicksilver and the boy away. Blackbolt and the rest of the royal Attilan family on the moon are roped into the action, as the confused Quicksilver and evil Maximus' plans are carried out, and Power Pack looks to X-Factor for help. With Quicksilver, Lockjaw, Crystal, and Black Bolt under Maximus' mind control, X-Factor must assist the rest of the Inhumans in freeing the young Richards boy.

Power Pack is kind of a fruity idea for a superhero team- all kid mutants... little kids! There's a lot of them, family drama, and love tensions between Cylops & Marvel Girl in this annual, but I had to pick this up beacause a.) it's a GIANT SIZED annual  b.) it was a dollar  c.) the Inhumans are in it. Tom Grindberg and Joe Rubenstein drew and inked the issue with enough skill, but the layout is somewhat of a yawner to me- lots of small panels jammed with dialogue. Still, it was kinda fun to have X-Factor and the Inhumans in one issue  ;)

 I've picked up a few issues of X-Factor in the past, but have more recently picked up about thirty of so spanning from 1986 to '96, so you'll likely read more about that here later on. I'm unsure if this annual contributed to my delving further into X-Factor, or if it's just all the other Uncanny X-Men and X-Force issues I've read from this era, but it's been an ongoing thing for the last year I've enjoyed inbetween all the other stuff I've been reading. Read my post on X-Factor Annual #3: Evolutionary War, Part 1!

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X-Cutioner's Song

I meant to post about this three weeks ago, but I'm reading more than I really have time to write about lately, plus it's crunch-time for a big art show, involving 22 new canvases I've been working on since June. Really busy!

  

"X-Cutioner's Song" was a crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in twelve parts from late 1992 to early 1993, involving the Uncanny X-Men, X-Men (vol. 2), X-Factor, and X-Force titles. It was heavily hyped and priced higher than the other titles at the zenith of both the X-Men franchise and comics popularity, in general. A few of the issues I picked up were still polybagged with a special trading card, as the issues of this crossover were originally released, all part of the heavily hyped event that warranted a $.25 hike in price!

I'm not going to give you a plot summary or anything like that; good or bad, it's all been discussed.  But in a nutshell, Cable's nemesis (and clone) Stryfe, shoots Professor Xavier with a techno-organic virus. X-Factor & the X-men are out to bring Cable down, while X-Force try to find their framed leader & get to the bottom of what really happened. It is thought that Apocalypse might be behind the assassination attempt, who is awakened from his regenerative sleep to be informed of the situation. Mr. Sinister is then thought to be the mastermind behind Xavier's assassination attempt & the kidnapping of Cylops & Jean Grey, but he is merely a pawn in Stryfe's endgame: revenge on his (or Cable's?) parents for leaving him. In the end Cable must sacrifice himself to take out Stryfe, but we now know of course that Cable will return!

Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, & Whilce Portacio, the popular artist's of these books who had rocketed Marvel & it's X-books to the top only a year before, suddenly left to form their own company prior to the crossover event, leaving editor Bob Harras to scramble a new team together. I liked Greg Capullo's art in X-Force, as I did Andy Kubert, Jae Lee, & Brandon Peterson's penciling on X-Men, X-Force, & Uncanny X-Men respectively.

I've been reading X-Factor from issue #1 here in the last couple months or so, digging up the individual issues in the dollar comics bin, uncovering nearly every issue up to # 40. I missed all this back in the early 90's, so it was all new to me. 90's comics have a somewhat bad reputation for a reason: they're  over-the-top in every way,  filled with some of the ugliest costumes, most desperate marketing tactics, and worst, most melodramatic story ideas. But isn't that really describing comics history in general, has any one decade not suffered from the same at certain points? I'd be lying  if I said I haven't enjoyed most of what I've read. My enthusiasm is partly due to having just got back into comics in the last 15 months or so, certainly, but Cable & X-Force have been fun reading, action packed, with plot twists often enough to keep me interested throughout. Topless Robot justifiably claimed "X-Cutioner's Song" to be one of the 11 Most Essential X-Men trades only this past July, and while I'm somewhat of a newbie, I agree it was pretty great.

As stated above, I found at least two of these still polybagged with trading cards included. I mentioned before the comics boom of the 90's and the following crash crippling the industry as speculators tried to unload the extra copies & special editions that prosperous times had afforded.  The aftermath of this glut is still visible twenty years later, brand new copies like these so plentiful they can be bought for one dollar- fifty cents less than they were sold for on the date of publication...

A couple of the cards I received, the designs for which aren't that great, though I'm glad I got Stryfe & Apocalypse...

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