Review: X-Factor Issues #1 - 17 by Peter David and others.

Vol 1

Okay, so I'm going to start off honestly here - I am not up to date on the X-Men mythos. I'm sure I'm not alone. I've tried. I've really tried! But trying to wrap my head around all the information is like trying to cram a McGangBang into my mouth.

I mean, not only do you have over 50 years of storylines to get through, you've got characters dying, reappearing... having babies, flying in from different worlds... you've got people like damn Jean Gray having two characters in the series - and she's not the only one!
No matter which story I read, the characters are always referencing other plots that I know nothing about.

For an outsider, this universe of outsiders is damn hard to get into.


Cue: X-Factor.

As per the above, I wouldn't usually read an X-Men title because, simply, I never know what's going on. But, my friend brought up X-Factor in a discussion about the marketing hype of DC's new 52 relaunch (and the teaser of a gay character) and I thought it sounded alright and that I'd give it a go.

I'm glad I did.

This has probably been the most rookie-friendly title I've read from this universe. Yes - this is from the House of M universe, which is not the regular universe, but still...it feels like the start for me. A massive event happened in House of M - which I can summarise (hopefully correctly) as this:

A mutant (and witch) was working with the Avengers. She started using her

powers in new ways and her magic made her a bit cray cray. She attacked the avengers,

was defeated, lasped into a coma,

 and then was looked after by Magneto and her brother Quicksilver.

Quicksilver convinced her to alter reality. She did, making a reality where humans are the minority and mutants are ruled by Magneto.

Heroes find out. Heroes stop her.

She reverses the reality which in turn brings the mutant population from thousands to hundreds.

So this massive event has sort of hit the reset button in a way, because while the characters have previous storylines, they're still battling to understand the new world order. Which is great. Cause it means I can follow the story.

The series itself is led by protagonist Jamie Madrox - the recognisable Multiple Man. Jamie is running a detective agency in New York's Mutant Town - where the ex-mutants and few mutants left are holed up.

Alongside him are Guido (Strong Guy), brash Theresa Cassidy (Siryn, and Banshee's daughter) Rahne, snobby Monet St. Croix, a young girl named Layla Miller who knows stuff, and a ex-mutant named Rictor who opens the story by contemplating killing himself.

We quickly learn the world is in a state of unrest to put it nicely. There is division between mutants and ex-mutants, there is a division between humans and ex-mutants and of course, between humans and mutants.

Jamie is an interesting choice for a leader of this group, seeing as he is intensely indecisive - something highlighted by the fact his power is to create duplicates or "dupes" of himself upon any type of jarring physical contact, each dupe personifying a part of himself - and the situations that call for a steadfast course of action showcase his personal issues.

Jamie himself is both incredibly sad throughout the arc so far and subversely humourous at times. Peter David has really brought a depth to this character that surprised me.

Characters I thought I wouldn't enjoy spending time with grew on me surprisingly fast - Monet St Croix who is written as snobbily as Cordelia Chase in season one of Buffy became one of my favourites towards the end of the third collection, showing some heart and an ability to kick ass when the situation calls for it. (Hmmm actually, Cordelia Chase became my favourite in SEASON three... perhaps I like my bitchy characters in threes...)

Monet St Croix

The main antagonist of the story is the Singularity Investigations. By the end of the seventeenth issue I still have no idea who they are or why I should be against anything they do ... apart from the fact the characters are drawn more evilly and try to kill X-Factor employees.

There honestly isn't a big story arc in this series so far. Only hints. A lot of the time we are dealing with the effects of small plots; Siryn being kidnapped and beaten, trying to help the ex-mutants of Mutant Town or just Jaime getting drunk, accidently duping himself and sleeping with both M and Siryn ...

Jamie Madrox and Rictor discussing water levels

The main plot motion is created in the form of the young Layla Miller, who acts as a sort of soothsayer for the team.

And I don't mind. This really seems to be a character piece so far. Some poignant issues are raised, whether its Guido dealing with the fact he killed someone under hypnosis, or Jamie tracking down the dupes he sent into the world to learn (so he could absorb the knowledge when they returned) and unexpectedly finding one who had a family. Even though it's only a short storyline, it's handled really well and is thought provoking.

Siryn and M ... hugging shopping it out

As it is, I'd definitely read further and possibly back to the beginnings of the House of M story!



...Definitely one for the rookies.






Buy Vol 1 here:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/X-Factor-Longest-Night-v-1-Peter-David/9780785118176

Review: Canongate Myth Series, Books #1 - #3

Note: I'm not reviewing the content of any of The Myths today, just the external packaging.

The Myths is a long-term global publishing project where some of the world's most respected authors re-tell myths in a manner of their own choosing.

I was very excited when I first heard about this project from Scottish publishing house Canongate. Classic myths being retold in a contemporary way. Easily recognisable stories being handed to some of the best authors out there, so they can polish the meaning, breath new life into these ancient archtypes and make them accessible to modern audiences.

Awesome. And epic. This series only just started and it's planning to get to a century.

So of course I bought the hardcover box set, featured below. This set has the first three books; A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong, The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, Weight by Jeanette Winterson and also a small inclusion by Philip Pullman A Word or Two About Myth.

A Short History of Myth is more of an overview of myth in general, and what the myths we know today meant to different periods of our human history.

The Penelopiad Homer's Odyssey told from his wife's perspective

Weight The overlapping story of Atlas and Heracles, and a poignant take on the way Heracles tricked Atlas into taking back the world

The Myths!

So first we have the box, which is patterned with cave drawings, appropriately enough. There's also gold writing on the back, detailing the books, and the little Canongate Myths Symbol also in gold.
The box itself is made of thick board - not flimsy at all, I could probably rest my monitor on it.

The hardcovers each have decorative jackets. They look all the same inside the jackets.

I'm not sure if you can see the text, but the chapters are printed in a deep red. Some of the words in the foreward are also printed in the same deep red and the contents pages have the same theme... very pretty.



I bought the boxset and I'm more than pleased with it. The editions are of a high quality, some of the best editions i've seen in a while.


Just one last note: these books are more novellas, they do not take long to read, but they are worth it! Really recommend these, pick your favourite author up to see how they teach old dogs to play pianos.



Find out more about the myths series here:
http://www.themyths.co.uk/