Essential X-Factor

    (Marvel, 2005)
™ and ©2005 Marvel Characters, Inc.

In its first incarnation, X-Factor essentially reformed the original X-Men team from the 1960s: Cyclops, Jean Grey, The Beast, Angel, and Iceman. During their early adventures, X-Factor posed as mutant hunters for hire, allegedly helping rid the world of the mutant problem. In reality, their mission was to find troubled mutants and train them to use their powers safely and responsibly, as they themselves had been trained.

This volume reprints the team’s lead-in story from Avengers #262 and Fantastic Four #286, along with X-Factor #1-16 and Annual #1, Thor #373-374, and Power Pack #27. There’s plenty here to enjoy, from the resurrection of Jean Grey to the personal anguish of Scott Summers (He abandons his wife and child to rejoin the team.) to the introduction of Apocalypse. This is good, nuts-and-bolts super-hero entertainment with the unmistakable feel of canonical X-Men.

However, the original issues (complete with color and fan letters) are easy to find in their original forms at a low price, so the purchase of this bulky black and white volume is hardly essential.

— Brett Weiss

From the Publisher:

The death of Jean Grey redefined the X-Men, but her resurrection did nothing less! Recovered by the Avengers and revived by the Fantastic Four, Jean’s return regrouped her fellow founders into a supposed mutant-hunting unit that ferreted out some of mutantdom’s rising stars—including the devastating debut of the ancient evil everyone identifies as Apocalypse! With Mystique, the Morlocks, and the Master Mold! Featuring tie-ins to the infamous Mutant Massacre! Guest-starring Thor and Power Pack!
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