X-Factor #30

This isn't your typical x-men book. FACT!

How do you then categorise it?

I would say, great. This book is great. That works doesn't it?

This book has seen some change since messiah complex ended (you know that big x-men crossover thingy that was good but had 6 issues of filler in the middle). Since then we have lost one of my favourite characters from the book, Layla Miller and also that Irish wolf chick Rahne (who went into this shit book called x-force - why?). However the book still remains a good read without these characters and this issue is no exception.

I know a bit about x-men but I’ve never heard of this Arcade fella who has been the villain for the past couple of issues. And to me, he seems pretty lame, but I'll roll with it. Peter David writes Jamie Madrox fantastically and without Madrox this book would have dies on issue 1. Madrox drives the story forward and continues to do so in this issue, like me missing Layla Miller but saying ho hum work to be done and getting on with things.

The Art is good. Again not typical x-men art but great as it matches the tone of the story and the feel of the book which I think is important. This is an x-men book without being an x-men book. It makes me think of Star Trek the Next Generation when they went onto the holodeck into some gritty noir thing. This is a bunch of mutants stepping out of their reality and doing things a bit differently. Which like ive said already is great.

Issue 30 continues to focus on Arcade trying to kill the team (there’s a surprise) and Rictor continues to be a big part of the story (why when, Madrox is cooler). Its entertaining and drawn well. If you haven’t read this go and get the first trade and see what you think. If you wanted to jump in now you could but I'd wait until the arc finished (which I imagine is next issue).

Good things though and worth a read.