Much like X-Force, Cable, and Bishop, X-Factor is going to the future. Lots of interesting futurish developments with Madrox and Layla (I can’t tell you more or Peter David will torch my house and rape my kittens), while the past stays active and fun as well. 

I really enjoy Val Cooper’s place in this story.  Really, she hasn’t been written this well since the last David./X-Factor run.  She’s like a military approved Emma Frost without the diamond skin.

On the other hand, it’s been so long since I’ve read a decent story with Longshot in it, that I can’t even tell if he’s in character here.  But, wether in character or not, I’m enjoying the written portrayal of him.  I’m not enjoying the artistic portrayal.  The pencils on the face seem really off to me.  I don’t really like any of the faces in this month’s issue.  Apart from the pencils on Longshot, though, I feel as though the rest of the faces are done a disservice by the inking.  There’s a lot of well-thought out face acting in this issue that gets sort of muddled by oddly placed shadows.  I feel like there are several scenes in the book where there’s an unnecessary pole or waffle iron that’s off-camera, but inbetween the lighting and the action that’s taking place.  It’s unnecessary.  It’s not enough to take me out of the book, it’s just…not that great.