X-Factor #145 - "Phantoms"

Writer: Howard Mackie    Pencils: Duncan Rouleau and Trevor Scott    Inks: Jamie Mendoza and Scott Hanna

   Can someone tell me what is so great about Greystone? He seems a little tedious to me. Cute at first, but eventually tiresome. However there is hope for him yet, at least the end of the issue seems to give that inference. Archer and Fixx on the other hand seem ultimately more fascinating. Archer in particular. They're both grown up, and I got a kick out of seeming Archer mop the floor with Havok. The issue centers around the overused theme of killing the badguy before he becomes the badguy. Y'know the change the future riff. Well even if the plot was rather thin, it was interesting to see the X.U.E. interact with eachother. Basically Greystone goes to hunt down the kid who will become his mother's killer. Fixx joins him along the way, and Archer secretly follows them. Some type of demonic cult has kiddnapped little Micah, and are attempting to scar his face. Greystone goes ballistic and tries to kill him, thereby preventing the ritual scarring from happening (at least at that point in time). Fixx cuts in before the final blow can be delivered and councils Greystone to stop. They realize that without the scar, the kid will ultimately grow up differntly and may not become a mass murdering despot. On a side note, Archer is attempting to make ammends for Jude Black's past crimes and come to terms with his family. I definetly think this could be going somewhere quite interesting, and am eager to see how it plays out.

  Besides the Archer subplot, there wasn't anything that really interested me. It was nice to see each of the threesome gain individuality, but a little slow. Forge also showed up about halfway through, bearing a considerable grudge agains Alex for everything he's done. Frankly, that too seems a little bit skewed. Havok saved X-Factor from the government agents, and only a few issues ago Forge was chatting rather amiably with Havok. Seems like an excuse to get rid of Forge, and probably Polaris... which is a bad move. Rouleau's art wasn't as spectacular as last issue, and after he dropped out halfway through, it didn't get better. Still it was better than some I've seen. This issue was rather slow and basic, but still an okay read. Mildly recommended.

"And keep these psionic fairies out of my face... or I'll smoosh them! And you know how that gives you a headache!" - Greystone, X-Factor #145

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page