The next wrinkle in the unfolding story of the X-Men is all about the newest mutant power: unlimited resurrection. Polygon can exclusively announce the next book to join Marvel’s expanding X-Men slate is X-Factor, and partly about the Five, a group of characters whose powers combine to create the miracle of mutant immortality.
But it’s mostly about a new team of Krakoan operatives, comprised of the speedy Northstar, one of Marvel’s earliest openly queer characters; the all-seeing Eye Boy; the telepathic Rachel Grey; the polymath Prodigy; the magnetic Polaris; and Daken, Wolverine’s disaster son. They are X-Factor, and their job is to investigate and confirm mutant deaths — but not to avenge them.
That’s because the Five resurrect a mutant by creating a new body for them, and telepathically implanting a backup of their mind and personality. In the new series, X-Factor will hunt down missing mutants to confirm their deaths, so that the Five never run the risk of creating a duplicate of a living mutant — because that’s a big no no.
Also it is a really clever way to be An X-Factor Book by having a classic member in Polaris and being built around investigations, but still having a decidedly Krakoan spin on things due to the nature of the investigations.
It is really impressive how well each X-Book has carved out its own corner of the Krakoan Premise to explore
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StraightziHere we may reign secure, and in my choice,To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered Userregular
I'm excited about loose cannon cop Daken
At first I wasn't sure if he really fit the team, but with the whole premise being based around them not avenging these deaths
He has very vaguely defined pheromone powers like Spider-Woman and while it is definitely....squicky (but also, sadly, common in comics) I don't know of any straight up rape or anything.
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StraightziHere we may reign secure, and in my choice,To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered Userregular
I don't think rapist, although he does have pheromone control powers which certainly doesn't help his case there
There are a LOT of bad people on Krakoa. Dakken doesn’t even make a blip.
General Amnesty baybee!
Its actually kinda neat to see who is making a genuine effort to be better (Pyro), who is discovering that they enjoy Krakoan life more than their previous life so they don't want to rock the boat but are still pretty fuckin gnarly (Gorgon) and who are just not even trying to change and are giant shitbirds (Apocalypse).
That is an interesting line up for X-Factor and it will be neat to get more insight into the 5 and what they're like after essentially becoming mutant Jesus's.
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
That's the whole point of it! They are finally playing by Humanity's rules and being better at it than them while trying to better the world in the process!
Hickman said that every time someone tells him he is being too harsh to humanity and the state of the world he reads the news and decides to double down because everything is fuckin broken!
I think there are loads of Good Krakoan characters and that their end goals are absolutely better for the world (Magneto straight up says they are gonna take as many platforms of power and influence away from bigots as they can, because you can't get rid of hate but you can sure as hell take away its tools).
Their methods are...less overtly good, but they are not any worse or less realistic than any other real nation on the Earth and not worth writing them off.
Like, could they just give away all of their magic medications to help the world? Sure, yeah, that would be very kind.
But they wouldn't gain anything from it and as a nation composed of an actively hated and discriminated against minority, holding leverage in the discussions of Power is maybe the most important thing in the world and something they need if they are going to change it.
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
What I really like about Krakoa is that it’s the logical “extreme” of Magneto’s ideology.
Moreso than even Astroid M.
He fought for all mutants, in his own mind, even the ones fighting him. And now there is a country for ALL mutants, even the monsters.
Hell I think this even fits him better than Astroid M. M was a “ fuck it we’re leaving” type of move, which is slightly out of character for him.
Krakoa is a statement. “We WILL participate in this society and we WILL have a place whether you like it or not because this is our earth too, and we will do everything in our power to make it so”.
I'm imagining this person maybe just phrased the question weird
But a trans mutant coming back to life as their "real gender" is a really touchy and complicated subject and I'm not really sure I trust marvel to do that right
It is less Marvel I trust and more Leah Williams who is a very, very vocal trans (and LGBTQ folks in general) ally and has talked about speaking with trans folks to handle issues correctly in the past
Additionally, every trans person has their own views on the issue. That twitter person may have phrased it wrong but if, like, I was given the choice of trading in my current body for one I feel comfortable in from the jump versus having to take daily hormones and maybe surgery to feel more at home in my own skin
I would not hesitate for a moment.
I think it is a fair angle to explore, especially given how basically non-existent trans stories are in superhero books
It is less Marvel I trust and more Leah Williams who is a very, very vocal trans (and LGBTQ folks in general) ally and has talked about speaking with trans folks to handle issues correctly in the past
Additionally, every trans person has their own views on the issue. That twitter person may have phrased it wrong but if, like, I was given the choice of trading in my current body for one I feel comfortable in from the jump versus having to take daily hormones and maybe surgery to feel more at home in my own skin
I would not hesitate for a moment
I didn't really know anything about Leah Williams, that is very good to hear!
The idea of having to suffer to be your true identity is harmful and toxic as shit.
If there was magic handwave bullshit that addressed gender identity issues, fuck anyone who would talk down to or demonize anyone willing to take that road.
The idea of having to suffer to be your true identity is harmful and toxic as shit.
If there was magic handwave bullshit that addressed gender identity issues, fuck anyone who would talk down to or demonize anyone willing to take that road.
She is part of the self-described "trash queer squad" at Marvel with Vita Ayala and Tini Howard.
She is...hit or miss, writing wise. I think her more dramatic stuff hits pretty well and she can do some good goofs but when she goes for Full Comedy it is basically poison to me.
Rachel is only slightly behind Kitty Pryde in terms of female characters with a ton of queer subtext that have never been acknowledged as canonically not straight
Honestly with Ilyana being confirmed to be queer, Kate and Emma having an EXTREMELY gay scene in the latest Marauders and the very heavy hints at the Logan/Scott/Jean poly thing
I am really hoping this is just the Queerest X-Era ever
Also, specifically, give me Kate and Ilyana GODDAMMIT
Posts
https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2020/1/13/21060674/marvel-comics-new-x-men-series-x-factor-leah-williams
Sadly a huge amount for a Big 2 superbook
It is really impressive how well each X-Book has carved out its own corner of the Krakoan Premise to explore
At first I wasn't sure if he really fit the team, but with the whole premise being based around them not avenging these deaths
Man he's just gonna fuck that up all the time
isn't dakken like, a rapist murderer
Or has some stuff changed
Uh
A lot of X-Characters
Rapist, no
He has very vaguely defined pheromone powers like Spider-Woman and while it is definitely....squicky (but also, sadly, common in comics) I don't know of any straight up rape or anything.
Its actually kinda neat to see who is making a genuine effort to be better (Pyro), who is discovering that they enjoy Krakoan life more than their previous life so they don't want to rock the boat but are still pretty fuckin gnarly (Gorgon) and who are just not even trying to change and are giant shitbirds (Apocalypse).
That's the whole point of it! They are finally playing by Humanity's rules and being better at it than them while trying to better the world in the process!
Hickman said that every time someone tells him he is being too harsh to humanity and the state of the world he reads the news and decides to double down because everything is fuckin broken!
Krakoa shouldn’t be a nation of absolutely perfect great people because that’s not how real life works.
And man if you’re gonna write off Krakoa for some bads uhhh...
(I’m not saying you are @Fencingsax by the way. Your comment just hit a button that I think Hickman’s X-Men are doing a real good job portraying.)
Apocalypse is officially Mitch McConnell in my head now.
https://www.paypal.me/hobnailtaylor
Their methods are...less overtly good, but they are not any worse or less realistic than any other real nation on the Earth and not worth writing them off.
Like, could they just give away all of their magic medications to help the world? Sure, yeah, that would be very kind.
But they wouldn't gain anything from it and as a nation composed of an actively hated and discriminated against minority, holding leverage in the discussions of Power is maybe the most important thing in the world and something they need if they are going to change it.
The Marvel Universe is mostly populated by people like Thaddeus Ross.
Moreso than even Astroid M.
He fought for all mutants, in his own mind, even the ones fighting him. And now there is a country for ALL mutants, even the monsters.
Hell I think this even fits him better than Astroid M. M was a “ fuck it we’re leaving” type of move, which is slightly out of character for him.
Krakoa is a statement. “We WILL participate in this society and we WILL have a place whether you like it or not because this is our earth too, and we will do everything in our power to make it so”.
hmm
I am not trans but
You ARE the gender you identify as
I'm imagining this person maybe just phrased the question weird
But a trans mutant coming back to life as their "real gender" is a really touchy and complicated subject and I'm not really sure I trust marvel to do that right
Additionally, every trans person has their own views on the issue. That twitter person may have phrased it wrong but if, like, I was given the choice of trading in my current body for one I feel comfortable in from the jump versus having to take daily hormones and maybe surgery to feel more at home in my own skin
I would not hesitate for a moment.
I think it is a fair angle to explore, especially given how basically non-existent trans stories are in superhero books
I didn't really know anything about Leah Williams, that is very good to hear!
If there was magic handwave bullshit that addressed gender identity issues, fuck anyone who would talk down to or demonize anyone willing to take that road.
Thats super not what I was saying!
She is...hit or miss, writing wise. I think her more dramatic stuff hits pretty well and she can do some good goofs but when she goes for Full Comedy it is basically poison to me.
I’m moreso going at the idea itself possibly happening, which I feel would 100% be a thing.
If anybody would push hard for that, it's her
What’s this now?
Kate, Rachel and Ilyana have had a subtextual thing going on for a vary long time.
I am really hoping this is just the Queerest X-Era ever
Also, specifically, give me Kate and Ilyana GODDAMMIT