|
|
|
X-Factor #10
Book Released: 30 August 2006
Posted 12 September 2006
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Renato Arlem & Roy Allen Martinez
Colors: Jose Villarubia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
4.00 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Calen Cross
|
|
There has been a lot of chatter about the art in this series, that the changes have been detrimental to the story. I
could not disagree more. This series is great. I am unable to buy many comics, so I have to be very discriminating, and
X-Factor is a mainstay on my list!
X-Factor #10 is no disappointment. The art is quite good, with Renato Arlem and Roy Allen Martinez keeping the
tone that has been set forth in previous issues. It reminds me of Alex Maleev on Daredevil, with detailed characters
and washed-out backgrounds. The characters look good, too, with great facial expressions that help further the story and show
their depth as humans — I mean mutants. I must also give Jose Villarubia his due, for his colors complement the style
very well.
As for Peter David’s writing, it is as good as it ever has been. David captured my interest long ago, with
Spider-Man 2099, and he has only gotten consistently better since.
The dialogue, in this issue especially, is witty and made me laugh out loud a couple of times. He has taken the only good
thing to come from House of M — Layla Miller, the girl who “knows stuff” — and made her an
integral part of an intriguing story. Layla really shines in this issue; the way she makes Jamie Madrox uncomfortable makes
me giddy.
Despite the light tone in parts of the story, it is also very dark and gritty, which is good, because Mutant Town does
not seem to be a place of joy and prosperity, nor does the story. The characters are dealing with some major issues: loss of
power, bad influences, and betrayal on multiple fronts.
This issue is so good in part because the mystery of Singularity and Tripp grows and a great twist lurks near the end.
This reminds me of another reason I love this series — the unexpected twists happen with great regularity. All-in-all,
X-Factor #10 was great, especially after we had to deal with the nonsense that is Civil War in the last two
issues. It seemed a little out of place, and now we get back to the point. Thank goodness!
For more on X-Factor, see Adam’s thoughts over in Variant Coverage.
—CCdC—
Cover image used without explicit permission in accordance with the "Fair Use" provision of US copyright law.
|
|
