X-Lapsed, Episode 147 – X-Factor #6 (2021)
X-Lapsed, Episode One Hundred Forty Seven
X-Factor (vol.4) #6 (March, 2021)
“Suite No. 6: Scio Me Nihil Scire ‘Second Movement'”
Writer – Leah Williams
Art – David Baldeon
Colors – Israel Silva
Letters – VC’s Joe Caramagna
Design – Tom Muller
Head of X – Hickman
Edits – Ballesteros, Bissa, Thomas, White, Cebulski
Cover Price: $3.99
On-Sale: January 6, 2021
Why does Theresa Cassidy keep dying? Well, that’s what X-Factor’s going to have to find out… and it looks like getting those answers is going to be akin to pulling teeth for our heroes. There’s a LOT of food for thought dropped in this issue… and as such, we’ve got tons to blabber about!
Plus: Great Mailbag… annnnd —
— Since we’re getting so close to catching up to “real time”, I decided to take a dip into Marvel Previews to check out the X-Books shipping in April, 2021. We’ll probably be doing this once a month from this point on… lemme know what you think!
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@acecomics / @cosmictmill / weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
Reading a new issue of X-Factor is joyous. As you say they are producing what is in many ways a very traditional X-book but they are doing it in very creative ways. Leah Williams and David Baldeon are really playing with the comics page. Scenes like Eyeboy analysing the body or the lie detector results play with the juxtaposition of images and words in ways that would only work in comics and I love seeing that.
Giving every character their own moment in every issue is really adding texture to the book. So many X-books have tended to foreground one or two characters at a time but it is far more involving if everyone gets something to do. Everyone has a personality that is distinct from the others. You mention that even Amazing Baby gets a moment in the spotlight but I was more surprised to see Kyle (aka Mr Northstar) given some personality.
You rightfully single out David Baldeon's faces for praise. They're very stylised and in some ways generic but he expresses emotion so well. You always know what is going on.
The mystery around Siryn's death was really well told. I love the fact that the X-Factor Investigations plotlines are not forgotten and that Lorna's relationships from that era are key to her character. Just her reaction to Siryn being drunk is given so much meaning. Lorna is shocked and concerned for her friend. And all this is achieved without having to present a potted history on a text page.
I completely get your point about the idealistic young police woman versus the grizzled bigot. It is a cliche and there can be some value in challenging that or subverting such cliches. On the other hand the current biggest non-Covid news story in the UK is about male police officers attacking and murdering women when they are off duty so a bigoted middle-aged police man seems very on point from my perspective.
Anyway until I stop sniggering childishly at the concept of a Bush Bagel, Make Mine X-Lapsed!