All-New X-Factor 2: Change of Decay

Love this version of X-Factor! Smart and funny writing with excellent artwork. This series makes me want to check out more comics written by Peter David.

Unfortunately, I heard news that this title will be cancelled in issue # 20. It's a pity, because Peter David is doing a fine job in X-Factor. The stories have a good mix of humor and action, and are really entertaining. I read most mutant titles, and this is certainly one of my favorite.

We got:- More Gambit in various states of undress (always fun)- Gambit loving on his cats (There was even an AMAZING panel where the cats acted as frolicking censor bars to cover some lady bits, which made me laugh for a year)- Quicksilver drama (also always fun)- Quicksilver loving his sisters, which I'm a BIG ol' sucker for (AND Quicksilver loving his daughter!)- Some delightful moments of snide Gamquick snark (not enough, though :( )- Lotsa snark and quips and sarcasm in general. This should be retitled "All New Sass-Factor"- ROBOT LOVE. CUTE ROBOT LOVE. ROBOTS IN HOODIES IN LOVE.- Very sexy supervillain costume. Seriously, that's a good design right there.- I'm just a fan of this art in general. Love me some angsty Quicksilver.BUTI had to take a star off, cuz the plot was kind of boring and predictable, and while I kinda liked Georgia (the new kid character introduced), in true comic fashion, she wasn't fleshed out enough and all her parental drama was vey rushed and soap opera-ey with a boring resolution. Also all that stuff with Snow/Linda/Angela (+Gambit) was 1. Boring, predictable, and soap opera-ey and 2. (big sigh)WHEN are they gonna figure out Snow is Not a Good Guy? IT'S NOT EXACTLY SUBTLE. LOOK AT HIS CHEEKBONES. THOSE ARE EVIL CHEEKBONES. HE'S GONNA STAB YOU WITH THEM.

When you’ve been reading superhero comics for decades, many of them start blurring together. It’s easy for creators and readers to settle for the usual supervillain challenges, where costumed, powered characters duke it out without much real-world connection. But after a while, when you’ve read more than your share of those stories, it all becomes familiar and boring. That’s why I was so surprised and pleased to see what Peter David was doing with the recent run of All-New X-Factor, beginning in issue #7 and running through #12, reprinted as Change of Decay.The X-Factor team — made up of leader Polaris, carefree Gambit (who for some reason is usually surrounded by cats), prickly Quicksilver, the robot Danger, Cypher (Doug Ramsey), and the alien robot Warlock — has gained corporate backing. They come across a video blog by the teenaged Georgia about how depressed she is about being home schooled and unable to see anyone. Her father runs an ultra-conservative news network that’s also anti-mutant, and his home is a desert bunker. The team debates whether they should “rescue” Georgia and how much their dislike of her father might be affecting their decision.This is fascinating, a premise with the possibility of true heroism but reaching far beyond the usual costumed good guy/bad guy violent dispute. David tackles universal themes, such as parent/child struggles during adolescence, with complex dialogue and detailed characterization. If a teenager wants out, how bad does the situation have to be for others to get involved? How much absolute power should a father have over his offspring? Does it matter if his ideas are bigoted and repellent? These are questions that have direct relation to the modern world, even outside the exaggerated superhero universe.Carmine Di Giandomenico’s art has a nicely European flavor that’s not afraid of detail or expression. His thin lines aren’t smooth or clean; they’ve got plenty of angles and edges, which feels more real-world. Plus, the covers, by Kris Anka and Jared Fletcher, are so distinctive and eye-catching, very nicely designed.The father’s militarization of his home allows for a certain amount of action and suspense, particularly once things quickly escalate out of control, but what kept me reading these issues was how real Georgia felt. She doesn’t realize what she’s caused, having a teenager’s self-obsessed “whatever, it’s all ok now” attitude and no sense of consequence. Part of that is a naiveté caused by her solitude. As the story progresses, we learn more about why dad has the two of them (and a private army) in such a secluded location.The character of Danger is new to me, but I really like such a straight-talking robot. My understanding is that she’s the former danger room computer turned walking personality. She feels at times like a modern incarnation of Marvin the Paranoid Android, but her plain expression of observations others have likely made at times reads as sarcastic. For example, when someone asks about what the school for mutants trains its students to do, Danger replies, “To fight evil mutants. And risk your life and possibly die. Sometimes repeatedly.” It doesn’t sound like such a great choice when put that way, but one can’t argue with the truth of it.Peter David does amazing work with outsider characters of this type, allowing comments on the overall dynamic that make the book more friendly to someone who hasn’t been living with the rest of the cast and other mutants for years. Danger reminds me of the previous great work he did with Layla Miller, an omniscient girl created as a crossover plot device to whom David gave real personality and purpose in the previous run of this series.It amazes me that, at this point in the fifty-year history of the mutants in Marvel comics, that someone can come up with something new to say about the problem, but by exploring in depth what it means to have a child who’s part of a tribe you despise, David has made the conflict fresh. It helps that he’s layered on the fraught complications of money, media, and power. I’m also very thankful that David, as the story progresses, remember that this child had a mother. So many stories about family struggles in the superhero comic genre act as though the father was the only important parent, as though his decisions are what the child is shaped by and/or rebels against, but remember, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” The mother is as or more important in most people’s lives.Over the six issues that make up this story, David continues throwing curveballs and cliffhangers at the reader, following up previous hints that turn the story in new directions that continue building the theme. Plus, there’s his trademark humor, livening up the fight sequences, as well as a good dollop of soap opera. Poor Warlock, as everyone asks if the human characters are doing ok but don’t seem to care about his wellbeing. And poor Gambit, who gets left behind as part of a grudge.The final, epilogue issue of this storyline, #12, gives the team a press conference and returns to the question of superheroes being proactive instead of reactive. The team took initiative, which started this whole sprawling conflict encounter, but it seems that that’s not going to be used as evidence that they should have waited for the fight to come to them. I’m glad. Continuing down this path, of seeking out ways to take positive action to make the world better, is a neat approach and a great way to set the team apart. Helps live up to the “all-new” branding, too. (Review originally posted at ComicsWorthReading.com.)

The humor and action continue from the previous graphic novel and the art is as strong as ever. Di Giandomenico's artwork shines in the action sequences, especially when drawing Quicksilver.Speaking of Quicksilver, he really takes over this book. David's writing of the "pouty speedster" takes the shine away from Gambit and the other members. There is a touching moment in the book when Pietro makes a statement about his half-sister Dorna... You'll have to read it to see it. Family is important to him, especially because his family was so messed up. Very few authors touch on that and David hit one out of the park here.I don't want to say much to hide the spoilers, but I highly recommend the book anyway. It reads like some of David's best work with action that sucks you in, humor that keeps you smirking, and a human element that really makes you feel for the characters.All-New X-Factor was gone WAY too soon. I'm actually upset at myself for not reading it when it first came out, but glad I can support the release through the graphic novels

A classic Peter David tale, with incredibly gorgeous art by Carmine DiGianDomenico. Each page is a blessing to look at. Characters are elegantly and finely handled as only David can, while plots are a bit too streched and thin, but still very entertaining.

Absolutely brilliant. Would definitely recommend, and Lorna will forever remain my favourite mutant <3

Vale só pelo trabalho de Giandomenico na arte. Um roteiro que para ser fraco teria de ser muito melhorado em todos os aspectos.

Carmin Di Giandomenico est l'un des meilleurs artistes de comic books de sa génération. Et le voir associer à l'un des meilleurs scénaristes de l'écurie Marvel, Peter David est un régal pour le lecteur qu je suis !FF