While the X-Men's mission forces them to work outside the law, certain teams have found ways to fight for mutant rights within the system as officially sanctioned strike forces.
In the upcoming "From the Ashes" era, that tradition continues in a new volume of X-Factor from Eisner-winning writer Mark Russell (Fantastic Four: Life Story) and acclaimed X-Men artist Bob Quinn (Captain America).
Formed by the government in response to a post-Krakoa outbreak of mutant paramilitary, ops squads, and mercenary teams, X-Factor will be co-led by Angel and Havok and include recruits like Pyro, Frenzy, Feral, and more.
Part special agents for missions that require an arsenal of superpowers and part celebrity propaganda machine, X-Factor will wage war against emerging factions like the Mutant Underground and X-Term. Whether they believe in their actions or are just doing it for a check, the members of X-Factor are no fools when it comes to shady politics.
However, as hidden agendas rear their ugly head, they'll fight against the dark consequences and disastrous public opinion from the inside.
"The thing I've always loved about the X-Men is that they're characters first, superheroes second," Russell shared today. "So being able to write characters like Havok and Angel and Frenzy in a post-Krakoa reality is an opportunity to write about what I really care about, which is how do we help each other survive the apathy of the world we live in?"
Quinn adds, "It’s so exciting to be back and drawing mutants in the X-Men universe again, and doubly exciting to work with Mark again. To my mind, Mark’s mix of humor and ability to shine a light on the peculiarities of modern society make him the perfect writer to tackle the relaunch of X-Factor. Drawing this team and every unexpected twist and turn of the story has been a blast so far."
Are they mutant sell-outs or mutant role models? You can be the judge when the series launches this August...for now, check out Greg Land's cover for X-Factor #1 below.
FAME, FORTUNE, MUTANTS! From the ashes of Krakoa, a new mutant arms race sweeps the globe! International governments are building their own mutant armies. But only America’s X-Factor has the most powerful, most patriotic, most marketable mutant heroes to stem the tide and make the world safe for democracy! Join them as they go from one death-defying mission to another. Who will die? Who will fall in love? Who will be the first to sell out? Like, comment and subscribe to find out!
X-FACTOR #1
Written by MARK RUSSELL
Art by BOB QUINN
Cover by GREG LAND
On Sale 8/14