X-Factor wraps up its immediate problem of AXIS-related incidents, only to offer the promise of more. It presents an extremely well-done battle with familiar characters that offer fun banter and intriguing exchanges, but the art continues to obfuscate just as much as it illustrates. Read Full Review

What's making me downright sad at the beginning of this new year is that one of my favorite series by the great Peter David is coming to an end. ALL NEW X-FACTOR has been hilarious, even more so than Superior Foes of Spider-Man or Deadpool, so obviously it will be missed. Issue number 17 picks up from the recently inverted Longshot and Sunfire claiming the president's football that can set off nuclear weapons. Longshot was a member of this team under Madrox's leadership and fans of the previous series were certainly in raptures to see him making an appearance in the last issue. They will be glad to know that he gets a lot of panel time in this action-packed number. David continues with Gambit's narration, cleverly assimilating his, Polaris' and Sunfire's time together as Apocalypse's horsemen. This is what I like about this book; while new readers are certainly going to enjoy this series, longtime Marvel fans are always going to find something to identify their characters with. Colorist Lee Loughridge nails it with his usual palette of minimal hues and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico depicts the story from fantastic angles. He also gives Longshot this Adonis look with an amazing set of garbs that makes the hero cut a dash while he indulges in cutting a few soldiers (ouch!), with his knives. Being an AXIS tie-in takes a toll in the end however and I'm more than just excited to find out about this team's future in the next three issues. more