With more freedom to play with characters who haven't made it to the big leagues, Peter David was able to evolve the members of X-Factor and develop their lives in the way we rarely get to see in mainstream comics. This isn't a superhero book. It's a series about a group of private investigators with powers struggle to exist in the Marvel Universe, making us laugh out loud along the way. Plus, now that's it's wrapped up, you get a complete story from start to finish.
I've kept each story synopsis quite vague for this one, hoping you'll use it as a reading guide and giving X-Factor a go. It's a fantastic series, riddled with twists, so try not to spoil it for yourself. It pays off big time!
MCG Notes:
- Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read X-Factor stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
- Issue listings in grey: Part of X-Factor's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
- Chronology: Every appearance of tX-Factor from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
- Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
First appearance of XXX Investigations/X-Factor Investigations; Jamie Madrox (the mutant Multiple Man) has started a private investigation business in Mutant Town with Guido Carosella (formerly Strong Guy), utilising his duplicate selves (or 'dupes') to help him learn new skills; Madrox's dupes begin to manifest separate personalities, will and desires; while investigating a case, Madrox calls upon his old X-Factor colleague Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair) to join his crew; due to Madrox, Guido and Wolfsbane's shared past with X-Factor, Madrox renames the business X-Factor Investigations.
House of M: The Day After #1 (2006)
X-Factor Investigations cameo; Jamie Madrox turns down Cyclops' request for help when the majority of mutants lose their powers; Madrox decides to focus on helping the people of Mutant Town during HOUSE OF M / DECIMATION.
X-Factor #1-4 (2006)
First appearance of Damian Tryp and Singularity Investigations; M (Money St Croix), Layla Miller, Rictor (Julio Richter), Siryn (Theresa Cassidy) join X-Factor Investigations; X-Factor start looking into the cause of the missing mutant powers, adding new members and facing fresh competition in the form of Singularity Investigations; Layla Miller invites herself into the team and taunts Madrox with her visions of the future during DECIMATION.
X-Factor #5-7 (2006)
Singularity Investigations continue to obstruct X-Factor; Cyclops visits the X-Factor Investigations office to personally deliver some bad news about Siryn's father, Banshee.
X-Factor #8-9 (2006)
Daily Bugle: Civil War Special (2006)
X-Factor argue over whether or not to take a stand against the Superhuman Registration Act; a Madrox dupe is revealed to be an agent of SHIELD; Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) shows up in Mutant Town, offering to give ex-mutants their powers; X-Factor fall out with the X-Men back during CIVIL WAR.
X-Factor #10-12 (2006)
The truth about Singularity Investigations is revealed when X-Factor decide to take them down for good; Madrox confronts his own treacherous dupe.
X-Men: Deadly Genesis #6(pp.25-28) (2006)
Siryn attends her father's funeral during DECIMATION.
New X-Men #32 (2007)
Jamie Madrox and Wolfsbane cameo; Madrox and Wolfsbane monitor Wither, the former member of the New Mutants.
X-Factor #13 (2007)
First appearance of Vanora; Layla Miller first witnesses a shocking vision of her future in which she and Jamie Madrox are murdered by a friend on their wedding night; Doc Samson psycho-analyses each member of X-Factor Investigations.
Friendly-Neighbourhood Spider-Man #16 (2007)
SHIELD agent Jamie Madrox investigates Spider-Man's most recent feud with the Vulture during SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED.
Wolverine #53-54 (2007)
Wolfsbane is among the lupine mutants heeding Romulus' call during EVOLUTION.
X-Factor #14-20 (2007)
First appearance of the Reverend John Maddox, Nicole and the X-Cell; a love-triangle develops when Madrox is revealed to have slept with more than one member of the team; Madrox begins recalling all of his dupes, including the SHIELD agent, a Hydra agent and a pastor; X-Factor are hired by Valerie Cooper to investigate a new team of familiar mutants when they align themselves with Quicksilver against the US Government; Rictor is offered a chance to regain his powers by betraying the team.
X-Men: Endangered Species #1 (2007)
Jamie Marox is among those attending the funeral of a young mutant, maring another step towards mutant extinction; Madrox offers to help by single-handedly repopulating the mutant species during ENDANGERED SPECIES.
X-Factor #21[1/2]-24[1/2] (2007)
First full appearance of the Isolationist (Josef Huber); the Isolationist tries to manipulate X-Factor into siding with his against the US Government, but Layla Miller uncovers a more sinister plan.
Silent War #3 (2007)
The Inhumans, Jamie Madrox and Layla Miller catch up with the treacherous Quicksilver.
World War Hulk: X-Men #2-3 (2007)
X-Factor Investigations join the battle to defend Professor X from the Hulk when he attacks the Xavier Institute during WORLD WAR HULK.
Uncanny X-Men #492 (2008)
X-Factor #25 (2008)
New X-Men #44 (2008)
X-Men #205 (2008)
X-Factor #26 (2008)
New X-Men #45 (2008)
X-Men #206 (2008)
Uncanny X-Men #494 (2008)
X-Factor #27 (2008)
New X-Men #46 (2008)
X-Men #207 (2008)
First appearance of baby Hope Summers and the new X-Force; X-Factor Investigations are drawn in to the desperate search for the missing infant mutant messiah; Forge sends two of Jamie Madrox's dupes ito alternate futures that still register a mutant presence; Layla Miller hops aboard with the dupe who travels to Earth-1191 (the timeline Bishop hails from) and is stranded there; Wolfsbane becomes a member of Cyclops' secret black-ops X-Force squad during MESSIAH COMPLEX.
X-Factor #28-32(pp.1-20) (2008)
Wolfsbane leaves X-Factor; Arcade seeks the destruction of Mutant Town; Valerie Cooper manipulates Jamie Madrox; Siryn is revealed to be pregnant during DIVIDED WE STAND.
X-Factor: The Quick and the Dead #1 (2008)
X-Factor's nemesis, Quicksilver, makes some life-changing decisions.
X-Factor: Layla Miller #1 (2008)
First appearance of Cyclops (Scott Summers) and Ruby Summers of Earth-1191; Layla Miller survives by any means necessary in the future of Earth-1191, allying herself with the members of the Summers Rebellion.
X-Factor #32(pp.21-23) (2008)
First appearance of XF Investigations and XF Investigations Headquarters; X-Factor relocate to Detroit, but Valerie Cooper is hot on Madrox's tail during DIVIDED WE STAND.
X-Factor #33 (2008)
She-Hulk #31 (2008)
X-Factor #34 (2008)
First appearance of Nogor the Talisman and Hector Muñoz; X-Factor and She-Hulk both end up pursuing Darwin (Armando Muñoz) and get caught up in the Skrull invasion of Earth during SECRET INVASION.
X-Factor #35-38 (2008-2009)
Longshot and Darwin join X-Factor; the Karma Project attempt to use Darwin for their own sinister purposes.
X-Factor #39-50(pp.1-29) (2009)
First appearance of Dr Anthony Falcone; first appearance of a familiar face as Cortex; Shatterstar joins X-Factor; tragedy strikes X-Factor; Jamie Madrox is reunited with Layla Miller in the most unexpected way; Shatterstar is sent to assassinate X-Factor; Madrox finds himself allied with Doctor Doom; Layla Miller's origin is revealed; X-Factor disband.
X-Factor: Nation X #1 (2010)
Cyclops offers XF Investigations a place on the X-Men's mutant island Utopia during NATION X.
X-Factor #50(pp.29-33) (2009)
Layla Miller meets a very familiar face from her past.
First appearance of X-Factor Investigations Headquarters; first appearance of Siryn as Banshee; XF Investigations reforms as X-Factor Investigations again and relocate to Manhattan; Franklin & Valeria Richards hire X-Factor to look into the disappearance of their mother, the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four.
X-Factor #203 (2010)
M and Strong Guy investigate the disappearance of M's father and clash with Baron Mordo.
X-Factor #204-206 (2010)
The resurrected Bolivar Trask is sent by Bastion to kill X-Factor while they're still struggling with Baron Mordo during SECOND COMING: REVELATIONS.
X-Factor #207-214 (2010-2011)
First appearance of Ballistique (Noelle Blanc); X-Factor's fight with Baron Mordo comes to a close; a heavily pregnant Wolfsbane returns and takes issue with Shatterstar; in Las Vegas, X-Factor come under fire from Hela and find a welcome ally in Thor; Pip the Troll joins X-Factor Investigations; Darwin leaves the team to seek his own identity.
Chaos War #1-2 (2010)
Strong Guy cameo; Strong Guy is glimpsed among the heroes who rise to fight the Chaos King during CHAOS WAR.
X-Factor #215 (2011)
Jamie Madrox and Layla Miller clash with a vampire/vandella during CURSE OF THE MUTANTS.
X-Factor #216-219 (2011)
First appearance of SCARs (Strategic Capture and Retrieval); X-Factor are hired by J Jonah Jameson, team up with Spider-Man and the Black Cat; their fight with the government sponsored black ops team SCARs leads to the death of one member of X-Factor.
X-Factor #220-224 (2011)
First appearance of Tier Sinclair; Wolfsbane is pursued by demons and gods all trying to prevent the birth of her child while she's protected by the Werewolf by Night (Jack Russell); the fate of Agamemnon of the Pantheon is revealed.
Uncanny X-Men #542 (2011)
Banshee cameo; Banshee joins the fight against the Juggernaut during FEAR ITSELF.
Avengers: The Children's Crusade #6-9 (2011-2012)
The Avengers take the Scarlet Witch to X-Factor Headquarters and give Rictor the chance to become the first mutant to have his powers back during THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE.
X-Factor #224.1 (2011)
X-Factor #225-229 (2011-2012)
First appearance of the Bloodbath, the Warders; and X-Factor Investigations of Earth-7153; first full appearance of Vanora; X-Factor investigate strange goings on in Kansas; X-Factor confront the demon Bloodbath; Jamie Madrox and Layla Miller finally confront the reality of their grisly demise.
X-Factor #230 (2012)
First appearance of the Iron Men of Earth-TRN193; Wolverine places Havok (Alex Summers) and Polaris (Lorna Dane) on X-Factor whether the team approve or not during REGENESIS.
X-Factor #231-236 (2012)
First appearance of the X-Ceptionals; X-Factor jump through realities in search of their missing teammate, clashing with alternate universe Deathloks; Havok and Polaris take over X-Factor as the team face the Isolationist once again; Shatterstar faces Scattershot, a fellow genetically-engineered being from the Mojoverse.
Astonishing X-Men #51 (2012)
Havok attends Northstar and Kyle Jinadu's wedding.
Avengers vs X-Men #7 (2012)
AvX: Vs #6[4/9] (2012)
Avengers vs X-Men #10-11 (2012)
Havok and Polaris ally themselves with the X-Men when they clash with the Avengers over the returning Phoenix Force; Havok clashes with Captain America during AVX: AVENGERS VS X-MEN.
X-Men Legacy #273 (2012)
Havok cameo; Rogue fights her way through another reality to join the X-Men in their final showdown with Cyclops during AVX: AVENGERS VS X-MEN.
Wolverine and the X-Men #19 (2012)
Longshot cameo; Longshot applies to teach the kids at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.
X-Factor #237-240 (2012)
Banshee, Polaris and Wolfsbane go on a road trip; Shatterstar, Rictor and Wolfsbane leave X-Factor; Banshee clashes with the Morrigan; Layla Miller struggles with her knowing what the future holds.
X-Factor #241-245 (2012)
First appearance of Banshee as the Morrigan; Tier Sinclair is named for the first time; Strong Guy quits X-Factor; Darwin returns to X-Factor as an enemy; Polaris' origin is revealed; Banshee defeats the Morrigan, but at a massive cost and leaves X-Factor; Havok leaves X-Factor; Shatterstar and Rictor return to the team.
X-Factor #246-249 (2013)
First full appearance of the Warders; Pip the Troll reveals how he keeps X-Factor from falling apart before the team have no choice but to learn to live without him; Jamie Madrox and Layla Miller go on honeymoon; X-Factor battle the Warders.
X-Factor #250-256 (2013)
Pip the Troll leaves X-Factor; Wolfsbane and Darwin rejoin the team; Tier Sinclair becomes a member of X-Factor; the Hell Lords battle each other for the domination of planet Earth; a member of X-Factor becomes a demon and opposes the team; Jezebel's true identity is revealed; a number of team members die in the final battle of the Hell on Earth War.
X-Factor #257-262 (2013)
First appearance of Serval Industries; Shatterstar's origin is revealed; all the major storylines come to a close as Jamie Madrox sells X-Factor Investigations to Serval Industries and closes up shop.
X-Factor vol.1: The Longest Night
Collects X-Factor #1-6.
X-Factor vol.2: Life And Death Matters
X-Factor vol.2: Life And Death Matters
Collects X-Factor #7-12.
X-Factor vol.3: The Many Lives of Madrox
X-Factor vol.3: The Many Lives of Madrox
Collects X-Factor #13-17.
X-Factor vol.4: Heart Of Ice
X-Factor vol.4: Heart Of Ice
Collects X-Factor #18-24.
Silent War
War of Kings Prelude: Road to War of Kings Omnibus
Include Silent War #3.
World War Hulk Omnibus
World War Hulk X-Men
Include World War Hulk: X-Men #2-3.
X-Men: Messiah Complex
X-Men: Messiah Complex
X-Men Milestones: Messiah Complex
Include New X-Men #44-46, Uncanny X-Men #492, 494, X-Factor #25-27 and X-Men #205-207.
X-Factor vol.5: The Only Game in Town
X-Factor vol.5: The Only Game in Town
Collects X-Factor #28-32 and X-Factor: The Quick and the Dead #1.
X-Factor vol.6: Secret Invasion
X-Factor vol.6: Secret Invasion
Collects She-Hulk #31 and X-Factor #33-38.
She-Hulk: Secret Invasion
Includes She-Hulk #31 and X-Factor #34-35.
X-Factor vol.7: Time And A Half
Collects X-Factor #39-45.
X-Factor vol.8: Overtime
X-Factor vol.8: Overtime
Collects X-Factor #46-50 and X-Factor: Layla Miller #1.
X-Factor vol.9: The Invisible Woman Has Vanished
X-Factor vol.9: The Invisible Woman Has Vanished
Collects X-Factor #200-203.
X-Factor vol.10: Second Coming
Collects X-Factor #204-206 and X-Factor: Nation X #1.
X-Men: Second Coming - Revelations
X-Men: Second Coming - Revelations
Includes X-Factor #204-206.
X-Factor vol.11: Happenings In Vegas
X-Factor vol.11: Happenings In Vegas
Collects X-Factor #207-212.
X-Factor vol.12: Scar Tissue
X-Factor vol.12: Scar Tissue
Collects X-Factor #213-219.
X-Factor vol.13: Hard Labor
X-Factor vol.13: Hard Labor
Collects X-Factor #220-224.
Avengers: The Children's Crusade
Includes Avengers: The Children's Crusade #6-9.
Marvel Point One
Includes X-Factor #224.1.
X-Factor vol.14: Super Unnatural
X-Factor vol.14: Super Unnatural
Collects X-Factor #224.1, 225-228.
X-Factor vol.15: They Keep Killing Madrox
X-Factor vol.15: They Keep Killing Madrox
Collects X-Factor #229-232.
X-Factor vol.16: Together Again for the First Time
X-Factor vol.16: Together Again for the First Time
Collects X-Factor #233-236.
Avengers vs X-Men
Includes Avengers vs X-Men #7-11 and AvX: Vs #6.
X-Factor vol.17: The Road to Redemption
Includes Avengers vs X-Men #7-11 and AvX: Vs #6.
X-Factor vol.17: The Road to Redemption
Collects X-Factor #237-240.
X-Factor vol.18: Breaking Points
X-Factor vol.18: Breaking Points
Collects X-Factor #241-245.
X-Factor vol.19: Short Stories
X-Factor vol.19: Short Stories
Collects X-Factor #246-249.
X-Factor vol.20: Hell On Earth War
X-Factor vol.20: Hell On Earth War
Collects X-Factor #250-256.
X-Factor vol.21: The End of X-Factor
X-Factor vol.21: The End of X-Factor
Collects X-Factor #257-262.
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