X-Factor #8: Boneyard of Horrors

X-Factor #8 is a definite tonal shift from the previous issues. The comic transitions from procedural to horror. Despite this, the creative team is able to keep some consistency. The driving thread in all issues of the series is the character work being done by Leah Williams. She uses the plot to frame the moments that either reveal the growth or personalities of the characters. Williams’ use of the data pages contributes to those same moments.

Williams does a good job setting the tone for the comic almost immediately. Much like the B-list horror movies Northstar speaks of, the setting is just a normal night at the Boneyard before the monster strikes. The pace afterward is frantic and chaotic. Things are happening off-panel that the reader doesn’t see due to the perspective characters used. While it can feel confusing it works for inciting suspense. However, when the resolution of the comic seems to carry that same frantic pace, the confusion seems to outweigh the tension.

The art of X-Factor continues to astound me. This issue seems to push the bar for grotesque and fantastical imagery. Both David Baldeon and Isreal Silva rise to the occasion and know it out of the park. Despite being visibly dark to match the tone of the issue, nothing is muted, and no details are lost. The colors remain vibrant despite the darkness and draw in the reader. The distinct power signatures for each member of X-Force make for a gorgeous climax of the battle.