X-Factor #9: Death God Mind-Spelunking is Fun and All, but What’s for Dinner?

With the recent news about Issue #10 being the finale of X-Factor, this issue does a lot of work to tie things up before the Gala next month. It is a ride from start to finish and has a lot of ground to cover. Much like the first issue read like a pilot episode, this read like a season finale – complete with the obligatory cliffhanger.

Leah Williams continues to show off her depth of knowledge about X-Men history as she details the journey taken by Theresa Cassidy and the Morrigan. Williams maps this journey using a singular panel in Powers of X #6 in a way that either shows a depth of intention by the X-line or her own ability to pull story from background panels.

The general flow of the book feels like a prime sample of what Williams does best, the blending of character shining panels and plot moving action. This blend works so well due to the touches of heart found in the interactions, particularly those of Jean-Paul. High emotion flows through the book even when pacing becomes frantic, and the plot reaches a conclusion. Unfortunately, the high tension and pace can at times be confusing at times and require a reread to grasp all the nuance packed into a single comic.

Colors by Isreal Silva start off strong and sets the mood as the team shifts through Siryn’s memories. The combination of dark shades and vibrant colors continues to make X-Factor one of my favorite comics to look at. David Baldeon displays an understanding of the characters he draws. And there are a lot of characters that make an appearance in this issue. Their posture and facial expressions do as much work showing their characterization as the dialogue. Of special note, this issue is the panel placement of this issue and how it adds to the narrative and depiction of the powers on display.