• Written by: Mark Russell
• Art by: Bob Quinn
• Colors by: Jesus Aburtov
• Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
• Cover art by: Greg Land, Jay Leisten, Frank D’Armata
• Cover price: $3.99
• Release date: November 6, 2024

X-Factor #4, by Marvel Comics on 11/6/24, sends the team to the center of the Earth to rescue a team of scientists lost in the darkness of the unknown.

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Is X-Factor #4 Good?

I have a sneaking suspicion Mark Russell attempted to scale back his terrible humor to deliver a comic that mixes action and romance in a one-and-done adventure. Did he succeed? Somewhat. Russell’s abysmal sense of satire is still present, and the plot doesn’t make much sense, but an X-Factor comic that’s just dumb is better than an X-Factor comic that’s infuriating. Take the small wins where you can.

When last we left lovesick Havok’s team of misfits in X-Factor #3, the team was sent to the moon to rescue a moon base built by an Elon Musk analog. When the team arrived, they discovered the Musk-clone’s request was a setup, and they actually were sent to destroy the base before the out-of-control A.I. running the base sent a hail of meteors to destroy the Earth. The mission concluded with Granny Smite saving the day, sort of.

In X-Factor #4, Havok receives word that the team needs to head out on a new mission into the center of the Earth to rescue a missing team of scientists. Xyber is on temporary leave after the shock of their moon mission, and Granny Smite is ordered to stay behind because her immortality wouldn’t be a net positive if they get buried alive. Instead, a quest teleporter is added to the team, Cecilia’s ex-boyfriend Oskar, aka Wintergeist.

The team arrives at the research facility and boards the backup ship that looks like a giant suppository. Havok pilots the ship down at a rapid pace until they find the source of the trouble. The tracks that guide the ship down are eaten away. When the team exits the ship, leaving Cecilia and Oskar behind as rescue support, X-Factor finds the tracks and scientists’ ship were consumed by giant spiders who live in the lava and eat metal.

The issue ends with Oskar explaining the tragic reason he ghosted Cecilia (the “left you to protect you” trope) and X-Factor escaping with the missing scientists.

What’s great about X-Factor #4?

This may sound like a backhanded compliment, but this issue is blessedly free from most of Mark Russel’s terrible humor. You get a relatively straightforward mission, a bit of heart when Oskar explains to Cecilia what happened, and a complete ending.

What’s not great about X-Factor #4?

The mission, from start to finish, doesn’t make a lick of sense. Why are scientists drilling to the center of the Earth? Why does Havok keep accepting one mission after another with almost no upfront intel about what happened or what to expect? Why are there giant spiders living in lava?

None of it makes sense, and I doubt anyone within Marvel cares. This issue comes across as Russell needing something for the team to do but couldn’t put in the most basic effort to invent a plausible mission.

How’s the Art?

The artwork is clean but lazy in the design department. If you’re going to dream up giant spiders living in lava tunnels, the least Quinn could do is try to make the spiders look like they live in the lava with unique textures and features. Instead, you get oversized, garden-variety tarantulas.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

X-Factor #4 is a nonsensical one-and-done mission that keeps the team busy doing nothing important as an excuse to have Cecilia make up with her ex-boyfriend. Mark Russell’s brand of satirical humor is blessedly absent through most of the issue, but the mission and execution are just plain dumb.

5/10

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