Men – 10 Facts about X-Factor

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

In the most recent episode of X-Men ’97, we had the brief appearance of Guido Carosella, the Strongman, helping the survivors of Genosha. Fortão appears with his costume from X-Factora team that has appeared before, in the original classic 90s series.

Unfortunately, the X-Factor wasn’t explored much in the classic series, especially when we think that their field leader is none other than Alex Summers, the Destroyer, Cyclops’ brother. The team should still appear more in X-Men ’97 over the next episodes and seasons, and in today’s video we talk about their history in the comics, in 10 facts.

Without Xavier

During Magneto’s trial, Professor X was seriously injured, and asked his old friend to take his place as director of the Xavier Institute. Xavier was then transported to a Shi’ar ship with Lilandra, where alien medical technology could save his life. During this time, it was revealed that jean gray was alive and that the one who became the Dark Phoenix and died on the moon was a genetic copy created by the Phoenix Force.

When the original X-Men learned about Magneto as headmaster of Xavier’s school, the five gathered together, especially eager to see Jean Gray alive. They did not trust Magneto to lead the X-Men and had doubts about his story about Professor X’s whereabouts, so they decided to create a new team, X-Factor. So, affiliated with the government, they pretended to be human mutant hunters, when in reality they were rescuing these mutants from danger.

Dissolution

X-Factor acted for a long period, going through sagas such as Inferno, Extermination Program and Mutant Massacre. Until they finally came to the aid of their former teacher, Charles Xavier, when he returned to Earth to face the threat of the Shadow King, who had taken control of Muir Island and possessed most of the X-Men.

Ultimately, X-Factor helped Xavier free his comrades and seemingly destroy the Shadow King. With Xavier back and the X-Men needing help in their ranks, X-Factor was then disbanded, and its members returned to the X-Men, reorganizing the team.

A new X-Factor

Feeling the need to continue a separate but government-affiliated mutant team, Professor Charles Xavier and Cyclops traveled to Genosha, where Cyclops’ brother, Alex Summers (the Destroyer), was working.

Alex was recruited to lead the team, and X-Factor was rebooted as a new government-sponsored group, with Val Cooper acting as a liaison to the White House. Lupina, Polaris, Fortão, Multiple Man and Mercury filled the original list.

Mister Sinister

The first threat faced by this X-Factor lineup was Mister Sinister. After repeated defeats of his Executioners, Mister Sinister hires new mutants as his henchmen, who come to be known as the Bad Elements. The team is made up ofr Rambler, Ram, Gluttonous Gladston, Slab, Tuff and a rebel copy of Multiple Man.

Sinister hoped to discredit mutantkind and used X-Factor to do so. One of Sinister’s behind-the-scenes allies was a power-hungry senator with the ability to cause bad luck. Fortão was manipulated into destroying the Washington Monument while fighting Laje, one of the Bad Elements. The senator was later killed by Mr. Sinister himself.

The Brotherhood

This version of X-Factor also led to the emergence of another team. While with X-Factor, Havok was kidnapped and brainwashed by Black Beast, forcing him to fight alongside the villain Onslaught. Even after freeing himself from his conditioning, Alex decided to take advantage of his new villain image, creating the impression that he had abandoned Xavier’s dream and formed a new terrorist group called simply “Brotherhood”.

However, Havok had not truly become a terrorist. He created Brotherhood to stop the Black Beast’s sinister plans. He even briefly featured Nate Grey, but the association didn’t work out. After Havok’s true motives were revealed and the Black Beast was defeated, Alex disbanded the Brotherhood.

New team

Forge was later added to X-Factor, initially replacing Valerie Cooper as the team’s government liaison after she was compromised by one of Magneto’s Acolytes.

Later, Multiple Man apparently dies from being infected by the Legacy Virus, a deadly disease that attacks mutated genes. Strong is placed in suspended animation after suffering a heart attack caused by the stress that his extra mass puts on his body. Lupina transfers to the European mutant team Excalibur, and Havok leaves to infiltrate a mutant terrorist network. It is then up to Forge to assemble a new X-Factor team, counting on Mystic, Sabretooth, Shard and Wild.

The Return of Madrox

X-Factor was sent on a mission to apprehend a mysterious figure who turned out to be Madrox, alive and well. Madrox unconsciously remained split into separate bodies, ensuring that the Legacy Virus would be contained in one body and not duplicate in the others.

When the infected body died, the shock of its death caused Madrox to lose his memory. Madrox was recruited by elements of the US government who wanted to turn him into the ultimate secret agent, training him to become a one-man army. With his memory restored, Madrox returned to X-Factor. However, this version of the team led by Forge didn’t last long.

X-Factor Investigations

Years later, the X-Factor Investigations, a detective agency run by Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. The name came from the government-sponsored group in which the three founders previously served. The initial team consists of Madrox’s best friend and special enforcer, Guido Carosella (Fortão) and Rahne Sinclair (Lupina).

Following the events of the “Dynasty M” storyline, Madrox’s newfound wealth from winning a TV game shot allows him to recruit several of his former colleagues from the Paris branch of the now-defunct X-Corporation. New members include Monet, Rictor, Syrin and Layla Miller. The series deals with the group’s attempt to uncover the truth behind the “Decimation” and its consequences.

Corporate Sponsorship

After the dissolution of X-Factor Investigations, Harrison Snow, CEO and President of Serval Industries, he purchased the X-Factor name from Madrox and recruited Polaris to start a new incarnation of the team to help people on the company’s behalf. Polaris first recruits Gambit by tracking him after a run-in with Wolverine. Quicksilver signs up soon after, following his half-sister and being invited onto the team by Harrison Snow due to his previous status as an Avenger.

The Krakoa Era

When Professor X and Magneto tamed Krakoa and turned it into a utopia for mutants, it came with certain benefits, like The Five. The Five were a group of mutants who could combine their abilities and resurrect dead mutants.

However, there were some rules, such as making sure they weren’t bringing “back” someone who was still alive. To prevent this type of cheating, the Krakoa Council needed an investigation team, and so a new X-Factor was formed.

The work of this group was to investigate the deaths in depth, in order to confirm whether the resurrection protocol would move forward. The team was led by Estrela Polar, who brought together the following members:

Prodigy, with his ability to mimic skills; Ocular, and its various visual modes; Daken, and his superior tracking abilities;
Rachel Grey, and her ability to read minds; and Polaris, former member of other incarnations of X-Factor.

It is worth noting that the first year of X-Men ’97 continues to be shown on Disney+.