We have a lot to wrap up and not a ton of time before the Gala. Lucky for us, Leah Williams, David Baldeón, Israel Silva and Joe Caramagna are here to defeat a goddess in X-Factor #9.
Cori McCreery: First the bad news: Polaris is leaving the book to join the X-Men. Next the worse news: Also because this is the penultimate issue and everyone is leaving the book. I know this series ending makes me a lot sadder than the last series in the Krakoa era that ended. How bout you Andrea?
Andrea Ayres: The series ending is a real bummer for me. I have enjoyed it so much and I hasten to say that issue #9 feels like it’s getting its stride sort-to-speak. Leah is balancing so many plates in the air with this issue of X-Factor and she doesn’t miss a step. There are some panel layouts and work by Baldeón which really set the issue on fire.
Layered Like An Onion
CM: Really, really enjoyed how Williams and Baldéon depicted Rachel’s multitasking to send the team through Terri’s psyche. Just a really clever idea with the layering of the different access levels due to the geas. And the imagery was top notch too, with the red tints to suggest Rachel’s power signature. What’d you think?
AA: I too loved the layout of featuring Rachel’s power overlaid on the ‘normal world’ of them sitting around a table. I don’t know if this makes sense, but it felt to me like it was easier to imagine what having that power might be like. There’s something about, pulling back the layers (heh-heh) that allow the reader to access Rachel’s power in a new way. Also, when Rachel says “I have a terrible idea.” That really resonated with me, as someone with horrible ideas. I’d love to know what you thought about the explanation of the geas?
Fun fact: geas, comes from the Irish geis. According to the website World Wide Words: “Geis could be a prohibition or taboo, a positive injunction or obligation, something unlawful or forbidden, a curse, or a spell or incantation.”
CM: So as a big ol’ freaking nerd, my exposure to the word geas comes from a different source, specifically that of tabletop roleplaying games, and in particular D&D and Pathfinder both have spells with that name. Both versions are similar in that you’re using magic to compel another creature to do (or not do) specific things for you. So that works in much the same way that the Morrigan’s geas did on Siryn, compelling her to sate the death goddesses hunger by dying over and over again. I thought that that in particular was a clever thing for a death goddess to do in utilizing what could be a limitless source of power.
AA: That absolutely tracks with the etymology and its roots in Celtic mythology. Thanks to the power of the internet, I was able to find out that the most famous form of the geas is the Legend of Cú Chulainn (hound of Culann). Apparently, this cat was a warrior bound by two geas which was great because he got super strength, as long as he did not break the oath. Listen, I don’t mean to go violently off track here but I need to tell you about the two geas. The first rule was that he could not take or eat any food offered by a woman and the second was not eating dog meat in any form. So you, know. Lots to unpack there.
You’re Babysitting the Mojoverse Now
CM: Speaking of unpacking, there’s still a LOT left to unpack in this issue, because Williams crams a lot into this slightly oversized issue, as the geas leads us back to Shatterstar. Last we saw him he was engaged in blood sports for the entertainment of the Mojoverse, and indeed that’s where we find him as the team has to break him out. What’d you think of the away team X-Factor uses since they have permabans from Mr. Mojo?
AA: You know, we got a lovely throwback to the early 1990s sitcom and that’s how it made me feel. Throwing some of my all-time favorites in this issue was like basking in the warm glow of a tube television set. I mean, Dazzler and Magik? What fun. I can’t imagine not talking about the incredible amount of work being done here to relay all this information in a way that is as fresh as the rest of the series without overwhelming us, and the team really handled their business here. We get some beautiful work from, specifically the splash pages. I would love to know your thoughts on the team up?
CM: Loved the mutant band idea. Glad that Rachel did introduce DJ to Dazzler, and I’m excited to see what kind of music they wind up making. Plus, you can never have enough Lila Cheney in your life. And of course, the band was just a distraction for the New Mutants crossover that I never expected to see but loved nonetheless. And I loved watching Magik make Mojo make his undertrou just as yellow as his skin. I do feel a little bad for Sofia though, babysitting Mo is gonna be a hell job.
There Are No Kings On Krakoa
CM: And once our B-team frees Shatterstar, we get the climax of the Morrigan arc, and oh boy this is beautifully done. How’d you like the battle between a warrior born and the goddess of Death?
AA: This where it all pops off for me and what sent this issue into the stratosphere. Between the Celtic tapestry and the tear trailing down the cheek of the goddess of death as Shatterstar plunges his weapon into her chest? *Chef’s kiss*. I am not usually like, this hypey about stuff you know? Normally I feel like a cynical curmudgeon, but this issue really has everything Andrea Faye Ayres is/was/and ever will be about. It was heartfelt and emotional. I kept wanting more. Please, PLEASE tell me your thoughts.
CM: I’ll tell you what the back half of this issue felt like to me: Superman (volume 2) #23. That’s an issue of Superman written right after John Byrne left the books, that has art by the incomparable comic legend Mike Mignola, and it takes a lot of cues from Celtic myth as well. And with this issue reminding me of that, it goes to show you just how good Baldéon delivered in this issue. All of the design work was impeccable, and the action was both bombastic and surreal, in ways that it can only be when you’re fighting a god. What do you make of ‘Star remembering all of his past with Rictor at once?
AA: You have absolutely nailed it, “bombastic and surreal” is the perfect description. The final scene with ‘Star remembering everything at once was so intense. I mean the relationship between Rictor and ‘Star has certainly been fraught over the years, to put it mildly (Shatterstar #1-5 comes to mind). There’s so much emotional turmoil there, I can’t imagine what is in store. How did you feel about the final scene?
CM: I think it did a great job of wrapping up loose ends from the series as a whole, setting us up to go out with a bang at the Gala. Really though the last page was very bittersweet. I’m very sad this book is ending, and it feels like it had a lot more story to tell, but I’m glad Leah and David got an oversized issue to wrap things up before heading into the party. So now all that’s left is to put on our finest formal wear and drink champagne until our eyes bleed, right?
AA: You’ve summarized my exact feelings. Let us go and drown our sorrows in champagne.
X-Trenuous Thoughts
- Standard disclaimer that Leah supports the CXF Patreon and is a friend of Cori and EiC Zack Jenkins, but Cori recently shared a picture of a dick pendant with Leah, so it’s also clear that she’s willing to be mean as hell to Leah when it is warranted.
- Magik throwing the threat of legal action against Mojo brought me more joy than it should have.
- Cori now owns THREE pages from this X-Factor run, the hair-of-the-dog Lorna page from issue #1, the bad decisions Lorna from issue #6, and Lorna and Rachel going nuclear from issue #8. [Andrea note: she is incredibly jealous but also very happy for her friend.]
- Krakoan Reads: Hellfire Gala
Andrea Ayres is a freelance writer and pop culture journalist.
Yes, it's Cori McCreery—strange visitor from DC fandom who came to Xavier Files with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal critics. Cori, who can leap tall buildings in a single bound, race a speeding bullet to its target, bend steel in her bare hands, and who, also works as an editor for a great Eisner winning website, Women Write About Comics, fights a never-ending battle for truth and justice.
