As an avid X-Men reader, I unfortunately still have some pretty major gaps in my “classic X-Men story” repertoire, including the majority of 90s-era X-Factor. Thankfully, Marvel’s newest X-Factor Epic Collection, appropriately titled “Wreaking Havok,” was a fascinating glimpse into one of the most interesting periods for the X-Men’s government-sanctioned heroic team. With a fascinating team line-up made up of Havok, Forge, Polaris, Valerie Cooper, Wild Child, Mystique, and Sabretooth, this collection is filled with intrigue, explosive action, and psychological explorations of iconic X-Men villains.
X-Factor Epic Collection: Wreaking Havok collects X-Factor #112 – #126, X-Men: Prime #1, Marvel Fanfare #6, and the entire 4-issue limited series Sabretooth & Mystique. The latest X-Factor trade paperback features writing from Howard Mackie, John Francis Moore, and Jorge Gonzalez, with art by Jeff Matsuda, Ariel Olivetti, and Steve Epting.
Credit: Marvel
Plus, instead of including a bunch of variant covers in the back of the book, this Epic Collection features an excerpt from Marvel’s classic fan magazine, Marvel Vision, which includes a fun vintage breakdown of the X-Factor team from Rob Piotrowski. However, the book is not without any variant covers, with the last page of the collection depicting Polaris’ very own swimsuit special cover from Marvel Swimsuit Special #4.
Honestly, it feels a bit silly to “review” comics that are 30 years old… they are classics, and regardless of their potential quality compared to modern works, this collection is truly such a blast to read. From the evil machinations of the sick Dark Beast (I am also currently re-reading AoA, which makes this collection even more poignant) to the tragedy of Random’s circumstances, the mainline X-Factor run in this collection is a superb glimpse into 90s-era X-comics.
Credit: Marvel
Fatale makes for a mysterious and compelling enemy, Havok’s out-of-control powers add the perfect tension to his relationship with Polaris and his teammates, and the collection is perfectly punctuated by the political and social ramifications of Mystique and Victor’s placement on the team. This book is filled with so much development, from Wild Child’s toxic relationship with Aurora to Shard’s introduction to the team and the Adversary rising once again…
Perhaps my favorite part of this entire Epic Collection is the inclusion of the Sabretooth & Mystique limited series from Gonzalez and Olivetti, which is not just some random placement but a natural extension of the antiheroes plots in X-Factor. It is always fascinating to catch a glimpse of Raven’s past, and the revealed connection between Raven, Victor, and Irene is surprising and exciting.
Credit: Marvel
Also, reading this series reminded me just how clear it was that Mystique and Destiny were lovers and certainly more than simply friends, with Raven passionately attempting to get revenge for Irene. The limited series features some of Mystique’s most impressive and haunting body transformations, and Olivetti is a master of portraying complex emotions and brutal action.
This whole collection is simply a joy to read, and it was the perfect companion to read before bed every night for a week. It is filled with ferocious battles, intense psychological explorations, emotional moments between teammates, and absolutely gorgeous artwork. I highly recommend X-Factor Epic Collection: Wreaking Havok to anyone who cares about X-Factor, 90s-era X-Men comics, or incredibly intriguing comics about violent antiheroes like Mystique and Sabretooth.
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