That's changing, and it breaks my heart.
This is some artwork from X-factor #220, which is really, like, #70, but I blame Marvel for that. Paul Davidson is terrible. I hate that this guy works for Marvel, and I don't. He has managed to take Peter David's scripting and turn it into vomit. This guy belongs in an issue of Crypt of Horror circa 1988. He tainted an issue of X-Men Legacy awhile back and to be honest, I was nostalgic for Greg Land's porn chick art.
It's unfortunate, but I was so turned off by this, that I couldn't enjoy the story. In the next issue Paul Davidson is gone, but we have someone who is almost as bad. In the issue after that, we have Emanuala Lupacchino. She is the regular artist in this series and I like her art. Despite the improvement in the art, I am still not crazy about all of the story elements happening.
So Rahne has been pregnant for like, three years, but in comic time it's probably closer to, oh, six hours. Her baby's a demigod and that makes her invulnerable as long as she is pregnant except to certain magical blahblahblah. See I just don't care. Really, I have no interest and I hope something happens that grabs me again. Please please please Peter David. Make it happen again. Focus on Madrox and Layla and Guido and Monet and Siryn and Rictor. Shatterstar's and Rictor's relationship is totally awkward, and I understand that it is supposed to feel that way because Rictor is kind of confused about how he feels, but it's just been awkward for too long. I don't care about all this magical and mythical crap. I read Thor for that. I get that this is a shared universe and all, and I complain when comics script themselves into a corner, but keep X-Factor simple. Demons are in every X-Book these days, and I'm bloody sick of it. No more demons.
I don't want to rant anymore. It's late and I'm overwhelmed by sadness for my favorite comic.
I give the last few X-Factors one furry baby bump down, and two dupes down as well.
I actually haven't been that put off by X-Factor as of late, Lebeau. While the art has obviously been a hindrance to you enjoying things, it really hasn't bothered me since I barely pay attention to the art... I truly am an ignoramus when it comes to artwork... I agree that the Wolfsbane story hasn't exactly been PAD at his best, but I can't really fault him for taking the team/series in a different direction, as long as he brings the series back to basics after Rahne's pregnancy is over with. The past couple of storylines have ignored Jamie, which sucks since he's such a great character. Here's hoping we get some down to earth issues focusing on Jamie-Banshee/Layla after the Rahne stuff comes to an end.
ReplyDeleteMadrox is one of my two favorite characters in the Marvel universe solely due to Peter David's incarnation of the character. You could probably guess that from my profile picture. Gambit is my other favorite, hence the handle Lebeau2501.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't checked out the new X-Men series by Victor Gischler, I would recommend it based mostly on the fact that he is the only writer to pay any heed to Gambit's heritage through his dialogue. This may be because he is from Baton Rouge. Unfortunately, the Cajuns aren't represented very well in media. Swamp People does for Cajuns what the show Cops did for Latinos. Now I'm ranting about Cajuns again.
Seriously, though. I hope this isn't Peter David's wind-down on this title. It has been so very enjoyable and I hope he gets his stride again. I cannot imagine another writer on this book.
I love Gischler's X-Men series! And I've taken flak from other X-fans for saying that too. I may be in the minority, but I thought he did a great job with the vampire stuff, and the Lizard storyline featured one of my favorite X-Men villains(Dark Beast), so I loved that too. I dropped the title when Chris Yost took over the book(I can't stand Yost's writing), but now that Gischler is back on the book, I added it to my pull list again. It's funny that you mention Gischler and Gambit, because I can kind of/sort of remember actually saying in one of my reviews for X-Men that Gischler had done some of the best work with Gambit in years(and that was before I knew Gischler was from Baton Rogue!). So long story short, I really like Victor Gischler's work! :P
ReplyDeleteAnd I couldn't agree with you more about PAD's work with Jamie. He took a character that nobody really gave much thought to and made him into one of the more well-rounded comic characters out there. Even after reading like a gazillion comics every month, I can still vividly remember scenes from X-Factor featuring Jamie. Like you said, I can't imagine another writer taking on X-Factor... I wonder if PAD ever did decide to leave the book if Marvel would even bother to try to replace him or if they'd just cancel the book. He's so synonymous with that title, I can't imagine anybody taking it over from him.
I think the art has been great. Maybe a little inconsistent, with different artists coming in and out - but it's never been bad. And that issue you talk about -- that was just beautifully done, with Rhane and Shatterstar taking a stroll through the rain.
ReplyDeleteDon't give up on X-Factor! The series has obviously had some simularities with Angel - and right now the book feels like Angel Season 3 and 4 did - where an auspicious birth is going to bring grief to everyone. This book has been awesome!
I'm sorry. Paul Davidson's art is awful, in my opinion. Everyone looks like mannequins or like they're having a painful poop.
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