"X-Men Greatest Hits #1"
by Brett

I was going through some old comics a couple days ago and I ran across X-Factor #84. I remembered how much I?d enjoyed the issue so I read it again. Now, why am I writing about this particular issue? Because it is an underrated classic.

Part 2 of the X-Cutioner?s Song, the issue opens with X-Force learning of Cable?s assassination attempt of Xavier (but it was later proven to be Stryfe). The team decides to go to New York (against Shatterstar?s complete dislike of the idea) and hunt for their missing mentor. X-Force then runs across the other X-team, X-Factor. Namely Strong Guy and Wolfsbane (former New Mutant and ally of several X-Force members). The usual comic battle ensues and X-Force is driven off.

But why is this issue so great? Mostly the writing of Peter David (who later left X-Factor due to the confusion that the crossovers were causing). He made this issue hilarious! Strong Guy turns off his headset so he could have some ?fun? with a female X-Patriot (thereby missing the news of Xavier being shot), Wolfsbane goes nuts all over a nurse about the Prof?s condition, and then she goes and bites Rictor?s lip when they kiss. You could feel the tension in this issue. You could feel the emotions that X-Force was feeling whenever they realized that they were being hunted by their allies. The art (by Jae Lee) is very quirky and you either love it or hate it. I feel that it fits the mood of this issue perfectly.

So here?s the review of X-Factor #84 (on a scale of 1-5, 5 being best):

WRITING: 5
ART: 3
OVERALL: 4.