X-Factor [04] : Swords of X chapter 2 review *spoilers*

[Kingdom X]

I think her issue is precision and efficiency. A more talented writer can sharpen the dialogue to where you know exactly who someone is, what they're trying to say, and still be surprised.

You’re definitely onto something, HOWEVER I’d rather have a writer do heavy handed character work than do none at all.

[H-E-D]

This issue was fine.

[deus ex]

Enjoyed this issue.

Reducing the tole of the resurrection protocols was needed.

The interaction between Xavier/magneto and apocalypse was interesting. i wonder if there will be some kind split in the council after this event.

Also really enjoyed Emma's reaction to Rockslide's death

[superjosh]

This issue was fine.

The snark really isn't necessary. We're just having a discourse.

[Woozie]

You know, this issue sure does make a case for Madelyne after the Hellions stuff.

[FIGHT]

This is shaping up to be pretty dang interesting. Rockslide feath/remix was interesting and gives the mutants reason win.

Polaris was an good but odd focus character. Lorna getting spotlight is always a good thing. Apocalypse and Rictor relationship is really going to be a big thing down the line. So much to digest.

My hope is Apocalypse will enslave Rictor like he did Ozymandias. There is no greater honor than to be an eternal slave to Apocalypse. Rictor deserves it.

It also makes sense considering his power. Apocalypse can have a legion of stone men or something.

[Glio]

I think Rictor may be a "morality pet" for Apocalypse now that he feels betrayed by his children. Of course his original plan was to manipulate him but I have the feeling that he has grown fond of Rictor. It is obvious that he is furious over Rictor's death.

[zinderel]

Why did Lorna have blood on her hands?

Given that she was unknowingly working a ritual, AND is dealing with PTSD and guilt over Santos' death, I took it as both her working with her hands as penance for her guilt, AND as a part of the ritual. A lot of fantasy (and real world) ritual work uses blood, especially rituals of life, death and transformation.

[nx01a]

Given that she was unknowingly working a ritual, AND is dealing with PTSD and guilt over Santos' death, I took it as both her working with her hands as penance for her guilt, AND as a part of the ritual. A lot of fantasy (and real world) ritual work uses blood, especially rituals of life, death and transformation.

Pretty much this.

[Frobisher]

Metal is made out of mineral

Pretty sure metal is made of metal.

[frostedemma]

Metal is made out of mineral

Have atla and Toph creating metalbending taught you kids nothing?

No but seriously do we have to roll out the period table of elements? Some metals are found in minerals who in turn are found in rocks while other metals (like gold ,silver and copper) are found in their pure form as solid metal. So for polaris to be able to manipulate a rock it would have to contain either solid metal or a high concentration of metallic minerals.

Pretty sure metal is made of metal.

Exactly. The periodic table consist of metals and nonmetals.

[frostedemma]

For someone who keeps going on about how she loves monet and would love writer her, leah williams sure seem to not fully grab the opportunity whenever Monet does land in writing hands (first empyre now x-factor #4).

[captain Qball]

I liked it. It was exciting and I had a smile on my face the whole time. Had a bit of a feeling of not too much happening, but next week we have 3 chapters so I'm enjoy the time to relish it.

Rockslide's death....i can't say i was attached to him, but I likes the guy. The one time I wish Glob would have been featured instead. Oh well. I'm not sure I buy the reason he was corrupted. I thought the point of the backups was sometimes they come back from the most recent version Xavier made. They make a point of mentioning getting Richtor up to speed, so maybe the backup wasn't from otherworld.
I like what was discussed earlier that Otherworld has an impact on the soul aspect, which then seems odd cause it makes it seem like all iterations of a character in reality share a soul and are connected. Either the characters assumption is right, and this was the contrived method Hickman came up with to disable resurrection, or the characters are wrong and Rockslide was a special case. I hope it was tied to that game he played with the summoner. Something about exploiting his weakness.

Last thought about the death is that it could have some interesting impacts for more popular characters. Imagine if Cable or someone was replaced by an amalgam of all their realities counterparts.

As Hope's only fan, she just seemed like a clueless nobody like all the 5. Sad that she doesn't sign with summers as her last name.

The prophecies were fun, though most seem straight forward. We are kinda spoiled in the real world as we already know most of the bearers. I enjoy that Doug is also trying to solve these. Makes me think one of the obvious ones will be wrong.

When Xavier and Magneto confronted A, I totally thought they killed him, as punishment for going against the council and bringing all this to them. But apparently he set off to find a sword, so i guess he is fine.

Lastly, the whole contest seems vague. I know its mystical and just designed to set up the story, but I dont get it. Arrako's forces took over the tower in otherworldly, making them the rulers of one of the 10 kingdoms. Saturdyne made it sound like they were using those rights to challenge for ruler of Otherworld. But then she makes the x-men the champion for krakoa instead of otherworld forces? Or is she proposing they skip and leave otherworld alone and winner gets Krakoa? I guess that would explain why she doesn't seem to care. But it seems like a raw deal for the X-men.

[frostedemma]

Can someone explain to me what Rachel saw in Apocalypse's head when Rictor manifested in his thoughts? Does this imply that Apocalypse has a thing for him???

While Rachel was in his mind Apocalypse was blocking her out first with his children telling her to get out and then Rictor telling her to get out. There was nothing explicit about them being intimate but their interactions do give some a bit of a romantic, or at least deeper subtext than just allies.

[frostedemma]

Everyone mourning Rockslide as if he was some important person in all of their lives felt a bit weird to me.

Well it's always a sad day when a young mutant dies, especially one that was still a student recently.