I usually delay these threads a week or so to give as many people as possible the opportunity to read it, but I know you’re all dying to talk about it. So before spoiler comments start leaking onto the “X-Factor #39 sold out” thread, here’s somewhere to discuss the shocking developments.
I will say one thing about the ending, which readers of this should feel free to repeat on any thread anywhere, spoiler or not:
Most people are assuming that the last page is exactly what it appears to be.
That’s a mistake.
PAD
• 
Boy, that was good. Can’t wait to read next one… And what happened to *****
I don’t know what changed, but the last two issues were almost perfect…
PAD, I won’t give you the praise you obviously deserve for this issue because I know it makes you uncomfortable.
I’ll just say this; now I’m HOOKED to be showered with exposition and info on how she came back on the next issue, and I can totally see you shifting the focus to the rest of the team instead and leave me hanging for two whole months!!! You evil man, you!!!!!!
This has really gotten better lately. After the last crossover, I really felt the story had lost its way, and haven’t really been enjoying it. It changed this week. This was the best issue since Quicksilver left.
Well done!
Re: “That’s a mistake.”
HMMMMMMMM.
Good point. Are there any clues to point out what it is then?
Still the best X-Book on the market, and probably the best Marvel book too. I only pick up my comics once a month – whatever day X-Factor comes out. It’s also the only current book my wife reads.
Hopefully I’ll have a bit of more interesting X-Factor related news by the time 41 hits. 😉
I just finished reading X-Factor 40 and may I just say that you are hands down the best X-writer out there today. Your stories are phenomenal. I was reading 40 in front of my girlfriend’s aunt and she looked at me as if a 33 year old man should not be reading comics. She just does not know. For all of those people that give me that look and ask me why, I tell them, “they’re just stories”. You Mr. David are a great writer of stories. One day the world will take notice. I know stuff.
Please keep going.
I just finished reading X-Factor 40 and may I just say that you are hands down the best X-writer out there today. Your stories are phenomenal. I was reading 40 in front of my girlfriend’s aunt and she looked at me as if a 33 year old man should not be reading comics. She just does not know. For all of those people that give me that look and ask me why, I tell them, “they’re just stories”. You Mr. David are a great writer of stories. One day the world will take notice. I know stuff.
Please keep going.
Oh…I was *really* hoping that it was exactly what it appeared to be. Seriously, I had my fingers crossed the whole issue and then the second to last page came and I almost lost it. I had to put it down for a second to contain my excitement before I moved on. I really, really, want it to be her and not a time-traveling daughter or somesuch thing.
On the other hand, I’d prefer to have her back at the same age she left at. But I’ll take any Layla Miller I can get. Don’t get me wrong, I still adore the book (especially these last two issues) but I’m constantly missing her.
Oh…I was *really* hoping that it was exactly what it appeared to be. Seriously, I had my fingers crossed the whole issue and then the second to last page came and I almost lost it. I had to put it down for a second to contain my excitement before I moved on. I really, really, want it to be her and not a time-traveling daughter or somesuch thing.
On the other hand, I’d prefer to have her back at the same age she left at. But I’ll take any Layla Miller I can get. Don’t get me wrong, I still adore the book (especially these last two issues) but I’m constantly missing her.
I’m reminded of some of the early part of Byrne’s run on Alpha Flight. Around issue 18 or so each issue was ending with a suprise, and not forced cliffhangers. Guardian’s back. Then it turns out it isn’t him. Then… well, I don’t recall exactly. But I do remember eagerly waiting for the next issue to see what happens next. And that’s been very rare.
This is the 2nd x-factor issue i’ve picked up at my local comic shop the week it comes out because money permitting and other low caliber series are ending. I must say the opening scene was very cute, the dialogue between the two Madrox’s at the church was a great red herring set up for the ending. The second to last page had me saying No outloud and then had me giddy; however, there was something nagging me and coming on here to give you kudos has confirmed it.
So it’s a mistake, which could possibly explain Rahne’s vision of the wedding night massacre and
has me waiting for next issue to find out who he/she really is. One possibility is a person I haven’t seen her since her last outing with Wolverine but that would be too obivous given her past history with X-Factor.
Peachy. Now I get to spend the next month wondering who the heck “Layla” really is.
Which is fine, since my questions about 40 have nothing to do with Layla (or whoever she may be) and everything to do with Sproglet Insanity.
My question is basically…
What is the difference between what went on in Terry’s belly, and actual gestation?
Perhaps more importantly, what is the difference between one of Jamie’s duplicates, and a real person?
Since at the end of that hysterical pregnancy on a massive scale, she had to be cut open by a doctor who took something out of her that looked and behaved exactly like a newborn baby, there must have been something in there that needed to be gestated. What exactly constituted the dupe’s presence in utero? Did the “libido unleashed” dupe’s ëjáçûláŧë simply take on a mind of its own and trick Terry’s body into nourishing it like a fertilized egg?
I’m not saying it doesn’t make sense, only that I could use some clarification.
On a slightly different note: now that we’ve seen what it did to Jamie, how is Terry coping with losing the baby, not to mention her father?
Finally…*looks up at post* Wow, I’m coming off really peevish. I don’t mean to sound cranky; I liked the issue, I just have questions. I really, really enjoyed how Jamie talked Ronnie out of killing anyone. That was just too, too clever.
Also, for some reason I get a kick out of the idea of Jamie walking all the way to Vermont. Maybe it’s the sadist in me. The image of him calling X-Factor every few days is incredibly pathetic.
PAD,
I just have one thing to say: you are a cruel, cruel man. It that last page was not bad enough, you have to taunt us with the knowledge that the rug is not only being pulled out from beneath us, the run was never there to begin with.
Iowa jim
Great. I came on here to praise you for two of the most awesome back to back issues of anything I’ve read in a long time (if not ever) and sure enough, you’re already saying “things are not as they appear.”
Do not do this to us!
We want to know stuff! I swear we do! If it’s Mystique or some crap like that, I’ll drop the book, I swear! Okay, maybe I wouldn’t because I’m kind of a Madrox fanboy, but I will be very upset with you and you will get a very sternly written message from me.
Beware.
Keep up the great work.
I agree, if its not Layla then I probably wont continue. Im really not liking the new direction, especially with what youve done to Jamie.
Peter, What a great cliffhanger! This series has gone back to the top of my must-read list.
Well.. i dunno Pete. I feel a bit cheated,… ok, not cheated exactly, more like just a bit over-hyped. I mean, you did say…”The climax of this issue will quite simply blow you away”. Really? Well, either way I’m glad i bought it as I’ve always been a big supporter of your work, but the reveal at the end of this issue felt less than overwhelming. In fact, unless it turns out to be something other than what it appears, (which I’m desperately hoping for)… i’d say you’re just really trying to raise sales on your book for fear of an impending cancellation… am i right? Or maybe not cancellation so much as you being booted from the book by editorial & replaced by someone more willing to follow the X-path of typical trend.
I mean, w/o specifics so as to not ruin for someone who hasn’t read…. it just didn’t feel all that climactic to me,… i assumed that ending would occur inevitably at one point or another… i mean we are talking serialized fiction here are we not.. people usually return from the limbo ether in some form or another. So here’s hoping that you’ve got more tricks up your sleeve to come… but I’m a little confused as to why the conclusion was supposed to be so MIND BLOWING.. really.. what did i miss?
As always thanks for all your hard work & good words… looking forward to more in the future.
Bye
Anyone remember how Jamie was seeing images of Layla post Messiah Complex, during “The Only Game in Town”? This could be a continuation on that. My guess is that Layla is only visible to Madrox.
I am not someone who comes on here often or posts messages here or elsewhere at all. However after reading a lot of what has been said I really wanted to give some joy to PAD but also share some not so happy thoughts to the minimisers out there. This may be a rant in some ways as there is much here building up so read on…or not.
PAD you can tell the effort and passion you have put into this title. We’re talking years in the making here it just blows my mind there is someone who can put all this stuff together like this, as well as linking in with the whole crossover events.
I find it really annoying others keep going on about how ‘they knew this all along’ and other ways to minimise the work of this fantastically written series, not just here but on the net everywhere. Stop trying to boost yourself by putting this good stuff down – some can say it’s overhyped but far out this in no way disappointed my expectations. In fact it gave me such a sense of joy in that one moment that I won’t forget. Best work of any medium I have read in the longest time. I literally was sitting there and screamed “OH…..MY…..GOD”.
Continue to enjoy the ride and the twists and turns as they come. It can be human nature to want to know the outcome of everything but where is that going to get you people? Going with the flow is far more full of funness and I am loving every minute of it.
Thanks PAD man I sincerely mean that you have given me some fantastic joy over the years and especially with these latest issues and I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me and I appreciate it all – you totally rock!
Thoughts from abroad… Colour me conflicted.
Jamie (or a Jamie dupe) did the deed with Terry, and this resulted in the creation of a dupe within Terry that survived for 9 months while her body underwent a pseudo pregnancy before emerging looking like a new born baby? That’s stretching things a wee bit, ya know?
Jamie deduces that based on the above, ie: that “didn’t happen this time” translates to “can’t ever happen”, therefore John’s son can not be John’s son and sets off to tell him so. (Thanks for sharing, Jim!)
Jamie is understandably depressed by recent events and his life in general at the moment, and it’s both refreshing and excellently written that a character gets to show what that actually feels like. But then we’re into another “God rant by PAD” section. For me, it’s too similar to Fallen Angel’s take on the subject.
I know that the writer has to speak with the voice of the character, but could we maybe have a character who speaks as passionately and eloquently for God at some stage? (And “No”, John’s “God is awesome” line doesn’t cover that base. Maybe in 41 he gets to issue a real rebuttal)
And she’s back! Or, ya know, not…
Bottom line, the book is still ‘must read’ material, I’ve no intention of dropping it, but I do have the nitpicking quibbles listed above…
Cheers,
PJP
As I said 2 years ago, X-Factor is the best written X-comic today. It is perhaps the best written X-comic of all time. The same has been said of PAD’s run on Hulk. And Captain Marvel. And Supergirl. And Aquaman. And SpyBoy was dámņëd good, too.
Most people are assuming that the last page is exactly what it appears to be.
That’s a mistake.
*checks to make sure that PAD said that spoilers could be discussed in this thread*
Well, you acknowledged that they would be discussed so I’ll take that as tacit permission. First, let me say what I think that page exactly appears (to me) to be. It appears that Layla spent several years in the future where she grew up and that she eventually found a way to get back to our time, arrived sometime in the very recent past and came to John Maddox’s church to meet Jamie.
Okay, here’s the cruel part. That statement of yours I quoted has most everyone now convinced that that is not really Layla on the last page. They’re all focusing on “not what it appears to be” and ignoring the “exactly” part of that statement. That’s why I stated what it exactly appears to be to me. I could be wrong on any part of that and the statement would be true.
Do I think that woman on the last page is Layla Miller? Yes I do. Will I feel betrayed if it turns out I’m wrong. That depends on how you manage to pull it off. If it’s a good story, I’ll be okay with it. If I don’t like the story, then I’ll be upset. That’s as it should be. I will say that I want it to be her and the Layla Miller One-Shot seems to make it clear that she gets back eventually.
Hmmmm. If the last page is not what we think it is, and it is Peter that is telling us that it is such, perhaps the “Jamie” in this issue is not the “real” Jamie but a dupe?
When I summarized the last two issues of X-Factor for my non-comics-reading girlfriend, she was absolutely intrigued and mad I wouldn’t tell her more.
You must be doing something right, PAD.
Not to pander, but X-Factor is the only X-book I read with any frequency now. Quite honestly, the plethora of X-Books (especially Wolverine) out there has caused me to feel like a man who goes to an all-you-can-eat place and gorges himself on the buffet. There may have been one or two good items, but all you really remember is that bloated feeling
Back to X-Factor – I do hope Layla is back, but I’m willing to hitch along for the ride regardless. I’m sure the story will be good in any case.
I do have one question, however. Can Jamie really kill himself with a gun? I guess I’m not conversant enough on his powers, but I assumed that ANY kinetic force would create a dupe, even being shot.
Jamie has previously had dupes shot dead before. So, yeah, it should work.
A gunshot is a puncture wound, rather than blunt force. And we’ve seen dupes get shot, so, yeah, there’s no reason why it couldn’t kill Jamie.
Mr. David, your original run on X-Factor was one of the things from my adolescence that helped form me as an artist and a person.
With the last two issues, your current run has succeeded the original in my esteem.
Thank you very much for returning to the book. I am not clever enough to express how happy it has made me.
> Okay, here’s the cruel part. That statement of yours I quoted has most everyone now convinced that that is not really Layla on the last page. They’re all focusing on “not what it appears to be” and ignoring the “exactly” part of that statement. That’s why I stated what it exactly appears to be to me. I could be wrong on any part of that and the statement would be true.
To me though, the “exactly what it appears to be” is limited to “that’s Layla, X years older than when we last saw her because it’s been X years for since we last saw her”. I don’t think, for instance, saying that she was sent back in time very shortly after the LMS, but ended up in the Silver Age and got to the present the slow way from there would change how it appeared to be.
Gunshot wounds occur when a bullet enters the body and causes injury. The kinetic energy (KE) of the projectile is defined as one half of the mass (M) times the velocity (V) squared. The greater the mass of the bullet, and higher the velocity, the greater the kinetic energy and resultant tissue injury. Also note that bullet velocity has a greater effect on kinetic energy than mass.
Jamie’s demo with the melons certainly indicates bullets inflict blunt force as well as puncture injury. Looking at the pseudo-science, I’d suggest that a headshot to a dupe is fatal enough, fast enough, to prevent the creation of another dupe…
Cheers.
She’s finally back !!! Yesssssssss!!!
This Layla Miller is a transexual Jamie Madrox dupe.
They even have the same number of letters in their names. What more proof is needed?
See that case over there? Look how rested it is; I did that.
Um, you said that it’s a mistake that we are expecting the last page to be as it appears to be ? That sort of sucks. I mean, I had been hoping that it was just as it appears to be. Then again, the whole thing in #39 almost made me cry, but you changed that((sort of )). More than likely, I’ll be wowed when I read issue #41. For a little while, you had taken sort of a slow road in the series. I mean, since Arcade showed up, through issue number #38, I was less than amused at most of the stuff in the series. I knew that you’d bring it around, though. That’s why I’m still reading it. Plus, Madrox is my favorite character in all of fiction, and he stars in this series. Well, looking forward to the next issue, and any one-shot that pops out.
OK. So, if this is a mistake, then does Layla’s “knowing” that Jamie and she will get married refer to the real Layla, or this “mistake” Layla?
OK. So, if this is a mistake, then does Layla’s “knowing” that Jamie and she will get married refer to the real Layla, or this “mistake” Layla?
“As I said 2 years ago, X-Factor is the best written X-comic today. It is perhaps the best written X-comic of all time. The same has been said of PAD’s run on Hulk. And Captain Marvel. And Supergirl. And Aquaman. And SpyBoy was dámņëd good, too.”
PAD’s run on Aquaman was the best-written X-book of its time???
🙂
Oops. Sloppy writing there. Thanks, Jonathan.
I´ve been loving X-factor and the last page of # 40 was great and I´m still amazed, great job.
By the way, when Layla will return/
Great issue. Can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
X-Factor 39 / 40:
Issue 39’s resolution came completely out of left field as I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING and 40 delivered ANOTHER completely out of left field moment as I had forgotten about the character, and my wanting her back,for a while.
Issue 39 was the first cliffhanger in ages that had me REALLY looking forward the next issue. Then out of nowhere in 40, you deliver another one.
Just read issue 40. Great issue. X-factor has always been one of the best issues I read every month going all the way back to the Madrox mini-series. The past 2 issues have really exceeded the series constant greatness. The surprises in each issue have been great, especially that I did not see either surprise coming. Can’t wait to read what happens next. Thanks for a great story.
I just finished and….well, dámņ.
The whole issue was great. I have been reading this issue one and it just keeps getting better. As soon as I finished this ish I went straight to my computer and came here. Just had do say extremely awesome and I can’t wait til next month.(and the next mind blowing moment)
I have to say that I had some reservations about picking up X-Factor at first, but I am now glad that I did. The past few issues have been very interesting. It is definitely one of my favorite X-books.
X-Factor 40 … wow. A terrific, powerful comic. I’m really looking forward to reading the next issue and seeing how everything turns out…
well, the Scans_daily crap was good for something. I now know you have a site where I can comment.
I’ve been reading superhero comics for a little over a decade and in that time I’ve discovered that the things most writers and editors think drive the comics leave me cold. I’ve dropped more comics for character deaths and team shakeups than any other reason. With foreshadowing, solicits and previews it’s always been fairly clear to me when it was getting to the point I should drop a book.
I never really liked X-Factor. It had Rahne Sinclair, a character I liked a lot, and I was also a fan of Jamie, Guido and Monet. So I tolerated Layla who was a crap character when she was created for House of M and will always be a crap character.
I endured the loss of Wolfsbane and the middling interest because I was hoping something that really interested me would happen.
Monet’s presence made me hope for an appearence by Emplate, since they’re family, mutants are rare and Jamie should be an all you can eat buffet for him. I liked the arc where Jamie went after his dupes and we met John Maddox. I was looking forward to the birth of Jamie and Terry’d kid.
My point of all this is to congratulate you. In all my years reading these books I’ve only dropped a book immediately a handful of times. But when I saw what you did with Sean, I knew right then and there I wasn’t touching another issue of X-Factor. So congratualtions.
well, the Scans_daily crap was good for something. I now know you have a site where I can comment.
I’ve been reading superhero comics for a little over a decade and in that time I’ve discovered that the things most writers and editors think drive the comics leave me cold. I’ve dropped more comics for character deaths and team shakeups than any other reason. With foreshadowing, solicits and previews it’s always been fairly clear to me when it was getting to the point I should drop a book.
I never really liked X-Factor. It had Rahne Sinclair, a character I liked a lot, and I was also a fan of Jamie, Guido and Monet. So I tolerated Layla who was a crap character when she was created for House of M and will always be a crap character.
I endured the loss of Wolfsbane and the middling interest because I was hoping something that really interested me would happen.
Monet’s presence made me hope for an appearence by Emplate, since they’re family, mutants are rare and Jamie should be an all you can eat buffet for him. I liked the arc where Jamie went after his dupes and we met John Maddox. I was looking forward to the birth of Jamie and Terry’d kid.
My point of all this is to congratulate you. In all my years reading these books I’ve only dropped a book immediately a handful of times. But when I saw what you did with Sean, I knew right then and there I wasn’t touching another issue of X-Factor. So congratualtions.
“But then we’re into another “God rant by PAD” section. For me, it’s too similar to Fallen Angel’s take on the subject.”
And She-Hulk’s take. But I’ve just come to accept that any Peter David story is going to have a character who has issues with either God or his/her father (which, thematically, I guess is the same thing).
“But when I saw what you did with Sean, I knew right then and there I wasn’t touching another issue of X-Factor.”
Because you’d grown so attached to the character? Because it represented a “team shakeup?” I’m confused.