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by **LOLtron** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:00 pm

Marvel's June solicitations declare "the end begins here" for X-Factor #257.

As was widely reported late last year, fan-favorite comics writer and science fiction author Peter David suffered a stroke, from which he has been recovering. David, of course, is the current and longtime writer of X-Factor, a Marvel mutant book that has been regarded by its dedicated fans for years as the best X-book on the stands. Today's Marvel solicitations may be disappointing for those fans, as they seem to indicate that X-Factor #257 begins a six-issue final story arc for the book:

X-FACTOR #257 & 258
PETER DAVID (W) • Neil Edwards (A)
Cover by DAVID YARDIN
• The end begins here.
• THE END OF X-FACTOR, parts 1 & 2 of 6.
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$2.99 (EACH)

It is unknown what the reason is for the possible cancelation, as publishers don't usually announce these things. We can, however take a look at The Beat's month-to-month Marvel sales analysis:

93. X-FACTOR
01/08 X-Factor v3 #27 - 81,350
01/09 X-Factor v3 #39 - 32,796
01/10 X-Factor #201 - 29,732
01/11 X-Factor #213 - 25,403
=====
01/12 X-Factor #230 - 25,707 ( +8.6%)
02/12 X-Factor #231 - 24,362 ( -5.2%)
02/12 X-Factor #232 - 24,173 ( -0.8%)
03/12 X-Factor #233 - 23,840 ( -1.4%)
04/12 X-Factor #234 - 23,821 ( -0.1%)
05/12 X-Factor #235 - 24,051 ( +1.0%)
05/12 X-Factor #236 - 24,031 ( -0.1%)
06/12 X-Factor #237 - 24,854 ( +3.4%)
06/12 X-Factor #238 - 23,607 ( -5.0%)
07/12 X-Factor #239 - 23,506 ( -0.4%)
07/12 X-Factor #240 - 23,223 ( -1.2%)
08/12 X-Factor #241 - 22,943 ( -1.2%)
08/12 X-Factor #242 - 22,782 ( -0.7%)
09/12 X-Factor #243 - 22,118 ( -2.9%)
09/12 X-Factor #244 - 22,193 ( +0.3%)
10/12 X-Factor #245 - 22,364 ( +0.8%)
11/12 X-Factor #246 - 22,165 ( -0.9%)
11/12 X-Factor #247 - 22,005 ( -0.7%)
12/12 X-Factor #248 - 21,664 ( -1.5%)
12/12 X-Factor #249 - 21,211 ( -2.1%)
01/13 X-Factor #250 - 22,521 ( +6.2%)
6 mnth ( -3.0%)
1 year (-12.4%)
2 year (-11.3%)
3 year (-24.3%)
4 year (-31.3%)
5 year (-72.3%)
Not much of a boost for the anniversary issue, but X-FACTOR has a very loyal audience nonetheless. It may not have big sales, but at least it has reliable ones.

As you can see, X-Factor's sales have been pretty steady for the past year, even increasing in January.

It's also possible that David simply needs a break from the book while recovering, and that it will be relaunched with a new #1 issue when ready. We're hoping that's the case, as X-Factor has been a consistently awesome book since it launched in 2006.

And of course, this could all just be a case of reading too much into the story arc name. Spider-Man No More!!! did not result in the cancelation of Spider-Man.

In any case, if you want to help Peter David and his family during his recovery, please see this blog post, which directs readers toward the Peter David books whose purchase would be most beneficial to the author. It's worth the two-minute read to learn how to more effectively use your money on these books that you would probably be buying regardless.

Written or Contributed by Jude Terror

READ THIS ARTICLE ON THE FRONT PAGE, HUMANS!

by **GHERU** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:04 pm

I was thinking the same thing, but it could jsut be the name of the arc, considering the current acr (hell on earth) is suppoded to rip the team apart, this might just be a story where they break up only for Jamie to form a new one?

by **oogy** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:55 pm

I've kind of felt like they been moving towards an end to the series for a few months now.

by **e_galston** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:24 pm

GHERU wrote:I was thinking the same thing, but it could jsut be the name of the arc, considering the current acr (hell on earth) is suppoded to rip the team apart, this might just be a story where they break up only for Jamie to form a new one?

this is my thinking as well. the name of the arc is a little to on the nose for me. Which is why i think its just the name of the story not the end of the series.

by **bkthomson** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:37 pm

Well give it until the end of the week for PAD to respond the title or at least Marvel saying one way or another if the book is ending. Though I agree with RU and E_Gal I think this is just a title of the arc, and something that PAD would entitle to have fun with the fans.

by **MistaT** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:25 pm

While I love the series, I would be ok with it if it did. I would like to see PAD move on to something else in the MU.

...like CLOAK AND DAGGER!!

by **sdsichero** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:37 pm

GHERU wrote:I was thinking the same thing, but it could jsut be the name of the arc, considering the current acr (hell on earth) is suppoded to rip the team apart, this might just be a story where they break up only for Jamie to form a new one?

Or maybe break up Jamie and he can form his own team.

by **sdsichero** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:37 pm

MistaT wrote:While I love the series, I would be ok with it if it did. I would like to see PAD move on to something else in the MU.

...like CLOAK AND DAGGER!!

Who?