The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

by LOLtron » Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:00 am

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.

by GHERU » Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:04 am

by oogy » Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:55 am

by e_galston » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:24 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?

by bkthomson » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:37 pm

by MistaT » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:25 pm

by sdsichero » Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:37 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?

by sdsichero » Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:37 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!!

by MistaT » Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:40 pm

sdsichero wrote:
Who?

by sdsichero » Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:46 pm

MistaT wrote:
You shut your filthy whore mouth!!

by Arion » Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:21 am

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