Is X-Factor Ending?
- Written by Jude Terror on Wednesday, March 13 2013 and posted in News and Satire
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.
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About the Author - Jude Terror
Jude Terror is the Webmaster Supreme of The Outhouse and a sarcastic ace reporter dedicated to delivering irreverent comics and entertainment news to The Outhouse's dozens of loyal readers. Driven by a quest for vengeance, Jude Terror taught himself to program and joined The Outhouse. He instantly began working toward his goal of forcing the internet comics community to take itself less seriously and failing miserably.
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