The X-Men are entering a new era in Marvel Comics, one that will see Cyclops’ brother Havok co-leading a new government-sponsored X-Factor team that’s part strike force, part propaganda machine. As the world’s mutants reel from the loss of their island nation of Krakoa, the new X-Factor will seek fame, fortune and power as they grapple with an important question: are they superheroes or sellouts?

Marvel has announced the latest X-Factor series by writer Mark Russell and artist Bob Quinn will launch this August as part of the X-Men’s new From the Ashes era. As mutant paramilitary units, kill squads and mercenary teams pop up all over the world, the United States government gets into the game with its own team. Alongside Alex Summers aka Havok, the new X-Factor will be co-led by original X-Man Warren Worthington III aka Angel. Its roster will include Pyro, Feral, Frenzy and more.

While most of the new X-Men teams will be operating as outlaws, Marvel teases that X-Factor will be fighting for mutant rights from within the system.

X-Factor Gathers The “Most Marketable Mutant Heroes” Together

The American government is assembling this new team to wage war against emerging factions like the Mutant Underground and X-Term. But they’ll also be battling on the front lines of public opinion. The team will consist of “the most powerful, most patriotic, most marketable mutant heroes” in the post-Krakoa era. Marvel promises that some members believe in their mission, while others are just collecting a paycheck. But regardless of how strong their convictions are, they will need to navigate shady politics and hidden agendas as they fight to “make the world safe for democracy!”

“The thing I’ve always loved about the X-Men is that they’re characters first, superheroes second,” said Russell. “So, being able to write characters like Havok and Angel and Frenzy in a post-Krakoa reality is an opportunity to write about what I really care about, which is how do we help each other survive the apathy of the world we live in?”

“It’s so exciting to be back and drawing mutants in the X-Men universe again, and doubly exciting to work with Mark again,” Quinn said. “To my mind, Mark’s mix of humor and ability to shine a light on the peculiarities of modern society make him the perfect writer to tackle the relaunch of X-Factor. Drawing this team and every unexpected twist and turn of the story has been a blast so far, and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it.”

Havok Will Be Right At Home With This New X-Factor Team

X-Factor’s two leaders represent two different incarnations of the classic team. The first X-Factor comprised of the original five X-Men operating independently of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. They publicly presented themselves as mutant hunters, while secretly they fought to protect mutants. The second incarnation of X-Factor was a government-sponsored team that was also led by Havok. That team answered to the Pentagon and also included members like Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Multiple Man and Wolfsbane. Other iterations have included a private detective agency led by Multiple Man, as well as a Krakoa-era team that investigated mutant deaths.

It takes a lot to be considered the “worst Summers brother,” considering that Cyclops’ other brothers are the megalomaniacal Vulcan and Adam-X, the epitome of ’90s extreme comics. But From the Ashes will see Cyclops heading up an X-Men squad of mutant revolutionaries, while Havok serves as a public face for government propaganda. When Cyclops went through a previous revolutionary phase in the pre-Krakoa days, Alex joined the public-facing Avengers Unity Squad that was designed to rehabilitate the image of mutants to the public. During the Krakoa era, Alex continued to live in his brother’s shadow. While Cyclops led the Krakoan iteration of the X-Men, Havok was a member of the Hellions, Mister Sinister’s team of mutant outcasts.

After the Hellions disbanded, he took up with Scott’s ex-wife, Madelyne Pryor. Alex stood by her side as she launched a demonic attack on New York, and has stayed with her as she’s run the Limbo Embassy. It’s unclear if Alex’s relationship with Madelyne will continue through his time with the new X-Factor, or if the couple splitting up sends him running to the familiar arms of working for the U.S. government.

Angel is a character who’s similarly been adrift for many years. Most recently, he’s served as the head of X-Corp, the corporation representing mutant business interests. But it remains to be seen whether co-leading the new X-Factor alongside Havok will bring him stability or more chaos in this new era for the X-Men.

Source: Marvel Comics