X-factor Visionaries: Peter David vols. 1-4

by: Peter David and a variety of artists.

Collects: Vol. 1 - X-factor 71-75; Vol. 2 - X-factor #76-78 and Incredible Hulk #390-392, Vol. 3 - X-factor 79-83 and Annual #7, X-factor 84-89 and Annual #8.

The Can of Mayo: The government puts together a mutant hero team to dispel the negative rumors, and give mutants a public and positive force to rely on.

Making Duplicates:

This is the first run by Peter David, and it's the first time Madrox (Multiple Man), Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, and Quicksilver are brought together on a team along with Havok and Polaris in these early 90's exploits. This run cam out at a time when the mutants were being over-exploited, and this run was a nice change of pace as this version of the X-factor team worked for the government, had some semblance of deepness in their personality, and was gag central.

Peter David's entire original run is collected in four Visionary trades. This run is still very wrapped up in 90's ambiance, artistic style, storylines, and superheroics, but it's still also very fun. David does a nice job of balancing the superheroic adventures with the the drama that usually comes along with a mutant book, all the while pushing the comedic aspect of his particular team. Each character is typically well-defined, with their own personality traits and each team member adds to the team.

As for the books themselves, they're some decent collections, in the initial volume, you can tell that David had some issues with the nailing each member's voice. They kind of blend in all together, but in later issues, David has nailed each one of the characters. Yet still the first volume isn't the weakest, the fourth volume is the weakest. And that's only because most of that volume contains parts from a large X-universe crossover, X-cutioner's song. David isn't allowed to stay off in his little corner of the world with just his team, he's forced to deal with the crossover and these issues suffer for it...BIG TIME.

Overall the plots are often just big very 90's-esque adventures, Mutanthood Liberation Front, Cyber, Mr. Sinister, The Nasty Boys, and other random villains make appearances in these plots. The themes hit though are more impressive, Peter David often deals with themes such as war, genetics, identity issues, emotional rages, bullying, parenting, relationships, among others. They're so subtle in this book that they just seem like natural parts of the plot. The most risque plot and probably my favorite arc of the run is the Hulk crossover that deals with a war situation very reminiscent of current Middle Eastern events, Iraq and Israel/Palestine come to mind.

Some of my favorite issues include issue 76 (also part of the Hulk crossover) that deals with feminism and Rahne's animalistic changes and issue 87 (the best issue of the entire run) that's a psychology evaluation of the entire team.

No More Dupes:
The books are a really fun ride, it's not the greatest run overall, and it takes a bit for David to gets his grasp over every one, but it really gets good with some great themes and subtext being touched upon throughout the run and some great HA-HA's for some relief. I'd recommend it to anybody who is at least a little bit interested in the earlier adventures of the X-factor team. It's a great background on the characters, and it sets me up for a read of the current X-factor run which is a blast of a series.

Running Smallville Diary Season 1, Disc 3

In case you're new to this, this is a running Smallville diary. That means, that I'm watching Smallville for the first time, and keeping a diary of my thoughts on the show. I had heard a lot about the show for many years now, but never bothered to check it out. Until Now....

Episode 9: Rogue

I really like this episode as they really make Clark see the consequences of his consistent use of his powers. Even at one point it's a throw away line reference to his other life-saving events, it still makes me giddy that the show knows somebody would put the pieces together.

Again, like much of the earlier episodes, this episode makes me think of X-men just due to the comparisons of hiding your powers and not being seen in order to be normal. It's got a great character building scene with Kent's father as he does everything he can to try and protect his son.

Clark takes after his father's lesson and does everything to protect his family. You can see the strong moral compass being built as Clark goes through these dilemmas. Also I really liked that they touched on Clark's want to kill the villain. It really makes Clark seem flawed and it works because he isn't Superman yet, he's still got to work out the kinks, especially in cases where the villain gets close to his heart. It's not just random civilians the villain is threatening it's his family. We know all superheros become emotional when their family is involved (I mean look at Spider-man, he made a deal with the devil just to save his dying Aunt).

Lex moves closer to find out the truth about Clark which is interesting but his interaction with Victoria Hardwick was really not, they tried to make it see like an exciting corporate game of cat and mouse but it was far from exciting.

Finally the C-story of Chloe losing her job as School Paper editor was really a nice piece of character building, very highschool-ish but considering that they are in high-school, it works. It gives Chloe more screen time, shows more of the true feelings that Chloe has for Clark, and Lana now realizes it, I think. Meaning that Clark will probably be hooking up with Chloe before Lana because of Lana's sincerity.

Three very separate stories with very little thematic connection this time around. But still one of the more entertaining and well-paced episodes yet, with a villain who doesn't have powers. That's a few good episodes in a row...we'll see if they can keep it up.

8.0

Episode 10: Shimmer

This episode is all based around a single mystery, it's not the greatest mystery ever, but did you really expect it to be.

This is a very Season 1 Buffy-type episode, and actually the concept is very similar to one of the episodes from that show. The invisible teenager is also the teenager who is the least known, the most quiet and as they say it's the quiet ones you have to watch out for. It's predictable but it's not too predictable.

Anyways, the main issue here and the more interesting issue, is the stuff that has to do with Clark, as always. Clark shows himself to be a better man than Whitney, by sacrificing his own feelings for Lana in order to help her repair her relationship with Whitney. In the end, Whitney isn't a bad guy, he's a pretty typical jock, kind of immature. Clark is just morally better, and an all around idealist. His ideals and his devotion to these ideals are what is so interesting in this episode. Even with his best friend telling him that he'd make the moves, but he's not Clark, and that's why he likes Clark so much, Clark still makes the tough decision and moves on.

The rest of the plot, the villain plot really isn't that interesting, sure it gives us more insight into Lex but it's still kind of bland, and been there done that.

7.0

Episode 11: Hug

This episode is my least favorite on the disc but it's still not quite as bad as earlier episodes and I can't remember much of it. It's just that the concept is a bit bland. It's a very environmentalism heavy episode. It's a very business dealings heavy episode (which is fine when it deals with Lex, but I don't really care that much outside of him). It's just kind of boring.

Until the climax. Uzi's, Clark vs. gun, and Chloe kissing Clark (okay maybe that last one doesn't happen in the climax), but there's some awesome moments in the climax and the action scene of the episode.

In terms of themes, we see something that'll come up in the very next episode but just executed so poorly it's barely even noticeable, two people having the same power and using them in different ways. Why is it not noticeable, well, it has very little relevance on Clark or any of the other main characters, it's all based on the one-off characters we'll see only in this episode. So we kind of go over it in passing. And we forget.

Most of the episode though is just bland. Whitney boohoos about Clark causes problems with Lana/Clark friendship, and it's all wrapped up kind of stupidly and nonsensically. I didn't like this episode.

6


Episode 12: Leech

This episode has some great thematic relevance but the plot devices used to get there are just implemented so poorly...lightning really...REALLY!

First the bad stuff, LIGHTNING can apparently strip you of your powers and change your DNA, which is what happens to Clark here. He switches DNA with a normal person, and he in fact become normal. I can't stress this enough, LIGHTNING makes people switch DNA. It's stupid. The normal kid gets Clark's powers and deals with bullies, and unforgiving parents.

Anyways, once that is out of the way, we see Clark get to enjoy normal life. There's some interesting notes on identity and the use of power to establish identity. The coolest difference is to see what Clark does with his powers, responsible, life-saving actions compared to the other teenager who uses his powers for personal gain and to crush adversity (not unlike a certain friend of Clark's). Clark sums it up quite well on why the two are so different, Clark's parents. The other big difference is in how the public view the two, because of Clark's carefulness in hiding he's never seen as a freak or an experiment, even though his parent's know, they still treat him as their son. The other student never felt treated like a son, never felt loved, and thus is seen as an opportunity for research by his father, and a freak by his mother. That really is the difference in how the two end up using their powers.

Unfortunately the climax could/should have been interesting as a normal Clark takes on the powered student, but it just uses the stupid plot device to get everything back to normal. It's stupid and lame. And really puts a dent on an episode that has lots of fun thematic relevance.

7.5

Halfway through the season and I fell a bit of mid-season slump. It's still fluffy entertainment, and really, the quicker Season 1's constant one-off plots end, the better.

Running Smallville Diary (Season 1, Disc 2)

In case you're new to this, this is a running Smallville diary. That means, that I'm watching Smallville for the first time, and keeping a diary of my thoughts on the show. I had heard a lot about the show for many years now, but never bothered to check it out. Until Now....

Episode 5: Cool

Another villain of the week...this time he has the power of freeze! This time the metaphor is for somebody who is basically a man-whore. It's basically using the cold as the way certain men may treat women as only sexual objects. Either way, the villains are still kind of just there. At least, Kryptonite isn't sitting around at the opportune time before the fight, instead, like many of the other power villains, he's received his powers due to it.

It's a really weak episode and they tackle a plot-line I didn't care too much about, the Kent farm storyline, although it does get Lex involved more in the Kent's lives and involves more business like matters which is what Lex becomes a mastermind at. Overall though I wasn't a fan of that plot thread. The better plot was the one that had to do with sacrifice for Clark. Lana wants to spend time with Clark, but Clark is caught in a very Peter Parker-like scenario, doing good in the world or being with the special someone. Clark ultimately decides he needs to use his gifts and goes off to be the do-gooder at the upsetting of Lana. Like I said, very Peter Parker like scenario. I expect this to be a theme throughout the season if not longer, Clark's moral responsibility coming in the way of his wanting to be with Lana, friends or family even. It's not a half bad idea, and they've already established that Clark feels responsible for a lot of the bad that's happening and going to happen. It helps sets up the self-sacrifice we see from Superman.

Also getting more of a spotlight this episode is Chloe, who gets to show more depth that the regular super-reporter side. She shows that much like the rest of the town she's quite much like a normal girl, despite her strong, smart front. She also is capable of vulnerability and she is even willing to give a well-known douchebag a chance.

Still most of the plot is spent with ICE-Raper, and it's not that great.

Like the earlier episodes, it falls to the typical, boring villain plot, good character plot. When it finally meshes, the scores will go higher. But until then this show is still getting crappy scores.

6/10

Episode 6: Hourglass

The first episode that really combined all the elements excellently. The whole story follows an overall theme of time. The villain is stuck in the past, the old woman can see the future, and everybody else has to deal with the consequences of the past and future clashing into the present when they don't belong (the villain) and/or are not ready to deal with it (the future, especially with Lex).

First off, the coolest thing about this episode are the visions of the future that the audience gets. Lex doesn't believe in prophecy and feel an individual can create their future, Clark believes in prophecy but doesn't what likes what he sees and works to change it. The villain is another one of those elemental villains that we've been seeing lately, but it works just fine because it doesn't overpower and overwhelm the strength of the character story being told here.

Even the villain is kind of creepy, from how things are played out when he's just an old-man to later. It's fits very much into how we view different age groups, the pesky, vile, evil teenagers, and the innocent, respectable, old men. Imagine if the teenagers are just a little bit younger, they'd be innocent again. The circle of life.

I really liked this episode, and it's easily the best episode yet. 8.5/10

Episode 7: Craving -

From one of the best episodes yet, to one of the worst. This is a case where the villain does overpower the story. The whole story is about the villain with really crappy effects, and really an annoying character. It's obvious they're trying to throw a theme against eating disorders and poor self-image, but it's just so heavy handed that it's kind of been there, done that.

The stuff in terms of Lex, Lana, and Clark still moves along quite well. But it's all a blur because much of the time we're watching the villain go on a spree. The plot needs to pick up soon, like I said the villains of the week can only last so long.

I really liked Lex's machinations this week, he's making an assertive effort to find the truth behind the happenings of Smallville and Clark himself. He's also constantly positioning himself in a favorable position by helping Clark, but at the same time, only as a way to know the truth. It's very fun to watch him wheel and deal in the background.

Still incredibly poor episode 5/10.

Episode 8: Jitters

First off, the jitters effect wasn't scary, it was hilarious. Laughably bad.

Second this episode breaks away from the norm: it's got a villain who's not really a villain, and the "not really a villain" is an adult this time around. It's refreshing to see that not all the villains are teenagers, and it's also good to throw in a sympathetic villain who is also a victim of circumstance and desperation. Also the villain's connection to Clark and the Kent family is more believable than it has been in the past (a study buddy in Cravings, and random jock that he goes to school with that's macking on Chloe in Cool). The villains story does take up a lot of time because it's the main story of the episode, sure there's some humorous filler early on about Clark throwing a party while his parents are away, but it's just that filler.

The rest of the episode is Earl Jenkins asking for help and trying to find out what is wrong with him and his disease's connection to Luthor Corp Testing. The idea of desperation is the kind of the main connection in this episode, Lionel is desperate to diffuse the situation and not have any negative press, Lex is desperate to be better than his father at any cost, Clark is desperate to help his friend, the Kent's are desperate to get their boy out. It shows how such a thing can escalate very very quickly. It also compares the relationship between Clark and his family to Lex and his father.

Outside of the filler, it's a pretty good episode, although some of the acting and the jitter effects are laughably bad.

7.5

So far the show can be incredibly frustrating, but I've enjoyed it because it's light fluffy entertainment which is something that I need right now. Eventually, I'll need more from this series...but the first season is always the hardest as they find their legs. Like I said this season reminds me a lot of Buffy Season 1.