X-Factor 28 - Inferno Prologue

The team battle Apocalypse's ship as both Cyclops and Death/Angel search for their closest ones...

X-Factor #28

Plot/Scripter: Louise Simonson
Plot/Penciler: Walter Simonson
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

This issue is a further step in establishing the new status quo for the series as the team comes into full control of Apocalypse's ship, discovering its artificial intelligence in the process. There's something almost goofy and retro about "Ship" being a fully sentient character but then the core concept of the series is a throwback to the Silver Age. However the execution of the idea isn't so great as it merely results in the team and the younger mutants battling against a series of mechanical traps as they seek to overpower the system's defences then getting a bomb away before it explodes.

The issue continues the Beast's problems as he struggles with his intellect disintegrating every time he uses his strength ever since Pestilence touched him some issues back. Hank's determination to save his friends and their determination to save him often clash and here we have the spectacle of Iceman freezing the Beast to the floor to prevent him from getting involved in the action; however ice is not shatterproof. Meanwhile both Cyclops and Death/Angel are seeking to reconnect with their closest ones. The latter discovers that his girlfriend Candy Southern has been kidnapped setting things up for later issues. Scott is heading to Dallas to see if he find any clues about the whereabouts of his son but only gets as far as the airport before seeing the news about the ship attacking X-Factor and hurries back. Although he's chosen the hot action over the cold trail, once again we see how readily Scott will drop everything to be by the others' sides, especially Jean's. By contrast Death/Angel's reaction is to leave X-Factor to it, still feeling abandoned by them.

There are some good ideas in this issue but the execution of the core concept is poor resulting in a rather stilted battle that marks the final triumph over Apocalypse. However the long term searches are building up as the key themes going forwards.