X-Factor 29 - Inferno Prologue

New villainess Infectia tries to steal Ship from X-Factor...

X-Factor #29

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

This issue sees the introduction of a new villain, one whom it's hard to imagine would be created today. But this era of comics often still saw new seductresses created, frequently with Walter Simonson involved. Infectia is shown picking up a succession of men in bars and taking them home to kiss - only to transform them into monstrous forms to become her slaves in her initial assault on ship.

It's hard to imagine Infectia being created today. But the 1980s was another era and for now she takes on the role of a femme fatale as she lures multiple men into becoming her slaves for her unsuccessful first attempt to seize Ship. This raises the curiosity that the established rule that only mutants can enter Ship's forcefields doesn't apply to Infectia's slaves as they attack. The resulting battle is fierce and only resolved when Marvel Girl unleashes her full power and causes them to burn out and crumble to dust. It's a pretty dark moment as Jean comes to terms with what she's done.

The main focus of the issue is on character as Jean comes to terms with the believed to be dead Madelyne Pryor and the situation Scott is in. Meanwhile the Beast tries to discuss his situation with Trishy Tilby but is interrupted by Death/Angel searching for information about where Candy Southern has gone. And Iceman is coming into his own role as the team's spokesperson when he finds himself taking command of a press conference about the team's plans to move Ship out into the Atlantic Ocean so it will no longer disrupt New York's shipping lanes. There's a lot of threads continuing to build in this issue but a curse of starting where we have is that no big moments have come just yet.