THE X-Men franchise continues to inch closer to its own version of Marvel legendary Civil War, while new mutant registration legislation divides two current X-Men teams, led by Cyclops and Rogue, and threatens the safety of the broader mutant community.as they struggle to reintegrate into human society following the destruction of their island sanctuary of Krakoa.
X Factor #5 – written by Mark Russell, with art by Bob Quinn – marks a new chapter in mutants' eternal struggle to find freedom. In response to threats from a mutant-led terrorist group against America, the United States government has already enlisted the help of X-Factor. However, the extremist group, called X-Term, is gaining strength among America's mutant population.
As groups like the Mutant Underground gain greater strength, the government is pushing a new agenda that would divide mutantkind. just as the Superhuman Registration Act divided Marvel's most powerful heroes and villains. Soon, mutants could face their own Civil War.
Marvel’s new “Mutant Surveillance Act” threatens to divide the X-Men after their most united era
X Factor #5 – Written by Mark Russell; Art by Bob Quinn; Color of Jesus Aburtov; Lyrics by VC's Joe Caramagna; Cover art by Greg Land and Frank D'Armata
The newly unveiled “Mutant Surveillance Act” reportedly aims to “encourage the cooperation of good mutants”, to better distinguish from “bad.” Realistically, this means the same thing that every other Marvel Registration Act has proven to be: a means of control. On the surface, these acts are advertised as legal ways to distinguish law-abiding citizens from lawless ones. However, with registration comes danger. It is an unavoidable truth that mutants are hated throughout the country, always have been and always will be; Forcing an individual to reveal their mutant status in a public capacity only serves to threaten their life.
Although the original X-Factor acted as government agents and public supporters of the MRA, in secret they were a liberationist group created to save unjustly imprisoned mutants; now, the latest version of X-Factor may face a similar choice.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time mutants have faced a similar official sweep of anti-mutant legislation. In Mysterious X-Men #181 (1984) – written by Chris Claremont, with art by John Romita Jr. – readers were introduced to the original Mutant Registration Act. In response to the MRA, Jean Gray and Cyclops created the first iteration of X-Factor. Although the original X-Factor acted as government agents and public supporters of the MRA, in secret they were a liberationist group created to save unjustly imprisoned mutants; now, the latest version of X-Factor may face a similar choice.
Mutantkind has already survived one registration act, but this new one could tear them apart
A Mutant Civil War Seems Almost Inevitable
Although the original Mutant Registration Act failed before it could have any major impacts, not all timelines were spared the same fate. Node Days of Future Past timeline, the MRA was directly responsible for a global Sentinel acquisition. If the newly proposed MSA is approved, Earth-616 could face an equally mysterious future. However, that's if an all-out mutant civil war doesn't happen first. Fortunately, X-Factor's current leader, Havoc, doesn't seem to agree with the MSA. Ultimately, the future seems frighteningly uncertain Marvel mutants and the few members of the X-Men that remain to protect them.
X Factor #5 will be available December 11, 2024 from Marvel Comics.