X-Factor debuted in 1986 and was made up of the original X-Men lineup of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Iceman, and Angel. After the introduction of the new X-Men lineup in Giant Size X-Men #1 became extremely successful, Marvel released the new X-Factor title and launched a trend of X-teams in the early 90's like the New Mutants and X-Force.
X-Factor acted as a US Government task force, intervening in Mutant/Human affairs if necessary. They worked with a government liason named Valerie Cooper.
The early 90's saw the X-Men titles get relaunched again with X-Factor (original X-men team) rejoined the X-Men. Two teams were formed, X-Men Blue led by Cyclops (in X-Men) and the Gold Team led by Storm (Uncanny X-Men). X-Factor continued as a task force for the government but with a new lineup, closer to the one we're using today. Havok, Polaris, Quicksilver, Multiple Man, Beast, Iceman, and Strong Guy.
The Team:
Havok - Alex Summers, the younger brother of Scott Summers aka Cyclops, is the leader of the team. Havok can emit super powerful energy blasts from his hands and/or chest, and can absorb cosmic energy. He also has a unique immunity to his brother, Cyclops', optic blasts.
Polaris - Lorna Sally Dane is a powerful mutant with electromagnetic powers. She can control electomagnetic energy, fly and generate a magnetic field. She is the daughter of Magneto, the Mutant Master of Magnetism, if that says anything about how powerful she is. The limits of her powers are unknown, but Polaris is considered a major threat to cybernetic based enemies and at one point shielded the Starjammers (the X-Men's allies from outer space) from an entire fleet of enemy starship's laser fire. Not too shabby.
Quicksilver - Pietro Maximoff is the half brother of Polaris and also the son of Magneto. Unlike his half sister though, Quicksilver's abilities have nothing to do with magnets but speed. He is the Flash of the Marvel Comics Universe, but not as fast. Quicksilver can move, speak, and think at supersonic speeds with enhanced stamina and durability. He can also vibrate his body in order to phase through objects AND has supherhumanly fast reflexes.
Multiple Man - Jamie Madrox has a really unique mutant power, or a really annoying one depening on who you talk to in the X-Universe. Basically he can self-duplicate. By absorbing the kinetic energy of an impact, Madrox can create a perfect copy of himself, that he calls "dupes"; each dupe has all the items that Madrox has on his person at the time including clothing, weaponry, and memories. The dupe is able to live a life as their own, but the prime Jamie Madrox can re-absorb the dupes and also gain their memories.
Beast - Hank McCoy was one of the original X-Men, an Avenger, a Defender, a member of the Illuminati, and an original member of X-Factor. Beast has a genius-level intellect (the smartest of all X-Men characters) with an animal-like physiology. He has enhanced physical attributes that are also animal-like, razor sharp claws and teeth.
Iceman - Bobby Drake is also an original member of the X-Men as well as X-Factor. I first met Iceman when I was a kid watching Saturday Morning Cartoons. Iceman was one of Spider-Man's Amazing Friends! His name speaks for itself, he can manipulate cold and ice and assume an enhanced physical form made of solid ice!
Strong Guy - is the alter ego of Guido Carosella, and former bodyguard of Lila Cheney (an intergalactic teleporter/rock star). Strong Guy is hilarious and chose his name during a press conference introducing him to the team. Strong Guy has a very strange physiology with strong but small legs and an enormous muscular upper body. He has the ability to rechannel kinetic energy into physical strength. Example: a building collapses on him and instead of being crushed, Strong absorbs the kinetic energy from the collapse and directs it into enough physical strength to lift the building off of himself and anyone else caught in the rubble.
The Odds:
X-Factor is a strong team, with some very powerful mutant members, but aren't really the same caliber as say, the X-Men. The team members are friends, but again not as tight knit as the X-Men. That doesn't mean that they'll fail, their fighting spirit, mutant powers, and resiliancy makes them a strong contender.
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