Essential X-Factor #2

In "When Loki Stood Alone," the junior members of X-Factor brace for a return to school as tensions flare over the Mutant Registration Act. With the Alliance causing chaos in protest, X-Factor finds itself caught between duty and ideology—especially as Beast reclaims his mind and form, and Freedom Force intervenes to enforce compliance. Rusty’s decision to turn himself in marks a turning point in a story that tests loyalty, identity, and the cost of standing apart. Written by Louise Simonson and illustrated by Walter Simonson, with inks by Bob Wiacek and letters by Joe Rosen, this issue features a striking cover by Walter Simonson.