X-Factor #35-36 (2008)

This issue starts with Darwin waking up being held in a bubble by a strange and unfamiliar dude in a suit, who says that Darwin will serve to fuel a “great cause” but will die in the process.  When we last saw Darwin, X-Factor had tracked him down and reunited him with his father.  So how did this happen?

The scene then moves to X-Factor, who are told by Darwin’s dad that he’s missing again.  The father was shot in the back of the head and is in the hospital.

Simultaneously, Longshot arrives seeking to investigate how he got his picture in the papers.  (Last story was Secret Invasion that featured a skrull masquerading as Longshot.)  And that’s not the only fake X-character causing problems: The person trying to kill Darwin’s dad is one of Madrox’s dupes!

Longshot and the others track Darwin, who himself has managed to escape, and find out that the evil scientist has now created an army of Darwins.

They fight through them and save Darwin.  The whole thing gets wrapped up rather quickly.  Feels rushed.  I wonder if Peter David was heading down a different path and then was forced to pivot?

Meanwhile, Val Cooper shows up asking Siryn’s about her baby, and during the interview, Siryn’s water breaks.  Rictor thinks Val is trying to take the baby and gets involved in a firefight with authorities, and Val gets hit by a richochet.

It’s all a misunderstanding, but Siryn flies to the hospital with Val while Rictor is arrested.