X-Factor #123

X-Factor issue 123 was published by Marvel Comics in March 1996, during a period when the title was navigating the fallout of the Age of Apocalypse event. The series, originally centered on the original X-Men team acting as a government-sanctioned mutant squad, had shifted significantly by this point, reflecting the era's tendency toward grittier narratives and evolving team rosters under the broader X-Men editorial umbrella.

The issue features a creative team anchored by writer John Francis Moore and artist Jeff Matsuda, who took over the book during a time of transition. Their work on this run aimed to stabilize the team's identity after years of high-concept crossovers, focusing on the interpersonal dynamics of a smaller, more tactical unit. While the book was part of a popular franchise, this specific period is often remembered by collectors for its distinct mid-nineties aesthetic and the experimental tone shifts that defined mid-tier mutant titles of that decade.