X-Factor #8

Published in September 1986, X-Factor #8 was produced during the formative stages of the series created by Bob Layton and Jackson Guice. The title was designed to reunite the original five members of the X-Men—Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman, and Angel—under a new premise where they operated as mutant hunters to maintain their public standing. This era of the book was defined by a complex narrative tone, as the characters navigated the dissonance between their heroic pasts and their controversial new professional identity.

The issue features artwork by Jackson Guice, whose clean, dynamic style helped define the visual language of the series' early run. Louise Simonson, who took over scripting duties shortly after the book's launch, used this period to delve into the interpersonal tensions of the group. The series was generally well-received for its character-focused drama, establishing a long-standing legacy that significantly influenced the development of the X-Men mythos throughout the late 1980s.