X-Factor: Many Lives of Madrox...

[fajrdrako]

Some comics just fill me with joy - and sadly, others do not. This was one that did: Peter David's run on X-Factor. I read the collected issues #13 to #17, Many Lives of Madrox. See, Jamie Madrox is a Marvel mutant who's been around for a while, and he has the power, like Triplicate Girl in the old Legion of Super-Heroes, of splitting himself in to many identical selves. Only the selves aren't identical - they show different facets of his personality, or even his potential. And unlike Triplicate Girl, he isn't limited to two or three bodies. He isn't limited at all.

And this can get him into trouble.

This series of stories explores some of the scenarios. One of his selves gets married, settles down, has a kid, and doesn't want to re-integrate into the main body. Another self gets a job with S.H.I.E.L.D. - at least it wasn't Hydra. And closer to home, one self has sex with teammate Monet, while another self has sex with teammate Teresa. Each thought she was with the prime integrated Jamie. And when they find out, they're angry as only upset super-powered mutants can be.

Given that we've seen the close relationship between Rictor and Shatterstar in the past, in X-Force - and this is before Shatterstar reappeared in our world - I was interested in a conversation about sex between Jamie and his psychiatrist:

Jamie: Rahne's ...been tough to talk to lately. Something's going on and I can't convince her to open up.
Therapist: Really. Have you considered having sex with her?
Jamie: Ah. You could say that. Busted, huh?
Therapist: You could say that, too.
Jamie: Bet this looks bad.
Therapist: Bet you're right. Theresa. Monet. Anyone else?
Jamie: Well, I wouldn't kick Rictor out of my bed.... Kidding. I'm kidding.
Therapist: Interesting joke. Maybe you're overcompensating.
Jamie: I was kidding. And there's no one else.

Another conversation about sex a little later on, between Rictor and Jamie. They're drinking in a bar, after Monet got her hands on Jamie. If you want the visuals, here's a copy of one of the pages.

Rictor: What the hell happened to you, Madrox? You look like something the cat dragged in and then barfed on.
Jamie: It's complicated, Rictor. And private. You don't need to know.
Rictor: This about you and a dupe doin' the horizontal mambo with both Monet and Terry?
Jamie: Oh, and, uh... How did you...?
Rictor: I'm Rictor. I know stuff.¹
Jamie: Layla blabbed.
Rictor: She annoys the snot outta me, but I gotta admit, the kid's got her uses. So. Fess up. Which filly as the wilder ride?
Jamie: You're a pig, Ric. Y'know that? A real pig.
[Rictor looks at his fingernails and whistles a tune. Jamie takes a drink, and looks away while Rictor takes a drink.]
Jamie: Monet.
Rictor: I knew it. I freakin' knew it.
Jamie: Theresa's like ... like ocean waves washing over you. Monet's like a monsoon.
Rictor: Sounds like either way, anyone in the first five rows is gonna get soaked.
Jamie: Pretty much. And now they both hate my guts.
Rictor: They'll get over it. And hey, man - what a night you had, right? I alwys say, if you're gonna go down, go down in flames.
Jamie: I suppose.
Rictor: And speaking of going down...
Jamie: Shut up, Rictor, or I swear to God...
Rictor: Okay. Okay. Change the subject.
Jamie: Fine. So... I notice Quicksilver's taken an interest in you lately. What's up with that?
Rictor: Nothing's 'up'. Dude's got an lot of interesting stuff to say. That's all. Keeps talking about giving me my powers back. Not sure if that's on the level, though. So I've been, y'know, feeling him out. No big deal. It ain't like I'm sleeping with him.
...Any more.
[Jamie spurts his drink.]
Rictor: Could I get a towel here?
Jamie: You? And Quicksilver?
Rictor: Man, y'know, ever since you went all noir you got, like, zero sense of humour.
Jamie: So... it was a joke.
Rictor: 'Course. Not that the guy/guy thing is... It's just that Pietro's semi-evil, and - gimme a little credit, huh?
Jamie: Hey! Look - at this point I'm ruling nothing out. I mean, jeez... My dupes are out of control. Siryn and M are livid. Rahne only just started talking again, and she still won't say what's wrong. Guido's a wreck, even Layla's looking jumpy. Some team.
Rictor: To X-Factor: Putting the "fun" in "dysfunctional".
Jamie: I mean, God knows you wouldn't want to make Shatterstar jealous.
[Rictor spurts his drink.]
Jamie: [Offering a napkin] First five rows, huh?

Thank you, Peter David. I love it when superheroes actually have sex lives.

Here is a picture of the team, with Rahne (Wolfsbane) in the middle, and, clockwise from the twelve o'clock position: Guido (Strong Guy) Monet (M), Layla Miller (who knows stuff), Jamie Madrox (sometimes called the Multiple Man), Julio Richter (Rictor), and Theresa Cassidy (Siryn).

~ ~ ~

¹ Rictor is quoting Layla, one of the team, whose super power is to "know stuff".