These issues bear the “Civil War” cover but it’s really just two more issues of X-Factor.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.  There are so many reasons to love this series.  It’s the best written and funniest Marvel book on the market at this time.

For most of this issue, Layla is sitting on the stoop reading Ayn Rand.

Last issue, Madrox visited Singularity Investigations and it turns out he was able to get DNA samples of Tryp Jr and Tryp Sr.  He has them analyzed and learns that the Tryps are not mutants, but are not homo sapien, either.  More importantly, he learns they are the same person.  Exactly the same person.  Since this book came out 20 years ago I don’t mind spoiling that they ARE in fact the same person–one is a future version of the other.  But when reading this in real time, it was a comic where the central character, Madrox, can create dupes of himself–so it wasn’t clear whether Tryp had the same power.

And speaking of his dupes, one of them has joined SHIELD and is enforcing the Registration Act.

Perhaps most importantly, Siryn uses her hypno-powers to force Spider-Man to tell her the truth about M-Day.

Peter David is an excellent Spider-Man writer. He killed Jean DeWolff, remember?

Also, Quicksilver arrives in Mutant Town and Layla tries to get him to leave by throwing some rocks at people and blaming it on Quicksilver, so that he’s chased away.  The people were former mutants “cured” by Scarlet Witch, and when they catch Quicksilver he uses his newfound healing power to restore their abilities.  The guy is thrilled at first, but quickly his body melts and he dies.

Quicksilver and Layla agree to avoid each other as Quicksilver enters the X-Factor headquarters just as Siryn tells the full team what she’s learned.  Quicksilver already knew the truth–and was kinda the whole reason it happened–so they all argue for a bit.  Madrox isn’t sure what to do and storms out, deciding to take a walk.  Layla is still out on the front steps and they argue, and it’s hilarious…

They’re going to get married!?!

As Layla predicted, Madrox’s walk helps him make a decision.  He meets Aegis of the New Warriors, who is hiding from SHIELD cape killers.  Madrox helps him hide by disguising him as a dupe.

He returns to Headquarters to find Cyclops demanding that the team hand over Quicksilver, and the team refusing to let Pietro be taken.  Madox faces down Cyclops and tells him that X-Factor is now in the business and protecting heroes who are protesting the Registration Act. When the X-Men move to take Quicksilver, Madrox steps in front and gets hit by an optic blast.

This triggers his multiplying powers, creating an army to oppose Cyclops’ team.

The genius of this story is that uses the Civil War event to find it’s own purpose as a series: X-Factor will be outlaws. This will be an X-series that’s anti-X.

Most event tie-ins are either ways to boost sales/capture new readers, or exist in furtherance of the event.  These issues flip that script.

Like I said, this is the best book on the stands in 2006.