X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off from the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor (2020), written by Leah Williams. X-Factor launched in 1986, featuring the five original X-Men reorganizing as a group in response to the seeming outlaw status of the then-current X-Men team of whom Magneto was a member. In 1991, the founding members were incorporated back into the regular X-Men series, and X-Factor relaunched as a U.S. government-sponsored team incorporating many secondary characters from the X-Men mythos. The series was canceled in 1998 after 149 issues. The 2005 X-Factor series followed the mutant detective agency X-Factor Investigations. Written by Peter David, the series drew acclaim from Ain't It Cool News, and won a 2011 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for the romantic relationship between Rictor and Shatterstar. The series ended in 2013 after 114 issues. The following year a new series, All-New X-Factor, was launched featuring a new corporate-sponsored X-Factor team. It was written by Peter David and drawn by Carmine Di Giandomenico. It was cancelled after 20 issues due to low sales. Publication history Original team (1986–1991) X-Factor launched in 1986 featuring a team composed of the five original X-Men that debuted in X-Men #1 (1963): Angel – A millionaire heir, capable of flight by means of two feathery wings extending from his back. Beast – A brilliant scientist possessing bestial strength and agility. Cyclops – Former X-Men team leader, with the ability to emit powerful "optic blasts" from his eyes (the origin of the optic blast are portals in his eyes from another dimension). Jean Grey (Marvel Girl) – The long-time love of Cyclops, possessing telekinetic abilities. Iceman – A brash jokester, gifted with cryokinetic (the ability to lower temperature around him and form ice) abilities. Original writer Bob Layton wanted X-Factor to be a reunion of the original X-Men, an event complicated by the extensive histories of the characters following the initiation of a new team of X-Men in 1975. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Angel, Beast, and Iceman wandered through various superhero teams. By 1985, all three were members of the Defenders. With the monthly Defenders series already due to be cancelled, Marvel's editorial staff elected to have the other members of the group killed