X-Factor annual #1 (1986)

***X-Factor annual #1***
"Grand Design"
2.0/10 - crap
Author:  Bob Layton
Penciler:  Bob Layton
Inker:  Brett Breeding

This issue was one of the last X-Factor issues I ever obtained.  In part, because it was actually somewhat difficult to find, but also, nothing of any real note occurs in this issue.  X-Factor, under their mutant hunter guise, heads to Russia to help out the Russian government.  Beast is already human-looking so this obviously occurs after X-Factor #3, although Rusty is not even mentioned.

They encounter some mutants fighting against the government, led by Father Garnoff.  Iceman is impersonated by an evil mutant, Dr. Heinreich and then captured by the aforementioned Father.  Heinreich goes with the rest of X-Factor to supposedly free the mutants under experimentation.  Heinreich, of course, betrays X-Factor (who still think he's Iceman) but Iceman and the other mutants show up.  Heinreich calls on the Crimson Dynamo who fights X-Factor to a standstill and Iceman (predictably) fights Heinreich one on one and wins when Heinreich falls into the crevasse created by the collapsing floor.  Iceman, impersonating Heinreich with some quick Russian lessons from the Beast, then tells Dynamo to stop fighting and to leave.  And it works!

Seriously, this issue was typical of a lot of annuals at the time and nothing happens that impacts the regular series.  Heinreich isn't a very interesting villain, and everything seems to fall into place, nice and conveniently.  Dynamo seems to have no place in this issue, other than I think he is the only recognizable Marvel villain from Russia.  He's an Iron Man villain and no explanation is ever given why he would be here.  He also is stonewalled by X-Factor, which makes him seem like somewhat of a throw away villain.  And while I'm used to plot holes between issues after a lengthy period of time and in the movies, this one even has Cyclops losing the fight against Heinreich claiming that his power is drained, but a few pages later, he's fighting Dynamo to a standstill.

If you need an issue to complete your X-Factor collection, definitely buy this issue.  If there are other ones that you may need, pick them instead.  This is one of the worst reads in the entire X-Factor series.

(did I mention Heinreich also had the stupidest code name:  Doppelganger)