X-Factor investigates the death of a friend… their second death in a week in X-Factor #6, by writer Leah Williams, artist David Baldeon, colorist Israel Silva, and letterer Joe Caramagna. Thompson and company build a gripping little mystery with this issue, one that gets compounded by an exciting ending.

X-Factor is called to the UK to investigate a dead mutant, former X-Factor member Siryn. After some investigative wrangling with the police, they take the body away. At the autopsy, Prodigy uses his powers to learn how to handle a post mortem body and asks Dr. Reyes what is done with dead bodies. Later, at the Boneyard, Prodigy and Northstar get into an argument- Prodigy has begun bringing dead bodies there to study them. The two go back and forth before Northstar agrees to allow it to continue. They question Siryn about her death. She’s extremely defensive and storms off, with Polaris following her. The rest of the team is able to deduce she’s lying, and when Polaris confronts Siryn, she uses her sonic hypnosis on Polaris to implant a suggestion into the magnetic mutant’s head- the next time X-Factor investigates her death, Polaris is to sabotage them. Aggressively.

Williams does a bang-up job in this issue. She really captures a lot of the little things about each character, and that makes this book that much better. For example, Eyeboy, a character whose entire power revolves around sight, loves Prodigy to read things to him because his voice is deep and soothing. Or a little moment of tenderness between Daken and Aurora. Or how Northstar gives Polaris a speech about friendship and how Siryn still cares about her, and when Daken asks if Northstar believes anything he just said, Northstar is upfront about just doing it to help Polaris. This book has been full of moments like this, and it makes it that much better.

This issue does set up an engrossing mystery- what’s going on with Siryn? She’s not on a team, so for her to die twice in under a week is very suspicious. It doesn’t help that four members of the team can use their powers to see that she’s lying, and her actions with Polaris, using her sonic hypnotism abilities to mess with her friend’s head, are very suspicious. There could be an innocent- or at least not evil- explanation for it all. Williams plays up the mystery very well in this issue.

David Baldeon’s art remains impressive. His art does have a cartoonish quality to it, but he can still capture heavy moments as well. It’s actually kind of amazing just how versatile he is. His scenes can go from happy and light hearted to stark and serious in the space of the page, and it fits this book perfectly.

X-Factor #6 begins the second movement of this book in grand fashion, presenting an engaging mystery. Williams kills it with the characterization, allowing readers to really connect with the characters. Baldeon’s cartoonish art is amazingly versatile, and this issue really shows off his range. X-Factor #6 is a great way to begin a new story arc.

Grade: B+