When it comes to X-titles, the team rosters are constantly changing. The different teams tend to start off with a set roster but it quickly changes as story lines progress and the call for change comes around. This has been the case for most titles except for X-FACTOR.
X-Factor started out as a a covert team for the original X-Men (Cyclops, Jean, Angel, Beast and Iceman). They acted as mutant hunters/exterminators whose true intentions were to locate new mutants and bring them to safety. Eventually the team evolved into a government controlled team taking orders from Valerie Cooper. Later their focus became to serve mutants (and others) as private investigators.
With all the craziness that surrounds the X-titles, X-FACTOR has somehow remained unaffected by them. The team members managed to avoid the major crossovers and gigantic events. They stayed in their own little corner of the Marvel Universe and all was good. Except with Regenesis happening, Wolverine has decided he wants Havok and Polaris to return to X-Factor. What will this mean for team (and the direction of the comic)?
== TEASER ==
Havok and Polaris were a huge part of X-Factor during the 90s. This was when Scott and Professor X asked Alex to be part of the team and work with the government to help smooth over the relations between mutants and the government. The team evolved over the years and it was Alex who always assumed leadership. Even after his time away from the team (when he was kidnapped by Dark Beast), he came back and assumed control. The series got to be a bit of a mess towards the end and when issue #149 it appeared Alex died (but really went to another reality in MUTANT X).
There wasn't much activity for the team but in 2004's MADROX miniseries, Jamie Madrox (and writer Peter David) brought the noir feel to X-Factor. He started XXX Investigations in Mutant Town. Jamie used his dupes to become a private investigator. Also with the ability to send his dupes out, they could learn new skills and information that could later be reabsorbed into Madrox-prime.
Most of the previous X-Factor team joined Jamie and the name changed to X-Factor Investigations. This began a new era for the team.
Around this time, Alex and Lorna were hanging out with the X-Men and later went out in space and became part of the Starjammers when Alex's father, Corsair, was killed by Vulcan.
When the Schism developed on Utopia between Wolverine and Cyclops, the result was a split among the mutants. Wolverine, being back on the East Coast, has decided he wants Havok and Polaris to return to X-Factor.
The fact that the team has been doing their own thing for years doesn't seem to matter to Wolverine. They've been working as private investigators as well as heroes. Alex and Lorna may have history with the team but the time they've spent off planet puts them out of the loop. They don't know what's been going on or even what X-Factor is about these days. Wolverine's bringing Alex and Lorna to the team and what are the chances he's going to ask if it's okay?
It turns out he does ask them. What would Wolverine say if they said 'no'? You have to assume he flew Alex and Lorna out to the East Coast (either on the Blackbird or maybe he just booked them a flight). It seems a little presumptuous for Wolverine to just assume he can insert them onto the team because he feels it's the best idea.
But it does make sense for them to return. In some ways, X-Factor is going to need them. With recent revelations over actions Layla Miller took and the fact that Madrox is dead (but really stuck hopping around other dimensions with no control), the team needs some leadership. There are other 'senior' members of the team but none of them really has a rational head on their shoulders or the ability to lead a team. Having Havok and Polaris back could be what they need at the moment to stop all the fighting amongst themselves they're doing.
The real question is, what happens if and when Madrox comes back? We all know (or at least hope with all of our might) it's just a matter of time until he returns. Havok might have been the prime leader of X-Factor before but this is a completely different team. This one definitely belongs to Madrox. As if there wasn't enough butting of heads before, when Jamie does come back, it should be interesting to see if Alex or Jamie will step aside.
Hopefully with the series still in the capable hands of Peter David, having "Regenesis" slapped on the cover won't affect the vibe of the book. X-FACTOR has always been a great read tucked away in their safe little corner of the Marvel Universe. It'd be a shame if bringing back Havok and Polaris also meant integrating the team back with the rest of the X-Men.