Facteur X #7

In Facteur X #7 (1990), the X-Men and X-Factor clash once more under the Goblin Queen’s twisted influence, as Jean and Maddie face off in a battle that reveals a shocking truth—Maddie is a clone forged by Mr. Sinister, her existence sustained by the Phoenix force. When the Goblin Queen unleashes the Phoenix to destroy Nathan Christopher and open a portal to Limbo, Jean makes a desperate choice to absorb the power, sacrificing Maddie in the process. Written by Louise Simonson and illustrated by Walter Simonson, with inks by Al Milgrom and colors by Tom Vincent, this pivotal issue sees New York restored and the Inferno ended—leaving the teams united in their vow to bring Mr. Sinister to justice. The cover, by Marc Silvestri and Dan Green, captures the moment’s intensity.