X-Factor #74

Name: X-Factor #74
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

Jan 1992 · Marvel · 1.00 USD; 1.25 CAD; 0.65 GBP

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“Politically Incorrect”

★ 1st appearance — Slab

About this Issue

X-Factor #74 serves as the penultimate chapter of Peter David's inaugural storyline on the government-sponsored X-Factor team, a run that fundamentally repositioned the book from a straightforward super-team title into a character-driven ensemble with political satire and sharp wit. The issue marks the first full, named appearance of Slab — the powerhouse bruiser who introduces himself by calling out Strong Guy at the Washington Monument — giving readers their first concrete glimpse of Mr. Sinister's new strike force, the Nasty Boys, whose team name is also mentioned here for the first time before the full group debuted in the following issue. It also features the first appearance of Baldrick, Val Cooper's assistant, and the fully revealed first appearance of Senator Steven Shaffran, the probability-manipulating mutant villain known as Ricochet. Collectively, these introductions set up one of the more politically resonant X-Men villains of the early 1990s: a sitting U.S. Senator who is secretly a mutant using his powers to sabotage the very people he publicly opposes.

In "Politically Incorrect," X-Factor faces a mind-bending mystery: one of the Multiple Men is an imposter, and the team must untangle the truth before chaos erupts. With Strong Guy caught in the crossfire, a brutal clash with Slab sends shockwaves through Washington, D.C.—and the Monument itself bears the brunt. Written by Peter David and illustrated by Larry Stroman, with inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Glynis Oliver, and letters by Michael Heisler, this 1992 issue delivers high-stakes tension and a cover by Stroman and Milgrom that captures the moment of impact.

writer Peter David · artist Larry Stroman · inker Al Milgrom · colorist Glynis Oliver · letterer Michael Heisler · cover Larry Stroman, Al Milgrom

ComicBooks.com Value

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Raw (NM) $2

CGC 9.8 · 7 in census $46

CGC 9.6 · 5 in census $20

CGC 9.4 · 2 in census $20*

CGC 9.2 none in existence

CGC 9.0 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 8.5 · 1 in census $20*

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CGC 8.0 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 7.5 none in existence

CGC 7.0 none in existence

CGC 6.5 none in existence

CGC 6.0 · 1 in census $20*

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History

Peter David began writing X-Factor with issue #71, taking over a relaunched government-team version of the title that was overseen by editor Bob Harras under editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco. David's first arc — running through issues #71–75 — established the tone of irreverence, political satire, and genuine character depth that would define the series throughout the 1990s, with penciler Larry Stroman providing an angular, kinetic visual style that contrasted sharply with the Jim Lee-influenced aesthetic dominating the X-books at the time. Issue #74 was released to comic shops on November 19, 1991, carrying a January 1992 cover date, and sits one issue before the oversized landmark #75 that concluded the arc and brought Mr. Sinister back into the X-books for the first time since X-Factor #39.

Trivia · 8 facts

Written by Peter David with pencils by Larry Stroman, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Glynis Oliver, and letters by Michael Heisler; edited by Bob Harras under editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco.
Cover date: January 1992; on-sale date: November 19, 1991. Story title: 'Politically Incorrect.'
First full appearance of Slab (real name Christopher/Kris Anderson), a size-augmenting mutant and member of Sinister's Nasty Boys, who challenges Strong Guy to a destructive brawl at the Washington Monument.
First fully seen and identified appearance of Senator Steven Shaffran, the mutant villain known as Ricochet, whose probability-altering powers had been covertly targeting X-Factor since issue #71 (his shadowed appearance).
First appearance of Baldrick, the assistant to X-Factor government liaison Val Cooper.
The Nasty Boys are named and referenced as a team for the first time in this issue, with the full five-member team debuting in the following issue, X-Factor #75.
This is the penultimate chapter of Peter David's first storyline on the series; the arc resolves the dual-Madrox identity mystery, with a rogue Madrox duplicate revealed to be operating inside the Nasty Boys — seeding major character developments for Multiple Man that Peter David would continue to revisit.
The issue has been reprinted in X-Factor Visionaries: Peter David Vol. 1 (collecting #71–75) and in the X-Factor Epic Collection: All-New, All-Different X-Factor Vol. 7 (2018, collecting #71–83 and Annual #7). The Nasty Boys also became recurring villains on the Fox X-Men animated series beginning in 1992, making their comic debut here of particular note for animation fans.