I bought the final issue of X-Factor the day it came out, but didn't touch it for months, because I was in denial.

Denial that it was actually over. Denial that my favorite character, Siryn/Banshee, would most likely be relegated to Marvel limbo despite her being a god now. Denial that the book was ending after a run of stories I didn't enjoy as much as I have past X-Factor runs.

This version of X-Factor was my gateway drug into the Marvel universe, and it will always hold a special place in my heart, but not even nostalgia could get me to rate it higher than three stars. I disliked the way the team worked after Lorna and Alex joined it, I disliked the way some of the relationships evolved, and I especially disliked

Spoiler

Siryn being a deus ex fucking machina (LITERALLY! SHE WAS LITERALLY A GOD WHO FIXED SOMETHING) so Jamie and Layla could have their happy ending

. Just thinking about it makes me angry on so many levels.

I will probably re-read the earlier volumes when I'm missing Siryn something fierce, and also to wash away the taste of later volumes. (Shatterstar was the last and best addition to the team, end of discussion. And we do not speak of Darwin. Ever.)