- "What have we done? This child is terrified of us. I never wanted that. I wanted to help other mutants. I thought the X-Factor cover would work for us. But what if I was wrong?"
- ―Jean Grey
| "Trials and Errors" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| X-Factor | |
| Title: | "Trials and Errors" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 4 |
| Cover price: | .75 |
| Cover date: | May, 1986 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jim Shooter |
| Writers: | Bob Layton |
| Pencilers: | Keith Pollard |
| Inkers: | Joe Rubinstein |
| Cover artists: | Ron Frenz |
| Cover inker: | Joe Rubinstein |
| Colorists: | Petra Scotese |
| Letterers: | Joe Rosen |
| Editors: | Bob Harras |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | X-Factor #3 |
| Next: | X-Factor #5 |
"Trials and Errors" is the fourth issue of the first X-Factor ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It was written by Bob Layton with artwork by Keith Pollard and inks by Joe Rubinstein. It was colored by Petra Scotese and lettered by Joe Rosen. The story was edited by Bob Harras. This issue shipped with a May, 1986 cover date and carries a cover price of .75 cents per copy.
"Trials and Errors"[]
The X-Terminators fight Tower at LaGuardia Airport, but he uses his size reduction powers to get away. He later meets up with his cohort Frenzy, who is unimpressed that Tower failed in his mission to capture Carl Maddicks, and tosses him into a trash can. X-Factor returns to the headquarters where they continue training their newest recruit, Rusty Collins. Rusty uses his powers recklessly, endangering a new visitor, Artie Maddicks. Jean Grey really lays into him, causing Rusty to run away in frustration. Even Scott Summers thinks she is being a bit hard on him.
Scott Summers works with Artie with some psychic project experiments while the rest of the team goes to Cameron Hodge's alma mater at the Ferreden Boys School to investigate a suspected mutant presence. The alleged mutant, Martin Davis, is actually just a normal human, who was using some gadgets to make people believe he was a mutant. After resolving the charade, X-Factor returns home.
Rusty refuses to room with Artie whom he considers a hideous freak, and takes off. While wandering the Lower East Side, he encounters a mugger named Chilly Dog who accosts him. Rusty acts out of anger and burns the man's hands. After Chilly Dog runs away, a new threat emerges... Frenzy. Frenzy tells Rusty about an alternative solution to learning to control his powers. Unlike with X-Factor however, acceptance of this offer is not voluntary. When Rusty refuses, Frenzy tries to take him by force.
Back at the X-Factor complex, Artie Maddicks projects a vision to the others showing that Rusty is in trouble. They don their X-Terminators uniforms and go off to help him. Frenzy's super-strength keeps X-Factor at bay, as she tears down a building to topple onto them. Fortunately, Jean's telekinetic force field protects the team. Frenzy realizes that she will not be able to overtake them in a prolonged battle and decides to flee.
They bring Rusty back to their headquarters, but the boy is having difficulty reconciling with his mutant nature. Scott gets Rusty to feel a bit more comfortable and promises to work with him. Rusty decides to give it a go and apologizes to Artie for being a jerk.
Featured characters
- Angel, Warren Worthington, III
- Beast, Hank McCoy
- Cyclops, Scott Summers
- Iceman, Bobby Drake
- Marvel Girl, Jean Grey
Supporting characters
Villains
- Chilly Dog (Only appearance)
- Apocalypse (Behind the scenes only)
- Frenzy, Joanna Cargill (1st appearance)
- Tower, Edward Pasternak
- Timeshadow (Behind the scenes only)
Minor characters
- Blob, Frederick J. Dukes (As an afterthought only)
- Candy Southern
- Charles Xavier (As a psychic projection)
- Magneto, Max Eisenhardt (As an afterthought only)
- Madelyne Pryor (As a psychic projection)
- Martin Davis (Only appearance)
- Mastermind, Jason Wyngarde (As an afterthought only)
- Quicksilver, Pietro Maximoff (As an afterthought only)
- Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff (As an afterthought only)
- Toad, Mortimer Toynbee (As an afterthought only)
Organizations
- Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (As an afterthought only)
- X-Factor
- X-Terminators
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
- Cyclops' visor
- Knife
- Magneto's helmet (As an afterthought only)
- Ruby quartz
- Wheelchair (As an afterthought only)
- X-Factor uniforms
- X-Terminator uniforms
Vehicles
Powers
- Energy projection
- Cryokinesis
- Flight
- Optic blast
- Psychic projection
- Pyrokinesis
- Remote viewing
- Size alteration
- Size reduction
- Superhuman agility
- Superhuman strength
- Telekinesis
- Winged flight
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- X-Factor was created by writer Bob Layton and artists Jackson Guice and Josef Rubinstein based on concepts originally developed by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The first team consisted of the founding members of the original X-Men.
- The tagline for this issue is "The Beast is Back! Just in time to face the power of Frenzy!"
- This issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- This issue shipped to retailers on February 18th, 1986.
- This issue shipped in both direct market and newsstand editions.
- This issue makes reference to Artie's father, Carl Maddicks. Carl was killed in X-Factor #3.
Reprints[]
This issue is reprinted in the following volumes: