As with all X-books, there are tons of subplots and slow-boiling threads in this issue. This is because there’s such a large cast of characters. This issue has a lot of “check-ins” on the various characters and goings-on, like Cyke and Jean are still in an awkward relationship, clearly having feelings for each other, while Madelyn Pryor-Summers is still missing (we saw her wake up in a hospital, but Scott and Jean don’t know about that yet).
Most of the issue is Cyclops and Phoenix–everyone is talking about them! Skids and Rusty compare their relationship to Scott/Jean:
Also, Iceman’s powers have been going out of control and on-and-off a lot lately, in the aftermath of Loki messing with him in Thor #377-378
And Angel is still deemed dead and Cyclops still blames himself. But in this issue we learn that Apocalypse has him—and is giving him his wings back.
There are a bunch of young mutants who are now hanging around with X-Factor since the Massacre. Former Morlocks, Rictor from the anarchist group The Right, etc.
It’s weird that there are so many kids here with a group that is supposed to be hunters of mutants—especially when there’s already a “New Mutants” comic about a class of youths being trained to be the next class of X-Men.
Media mogul and X-Factor hype man Cameron Hodges continues to seem sinister while he promotes the team’s public-facing, mutant-hunting agenda. In this issue, we learn that he has been messing with Scott’s head to make him approve of Hodges’ overall agenda for the X-Factor team. So, he’s revealed as a villain.
The other big item is the question whether Jean Grey is again Phoenix.