![](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/1/1b/X-Factor_Vol_1_74.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20180406011335)
Finally! A focus on one the best characters from Peter David’s X-Factor: Strong Guy. By the end of this issue, we will learn that his power set is
![](https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/x-factor-74-2.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&h=1096)
Val Cooper learns that someone has taken people hostage at the Washington Monument, and he’s demanding to fight Strong Guy.
So he does. He calls himself Slab.
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Riq_cqFe8EA/V1nyhD_rLcI/AAAAAAAAdFw/_4mOpds6SFMhlKdEc-4s9RIOi8WSfoZMgCLcB/s1600/X-Factor%2B%252374%2B-%2BSlab.jpg)
Nice big fight.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/slab-1024x329.png)
Very funny.
![](https://berkeleyplaceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_8730.jpeg)
Also, Val hires a lie-detector expert to suss out the real Madrox from the duplicate. Very smart. And behind the scenes, Mister Sinister is being dastardly (he’s responsible for Professor Vic Chalker and Slab).
![](https://berkeleyplaceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_8727.jpeg)
We learn that Sinister not only sent Slab after X-Factor, but also is behind the villain Ricochet–who is a State senator in real life.