Merge:X-Factor Investigations

X-Factor Investigations is a detective agency in the series X-Factor. The agency first appears under the name "XXX Investigations" in the first issue of the Marvel Comics limited series Madrox #1 (November 2004). In the final issue, Madrox #5 (March 2005), the name is changed to "X-Factor Investigations." Created by Peter David and Pablo Raimondi.

Publication history
Peter David introduced the agency in the limited series Madrox. The Madrox series ended in March 2005, but with positive fan and retailer reaction to the book, Marvel relaunched the series under their oft-used title X-Factor, David having considered Madrox an X-Factor book anyway. At the 2005 San Diego Comic Con Peter David announced the agency would continue, following events in Madrox and House of M and intended the agency to be "dark and scruffy," inspired by the paranormal FOX TV series X-Files.

Current history
X-Factor Investigations is a detective agency run by Jamie Madrox, formerly known as the costumed superhero Multiple Man. The agency was originally named XXX Investigations, but team members thought that it sounded too much like Madrox was investigating pornography. The new name is taken from the government-sponsored mutant supergroup former team the three founders had previously served on.

The initial staff consisted of Madrox's best friend and special enforcer, Guido Carosella (Strong Guy) and former teammate Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane). Following the House of M, Madrox newfound wealth from winning a Who Wants to be a Millionaire-style gameshow allowed him to recruit several of his former colleagues of the Paris branch of the now defunct X-Corporation. New members include Siryn, a powerless Rictor, M and Layla Miller, who has inserted herself into the group to keep them from discovering the truth behind the mutant Decimation. Recently, the team has come into conflict with rival agency Singularity Investigations, after they ordered Siryn beaten and left for dead.

After meeting with Singularity CEO Damian Tryp, Madrox has asked Siryn to find out more about the Decimation from the heroes who might have been involved (by using her modulated voice to make them more suggestible). She learns from Spider-Man that the X-Men (who had denied any involvement), as well as Quicksilver were, in fact, central to the ending of the House of M and the subsequent Decimation.

Recently, Quicksilver has returned to Mutant Town following the events of Son of M, having gained the ability to restore other mutants' powers from the Terrigen Mists. X-Factor used this to confront the X-Men with their knowledge of the Decimation. As a result, X-Factor has taken a public stance in defiance of the Superhuman Registration Act and the X-Men have decided not to interfere with Quicksilver as long as he stays in Mutant Town.

A former Singularity employee came to the team and related that Tryp was attempting to restart the Legacy Virus, the plague that killed several mutants (including, briefly, Madrox himself). Strong Guy was sent to drive the man to safety but, once they were alone, killed him and called Tryp to report, revealing later that Tryp had placed a hypnotic suggestion in his head to turn Strong Guy into a sleeper agent. It has been been revealed that all of Singularity Investiagtions efforts have been to prevent a possible future in which X-Factor manages to undo the Decimation, but as a result, has humanity wiped out by the mutants in a bloody confilct. As such, X-Factor Investigations' new goal is to undo Decimation, but prevent the conflict Tryp predicted.

Civil War
X-Factor Investigations has taken a public stance in defiance of the Superhuman Registration Act, and Madrox has already helped Aegis elude S.H.I.E.L.D. authorities. However, Rictor and M were registered by a duplicate of Madrox who is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Madrox, Strong Guy, and Wolfsbane are already registered because of their membership in the previous, government-sponsored X-Factor.