New Mutants #28 Harsh therapy

With it being shipping day today, I probably should wax lyrical about any issue ones released today, such as Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefeld’s Infinite #1. I mean, this is Robert Kirkman, creator of Invincible and the Walking Dead, what’s not to like?

I confess I am not a fan of Liefeld’s art, and what I have read of the plot in advance interviews with the writer, I see very little to differentiate it from say Stan Lee’s The Traveller or various other time travel stories I have read. I pray Mr Kirkman will surprise me.

Should I write about the fact that Flashpoint has its penultimate issue today? My only reaction here is thank god it is coming to an end. Roll on the reboot!  Other than the Secret Seven (which in itself is worth suffering the entire event), and the World Of Flashpoint which concludes today, I’m finding the entire event to be as disappointing as I feared it would be.

So my thoughts turn to last week, and my two love affairs that have finally joined together: the New Mutants and the pair of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. (No, I don’t know them personally, but I have made it plain I love their writing, they strike me as a sane Grant Morrison. No offence intended, Grant. Sir.)

Cast your mind back to the days of the first run of Suicide Squad, by the esteemed John Ostrander. Every year or so, there would be one issue where Belle Reve’s resident psychiatrist Simon La Grieve would deliver his analysis on the current team members. These issues were always a change of pace from the action (and plot) driven storylines that encompassed them, and proved to be even more satisfying than the (above) standard issues.

In a blast of nostalgia, that is what we saw in last weeks New Mutants #28, which you must grab today if you missed it. Dani invites a cognitive therapist known for his abrupt approach to interview every member of the team. Dani states on the first page she wants Gus Grim to be ‘bloody’, and his observations were indeed cutting. You know those comments that you say in the heat of anger that are so very hurtful? Because they are so very insightful, if bias? The ones you can never take back no matter how hard you try?

This was an issue full of those. I didn’t know whether to cheer him on, or be offended on behalf of characters that I grew up alongside. It was about time a few comments were said, others helped me view recent events in a whole new light. If you’ve ever liked the world of the ‘X’, then get find this issue.

Having already addressed the pressing issue of defunct comics I’d like to bring back earlier this week, I’m now turning my greedy eyes towards the individual characters I’d like to see receive their own titles, for each to enjoy at least 15 minutes of geek fame.

In no special order, I’d grant the following their share of the spotlight.

Nite Owl & Rorschach: The adventures of this potentially dynamic duo were alluded to in The Watchmen, but never materialized in the form of a separate book. And since Alan Moore turned down DC’s offer of the rights to The Watchmen in return for prequel and sequel work, we’re not likely to see their prior lives without divine intervention. Still, there are bound to be tales in their complicated pasts that I’d enjoy reading, and for that reason alone, I’m willing Alan Moore to work it out.

Jeffrey Garrett: AKA the dead kid from Academy X. Although he was present as early as X-Treme X-Men #20, he played his most memorable role in X-Men history as a student killed when Magneto destroyed the school. As a result his ghost haunted the rebuilt academy. Discovered and tamed by the New Mutants, Jeffrey went on to be a spectral student until Scarlet Witch’s reversal of mutant powers basically erased him from print. I feel there’s a lot that can be done with a ghost whose ability to affect reality is still so strong that he could, as we see in David’s dream, destroy an entire continent. And a ghost who remains a child with childlike impulses, as well. Jeffrey’s tale is really one of melancholy, and a limited run series exploring his time at Professor Xavier’s school would be one I’d surely collect.

Edwin Jarvis: AKA the consummate butler, originally in Tony Stark’s employment but now an important member of the supporting cast for the Avengers. The stories of the unsung always interest me, particularly when it comes to those who’ve put up with years of back story we can only imagine (even on top of decades of stories we already know). What kinds of beans does Jarvis have to spill? Inquiring minds want to know. Even if it’s only a one-shot, Jarvis has more than earned the spotlight for his years of faithful service to an often unmanageable cast of characters. (And let’s face it. Doesn’t being torn apart and eaten by your employers [Marvel Zombies] earn you a big break?)

Michonne: This unpredictable heroine of The Walking Dead is at times so twisted I look forward to seeing her part in the tale unfold from month to month just about more than any other character. While she’s not the main protagonist in the series, she’s become a massive force to be reckoned with, and I’d like to see how she got that way. Like, from the very beginning. A Michonne origins title would be exceptionally well received not just by me, but by the countless other geeks who hang on Robert Kirkman’s every word. We get a glimpse of Michonne’s past in the series, but a glimpse simply isn’t enough. This katana-wielding ass-kicking lawyer has far more to tell.

Evey Hammond: Let’s face it. Judging not only from my previous mention of V for Vendetta as a title I’d like to bring back from the dead, but also from the fact that the creators left the door wide open for any such spin-off material, Evey Hammond as V simply had to make this list. She emerged a pretty tough cookie in the end. Would she hold under pressure? Could she get away with the role? Does the world even need a V anymore, with the wheels of anarchy already in motion? There are plenty of questions. It’s high time we discovered the answers.

Stay tuned for part 3, wherein I deftly arrange superheroes into dream teams with more panache than a world-class interior decorator with Donald Trump’s budget!

Are you a bona fide comics geek, like me? You should check out Why I gave up comic books and its rebuttal Why I haven’t given up on comics here on ForeverGeek, too!

New Mutants #9, it's not what it appears.

Well, now we have it, the explanation of who the current Magik/Illyana is, and we discover the 2.0 version we now see comes without added Illyana. She is simply the Dark Chylde, resurrected and abandoned by Belasco, and claims she has no soul, only the body and mind of the deceased sister of Colossus.

Which begs the question, why did she even return to the X-Men fold? This is put to her by Emma Frost, and somehow I would have thought this confrontation would be more dramatic, yet it is almost as if they are simply sharing a nice cup of tea together. Even stranger, that a young girl would have the upper hand over the former headmistress of the Massachusetts Academy. Yet when asked about her absence after she left San Francisco, Illyana reveals that she had been searching for years for her Blood Stones (fragments of her soul conjured by Belasco) and when she had returned to the team, she had travelled back in time. The smile on her face as she offered Emma a peek into her mind seemed so mischievous, and as Emma discovered that it would have been by her own hand that Legion would finally have been defeated and slain, but only after he had destroyed most of the X-Men, this demonic creation comes up smelling of roses.

While Emma is left shaken to her core. Oh, Kitty would have been so proud.

The other comics to read this week – Siege: Embedded #1, and to my surprise, Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2.

Siege has finally kicked off, for which I am glad, because if I saw one more promo of it, then I would have been tempted to burn the lot of them. In the main story, even the President has finally realised that Norman is ‘out of control’. However, in the pages of Siege:Embedded, we see Ben Urich and an ex-colleague discover Volstagg and follow him for the story that will hopefully topple the new Osbourn empire.

What made the issue for me was the quick Glenn Beck parody, of a TV pundit whom Osbourn decided to recruit as he was so very positive about Norman’s policies. And I quote:

‘But this is a commercial break, and I need to be preparing for the next segment. I’m going to cry on camera. It takes some level of preparation.’

Bwah-ha-ha-ha! Absolutely priceless. Marvel, you are almost forgiven by that one act for your ‘Embrace Change’ flyers during election season.

My other recommendation of Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2, gives an insight into the events of Blackest Night #6, and Diana’s battle with Mera, the former wife (and Queen) of Aquaman, and with the Black Ring itself. Of course, Diana gets some divine assistance, but it gives quite the insight into what is going on with the ‘resurrected’ characters forced to bear the ring. I didn’t like the ending of Blackest Night #6, I mean just how many people do we need wearing these rings? However, this story goes to somewhat justify that. However, I am beginning to think that this crossover is dragging on for too long, and I am relieved to see that Siege is only a mere four issues. So finally the end of the Dark Reign is in sight. Just in time for the evils of the Fault in Realm of Kings, or the Elder Gods as heralded by the Dark Chylde to arrive. Mayhap they will be one and the same (although I rather doubt it.)

Erm, am I a traitor if I root for Asgard?

New Mutants #8 - Necrosha

Now the festivities are officially over, I find myself snowed in on the wrong side of the country as Siberia sends its kisses across the United Kingdom. It seems like I have no other choice but to catch up with my reading. Shucks.

Necrosha-X carries on apace, but for me it may have well finished. Not because I am not enjoying the story, I am immensely. Nor because I can foresee the end, to be honest I do not care how the story concludes. As far as I am concerned however, I have what I really really wanted, and that is the resurrection of Doug Ramsey, Cypher.

New Mutants #8 had some wonderful moments, especially for those of us that have been following the characters since they first appeared. I laughed out loud as Sunspot tore off his former team-mate Ferals’ arm, Dani Moonstar grabbed it and the it over the balcony telling Feral to ‘Fetch!’ and the once member of X-Force falling for it. She never was that bright anyway; or was it a statement of what I would consider the ‘dark days’ of X-Force? I certainly interpreted it that way, with no small feeling of satisfaction either.

What easily could have gone unnoticed however was the loyalty to her friends demonstrated by Illyana. Using her Soul Sword to cure Warlock of the code of Selene’s magically warped technorganic virus and then later actually handing Warlock that same sword to cure Doug Ramsey. The Soul Sword is the expression of Magik’s power, and if she were truly corrupted by her demonic nature (as both previous stories and the teaser image for next issue imply), then I doubt she would have acted in such a generous fashion.

It’s interesting to note that as Warlock took the sword in her hand we see the T/O creep up its shaft. I’m not sure that this is important however, as Illyana’s Limbo became a haven for the virus, infecting trapped soldiers of the Right, local demons and eventually S’ym, so she is no stranger to the virus, even if all this occurred as she fell from power. I’m not sure who is in control in Limbo currently, I think it’s Belasco although Wikipedia disagrees with me, so hopefully a rematch will soon be on the cards.

What I really want to see however, is Illyana encountering her once replacement, Amanda Sefton, and soon. Last time we saw her she was banished from the timeless realm, but she has allegedly offered the young X-Man Pixie tutelage in magic.

So move over zombies! As cool as the T/O zombies are, it is Limbo I want to see, as soon as possible.

New Mutants #6 Cypher returns in X-Necrosha

This week, Zombie Watch returns, with a whole new dimension!

When I first read of the X-Necrosha crossover in the solicitations three months ago, I was unimpressed. Now you know I love a good zombie as much as the next man, but I saw this X-crossover as simply a competitor to the Blackest Night, little more than a cheap marketing ploy. As if Marvel Zombies was enough. And let’s not get started about the eventually arriving Marvel Zombie Apes, or is that Marvel Ape-Zombies?

I could not of been more wrong. Forgetting that X-Necrosha was in my pile, I read New Mutants #6 first, as next to the Titans, the New Mutants have been my longstanding favourite team. I was also pumped to see the return of Doug Ramsey (Cypher), a character whose return has been dangled in front of us for years, such as the creation of Douglock, who it transpired was Warlock himself, but initially only having access to Doug’s memories.

I was not disappointed at all. Although Doug did cave in the skull of fellow New Mutant Magma on the direction of Selene, what really shone was the use of Cyphers gift of translation. Beneath every speech bubble that Cypher heard was his own interpretation of what was being said, which makes this issue an excellent jumping on point for new readers. The politics between the members is illustrated nicely, and there were a few points that really made me laugh. Take this interpretation of one of Dani Moonstars statements: “It is important that you see me speak for our team. I need you to know I still matter.” Beautiful! With just a few narration boxes, we can see how much some of the Mutants have changed, and how some still cling to their teenage insecurities.

So, I went back and read X-Necrosha #1, and I loved it. These are not your average zombies, but the bodies of many of the mutants dearly departed, reanimated by the technovirus. The original personalities and memories remain intact, but I doubt the question of their souls will even be raised. As I understand it, these are new beings, simply with the memories of the originals, which if they survive this storyline should lead to yet more heart-wrenching drama. In the meantime, they are under Selene’s domination, but carrying their own personalities, many are champing at the bit.

For the first time to my knowledge, the origin and nature of the Black Queen Selene is explored with some detail, and I believe it is worth the wait. I have never really taken her seriously in the past, even her exploits in Nova Roma (Magma’s hometown) never made her appear to be more than a throwaway villain. The long forgotten classification of External (immortal mutants), of which Selene is the sole known survivor is not even touched upon, but is implicit throughout the story.

Another return I fondly welcomed was that of the original Hellions, Emma Frost’s students from the now destroyed Massachusetts Academy. As these students come face to face with Emma, the horror aspect of this is revealed, although I am grateful to say it is not overplayed. These beings make the Black Ring Bearers seem quite two-dimensional in comparison.

Oh, and Destiny is back. You can’t miss this.

Yesterday saw the release of New Mutants #4, the conclusion of the first arc in the series, and I have to say I am suitably impressed. We have seen the return of Legion to the X-Men fold, Cannonball leading the team and already butting heads again with Dani. Just like old times, it’s as if they never left.

So far we have seen Sam and Dani, Magma, Karma who had risen to prominence again this last year, Sunspot of course and the newly returned Illyana. And Wolfsbane is cavorting in the Rockies with her Asgardian boy friend.

I enjoyed seein

g Legion back in the spotlight, in a fashion that illustrates perfectly how his powers and his condition operate. And there seems to me to be a slew of new personalities making a home in there now, and I hope that we will see a lot more of them.

These four issu

es have been a treat for those of us that remember the New Mutants the first time around. Remember Bird Boy? Or when Magneto was headmaster at the School for Gifted Youngsters? A time before anyone even knew the name of Cable!

Since those more innocent times, our team have gone through many trials. Sunspot confronted h

is father, had a rogue clone (sort of), and served time in the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club. Illyana spent years in the Inferno, and the question of whether she really did wipe herself out of existence or not seems a little moot. Rahne’

s nervousness around Illyana was maintained, even if Rahne has come to terms with her own

mutation to a far greater level since those early days.

Many of the old tensions are here as an undercurrent, though I wonder how much of this would be picked up by readers seeing the New Mutants for the first time. However, these factors are so subtly done that if you had no knowledge, it will come apparent in time, and the story has not been bogged down by having such a voluminous history.

Next month we see the return (maybe) of Warlock. So hopefully now we will find out if Douglock was or was not Warlock. I seem to remember he wasn’t, but not why, looks like I have an excuse to dive into my back issues. Shucks.

An interesting addition to the team is Prof. X’s son, Legion. The last time we saw him was when he ushered in The Age of Apocalypse. It will be interesting to find out how a super mutant like Legion who is deranged has been allowed to join the team. Rumors are that he’s actually instrumental in reforming the New Mutants.

Can’t wait to find out.