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Post by shaxper on Feb 4, 2017 11:13:14 GMT -5
Marvel Graphic Novel #4  A new format and a great experiment, Marvel Graphic Novels sought to elevate mainstream comics into critical works of art, redefining adults' perceptions of the medium in the process. Chris Claremont, himself, would bring us game-changers like God Loves, Man Kills and Dazzler: The Movie through this series, taking the theme of mutant hatred to a deeper, more provocative, and more universal level. But then there's this little piece of fluff. It would seem that Jim Shooter presented Claremont and McLeod with a paradox: help to legitimize the Marvel Graphic Novels by launching a hot new team there, but don't do anything here that will leave newsstand readers feeling left out when the regular series first issue hits stands. Thus, MGN #4 is careful to ensure that the team isn't actually formed until the final panel of the book so that, literally, newsstand readers will not have missed a single panel of New Mutants adventures. But that makes scripting a triple length story here incredibly challenging -- what do you do for all of those pages to make this story worthwhile without doing something newsstand readers shouldn't miss? So we spend half the issue on origin stories (none of which prove all that memorable) and the other half on an obligatory adventure that unites the team by the close. It really isn't anything noteworthy, and characterization all feels forced and unidimensional, with Rahne as the timid religious Scottish girl, Xi'an as the Vietnamese refugee survivor who is older in spirit than she is in flesh, Dani as the angry native American who distrusts white people (that really seems to be the only way Claremont knows how to write them), Berto as the angry victim of racial intolerance, and Sam as the pleasant white kid. Come to think of it, it's actually startlingly racist in its attempts to be culturally diverse. And Mcleod's art is downright awkward throughout the story. Not doing Claremont any favors. The only truly worthwhile aspect of this story is the internal conflict that Xavier undergoes, repeatedly placing children in harm's way.  And yet, no one but Xavier and a member of the Hellfire Club that none of them knew was in danger, so essentially, Xavier was risking this team (and Rahne's life) to save his own skin. Once again, it's all about using his kids to accomplish his own ends, and if Rahne has to die so that Xavier can live, he's reluctantly ready to make that decision. We have this one other telling moment at the end of the issue as well:  Xi'an signs on to be taught how to use her powers and ends up in an X-Men uniform. Sure, it could be considered a school uniform as well, but the overtones are clear to the readers -- this will be a junior version of the X-Men. Once more, the school itself is a front; what Xavier (and the reader) really wants is to see these kids thrown into death-defying battles, the emphasis not placed on giving them the help and training they so desperately need. Important Details:1st appearances of Rahne Sinclair, Danielle Moonstar, Roberto deCosta, and Sam Guthrie New Mutants team assembled Deaths of Black Eagle (Danielle's grandfather) and Julia (Roberto's girlfriend) at the hands of The Hellfire Club Minor Details:Are we supposed to know how Xavier knew Danielle's father? What was the evil plan in this issue? Why did The Hellfire Club need two random teenage mutants? They were going to kill Berto, but only after an elaborate hoax in which it looked like a kidnapping/ransom. So why go to all these lengths, why create the ruse of having Sam work for them, and why only these two mutants? Serves the plot well, but makes no actual sense. Grade: D |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 8, 2017 21:30:33 GMT -5
New Mutants #1 (March 1982)  Part of the fun of re-reading this series is all the little things I never caught in previous readings, all while experiencing all the same fun I had the first time around. In this case, it's the little asynchronous details between Marvel Graphic Novel #4 and this story. Let's start with Dani. Whereas she was an angry young women who hated all white people last issue, she's pretty much the friendliest member of the group this time around, far more worried about what Xavier thinks of her than of what she should think of Xavier. Then there's Berto, who witnessed the horrific death of his girlfriend (sacrificing herself to save him) in MGN #4, and who yet can be found repeatedly hitting on ladies in this issue without a stray thought for the girl he loved who died for him just a few days ago. Heck, even when Claremont lets us in on Berto's innermost thoughts, there's humor to be found there, but absolutely no grief:  It's as if Julia had never existed. And oddest of all is this little stray comment:  "I alone have practical experience in the use of my abilities"? Didn't the entire team work together to save Xavier in MGN #4??? Thus, it becomes clear to me for the first time that this story was written prior to Marvel Graphic Novel #4, Claremont and McLeod possibly not even realizing, upon creating this story, that they'd ultimately have to go back and write a previous one. So whereas MGN adds all this new complexity to Berto, Sam, and Rahne's backstories (Dani's is pretty much lifted directly from a brief recap in this issue), as well as a first adventure together, practically none of it is suggested by this story that follows. Maybe that also explains why this is a much better story, as opposed to the rather conventional origin story we were served up in MGN #4. Whereas MGN #4 felt like a story I'd read a dozen times before (parts feeling lifted directly from Giant-Size X-Men #1), this newsstand debut opens on an entirely unique note:  Claremont and McLeod make it clear from the start that this is not standard superhero fare -- this is a story about kids and their lives off of the battle field; something a little more human and real than just another superhero title. The Xavier factor continues to intrigue me. In spite of Xavier's assertion in this issue that there will never be another X-Men and that this team will not be doing any superheroics, we get a lot of mixed messages from the Professor, including this one:  "...a level you won't reach for some time"? Why, exactly, do the New Mutants need to hone their physical prowess to X-Men levels (let alone any levels) if they're not going to be fighting bad guys? Has Xavier skipped over the hope for mankind bit and jumped right to "prepare for the sentinels"? I mean, really, who are the three teachers at this "school," anyway? Professor Xavier: Expert in mutation who is spending all his time with the team running them through the Danger Room. No overview of what they will study here or why, no books, no indication of any other classes he will be teaching them. Moira MacTaggert: Another expert in mutation. I guess maybe she can teach the kids science? Seems more like the school nurse. Stevie Hunter: Dance instructor who functions as a den mother here. No other background in any other course of study. So is Xavier actually planning to teach these kids anything? Cuz it sure looks like he threw them in X-Men suits, gave them codenames, and ran them through the Danger Room with no further thought for their educations. Are we ever going to see these kids sitting in a classroom, or even taking one-on-one lessons with Xavier or some other tutor? Who is going to guide them through their feelings of alienation, empowerment, and self-hatred? Who's going to prepare them to diplomatically engage the world? And where and when will they be taught these skills? Important Details:- Stevie Hunter is a teacher at Xavier's school now. - Full origin of Dani, explaining why she was by herself and why her grandfather had sent for Xavier at the beginning of MGN #4 (she had no control over her powers and was in self-exile from her tribe).
Minor Details:- McLeod's art is still killing my soul. Ugh. - While we knew previously that Xi-an Coy watched her mother get raped and murdered by pirates ( Marvel Team-Up #100), we now learn that she herself was raped as her young siblings watched. Who would have thought her backstory could become even more heartbreaking? - First references to Legion, though he will not be introduced for two more years. Overall, a very human-centered story where the previously flat characters we met in MGN #4 begin to shine, Roberto providing the laughs, Xian Coy the deep seeded tragedy, Rahne the awkward pathos, and Dani the emotional core of the team, full of self doubt but also lively, loving and fun, while only Sam lacks character at this point. Grade: B+ |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 9, 2017 8:17:01 GMT -5
So glad you're reviewing this series, shaxper! For a brief time in the '80s, New Mutants was my favourite title (when Sienkiewicz first came on board).
The early issues were a bit clunky, however. For a "second X-Men team" (which the New Mutants were not, but were pretty much advertised at), they were sorely lacking in exciting visuals. Roberto turning black when he powered up looked kind of cool, but the others were rather blah. Rahne looked very awkward in her half-wolf form; a more typical werewolf appearance, while less original, would doubtless have been more exciting. (That's what later artists went for eventually). Xian and Dani had mental powers, so nothing to see there, and Sam just flew while leaving smoke behind him. The school leotards were also pretty ordinary.
None of which is bad for storytelling, and in fact this purposeful toning down fit the nature of the book to a T. These were not meant to be exciting super-heroes going on adventures, these were meant to be kids in a special school. It's just a good thing that the book came with a built-in audience of avid X-Men readers. In interviews, Chris explained how he had to improvise the title very quickly to keep the "second mutant books" from falling into someone else's hands; perhaps that's why it was a little bland in the beginning.
Quite true, and such a gutsy move is to be praised. Chris relied on his ability to tell interesting stories about characters he'd have to develop, which is more of a challenge than bringing in a few fan favourites and have them take on Doctor Doom.
The mixed message from the early issues was explained away (by what I am sure is a retcon) a few issues later when it was revealed that Xavier was, at the time, partially controlled by the Brood egg he was carrying. It is the Brood inside him (a queen, no less) that got him to recruit these powered youths to act as Brood incubators. (Quite a plausible retcon, for once!)
Hah! Stevie Hunter. For the longest time I wondered if Chris hadn't introduced her as a Trojan horse (at least a potential one). But nope, she was on the side of the angels! Too bad we sort of lost sight of her after the Mutant Massacre, when the X-Men moved to Australia and the supporting cast was forgotten for a few years.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 9, 2017 9:08:44 GMT -5
they were sorely lacking in exciting visuals. Roberto turning black when he powered up looked kind of cool, but the others were rather blah. Rahne looked very awkward in her half-wolf form; a more typical werewolf appearance, while less original, would doubtless have been more exciting. (That's what later artists went for eventually). Xian and Dani had mental powers, so nothing to see there, and Sam just flew while leaving smoke behind him. The school leotards were also pretty ordinary. None of which is bad for storytelling, and in fact this purposeful toning down fit the nature of the book to a T. These were not meant to be exciting super-heroes going on adventures, these were meant to be kids in a special school. It's just a good thing that the book came with a built-in audience of avid X-Men readers. In interviews, Chris explained how he had to improvise the title very quickly to keep the "second mutant books" from falling into someone else's hands; perhaps that's why it was a little bland in the beginning. Interesting point. McLeod's lackluster art may have actually aided Claremont's intentions. I'm going to keep this in mind as I move forward with the reviews. Thank you. It's not really a retcon, though. In issue #2 (review coming soon) Dani sees a brood in the Danger Room sequence she is trapped in, and no brood should have been there. Seems like Claremont knew we was going this route all along. It will be interesting to see if Xavier's intentions and actions more clearly match each other after the big revelation. In the end, readers want to see a team in action, not studying and working towards a future of peaceful co-existence. It will be hard to deliver that if Xavier is as good as his word. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 9, 2017 9:31:36 GMT -5
It's not really a retcon, though. In issue #2 (review coming soon) Dani sees a brood in the Danger Room sequence she is trapped in, and no brood should have been there. Seems like Claremont knew we was going this route all along. Good point! |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 9, 2017 10:36:57 GMT -5
New Mutants #2 (April 1983)  If last issue left us thinking this was going to be another run-of-the-mill, trapped-in-the-danger-room issue, forget it. Dani's story is pushed to the side in favor of something far far more worthwhile. Claremont appears to have three goals with this story: The first it to keep the focus on normal kids who just happen to have mutant powers and are trying to lead their lives, rather than a team of professional superheroes. The second is to provide excitement and anticipation for future stories. And the third is to build off of the theme and momentum Claremont has just brought to a boil in Marvel Graphic Novel #5:  Playing up the mistrust and hate against mutants, even by our own religious and political leaders, makes more sense here, in this book, while the X-Men are still off adventuring in space. Our story opens with a scene every bit as normal as the opening of the last issue, with the gang checking out a mall and actually befriending regular kids. But then Project Wideawake, a pseudo-government agency bent on eliminating the mutant menace, arrives to spoil the fun, and a new breed of sentinels soon follows:  I can't over-emphasize this image: a symbol of terror and hatred literally smashing apart the common, ordinary world we all know and love within which the New Mutants so desperately want to be able to exist. No wonder the scene was borrowed for the pilot episode of the X-Men Animated series twelve years later with the intent of driving home the very same point.  Incidentally, I have to say I like these new blue hues better, but they certainly don't "pop" on newsprint the way the old purple tones do. So we get a whole lot of action, a whole lot of characterization and theme as these youths come to understand that "normal" isn't going to be an option for them, and we get a whole lot of groundwork laid for future stories as the sentinels and Project Wideawake are still out there, and Sebastian Shaw is plotting to take it all down from the inside with the hope of ultimately recruiting the New Mutants to serve his own evil mutant goals. And, of course, we get the surprise reveal at the end that Professor Xavier is under the control of a Brood Queen that is growing within him. His absence in this story, and the threat suggested here at the end, are critical for the future of the title. X-Men writers have never seemed to know what do with Xavier, from Stan Lee, to Roy Thomas, right up to Claremont. No team can grow and thrive if it's constantly micromanaged by a mentor who always knows best. So the team is already getting distance from him only one issue in, and Xi'an is defaulting into the team's leader and moral compass in his absence, due to her age and experience. Her conversation with Col. Rossi (back from the dead) here is quite impressive proof of this:  Innocent kids with haunting back stories who want to be normal, but are feared and hated by the world. And soon, they will have to grow up and figure things out on their own, with no safe mentor to guide them. Important Details:- Though we were given Rahne's (14) and Sam's (16) ages in Marvel Graphic Novel #4, we're now told that Berto is 13, and Xian Coy is 19. No age given for Dani. - Berto is near-invulnerable when in his energized form. This will be redacted in New Mutants #8. - Sam packs enough power to launch a Sentinel into near-orbit, and possibly further. - The X-Men return from space this month. That should further complicate Xavier's relationship with these new students once the Brood fiasco is settled. Minor Details:- Rahne is pronounced "Rain". I apparently missed that on previous readings and have been saying it wrong for decades. - This issue finally acknowledges the major conflict of MGN #4, but Berto still doesn't seem aware that he had a girlfriend he loved who died to save his life in that story. - Berto's father is a member of the Hellfire Club, but not of the Inner Circle - Even Stevie isn't sure why she's qualified to be a teacher to these kids. A fun, action-packed issue that remains heavy on characterization and now on theme as well.
Grade: B+ |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 9, 2017 14:27:04 GMT -5
New Mutants #3 (May 1983)  And here's where continuity gets confusing... So, while this story hit stands in the same month as X-Men #170 (after the X-Men have returned from space), we're told on the title page that this issue is set three and a half months earlier so that the X-Men haven't returned yet. We'll see the New Mutants meet them for the first time in X-Men #167 (which already hit stands three months ago). If that isn't confusing enough, we get time with Ilyana Rasputin in this issue, strongly suggesting that she'll soon be joining the team. Illyana aged into a teenager and gained strange new powers in X-Men #160, but what actually happened there won't be revealed until the Magik limited series hits stands in six more months. By the way, while that story depicts events that passed nearly a year prior to this, the New Mutants make a cameo in that series. Confused yet? In terms of the story itself, whereas last issue gave attention to the other four members of the team, this one puts the focus back on Dani as she questions her sanity, fighting her own mind and perceptions of reality in order to save the team from an attack that may or may not be real.  It gets damn powerful at times. Speaking of which, I'm kind of amazed the Comics Code didn't have an issue with this cover. Don't get me wrong: I love it. Anyway, at the center of all this is the Brood Queen inside of Xavier. Interesting choice for Claremont to have revealed this to us last issue, whereas the team itself still hasn't fully figured this out yet (though Dani strongly suspects). Three issues and a graphic novel in, Claremont is already favoring strong female characters over male ones once again. Dani has been the star of two of these issues, Xi'an one, and Rahne's gotten a lot of empathy and attention as a secondary character. To date, Sam still has absolutely no private thoughts nor personality to speak of, and Berto is mostly good for jokes and a sounding board for Dani's inner thoughts. We do get this one memorable sequence in this issue, though, in which we are reminded of each team member's deepest fears:  There's nothing new about what we see for Xi'an, Sam, and Rahne, but Berto's deepest fear is being gunned down by Julia (the girlfriend who took a bullet in order to save him)? That's powerful and finally hints at some complexity for Berto, while also finally acknowledging that traumatic experience from Marvel Graphic Novel #4 that has gone totally forgotten until now. Minor Details:- Dani actually refers to the team as "The New Mutants." Probably not intended as a proper noun. I don't believe they'll ever actually get called by that name again. - Illyana Rasputin gets a page to herself in this issue. Implied she'll be joining the team soon. - Sam struggles to turn while using his powers - Dani has the potential to one day create solid images with her ability. Not much else to say for this issue. Solid action, great characterization for Dani (though not for anyone else) and a further distancing of the new team from Xavier. A necessary move if the team is going to be free to grow apart from the shadow of the X-Men title. Grade: B |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 9, 2017 14:58:33 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #167 (March 1983)  Ah, publishing delays. The first meeting of the X-Men and New Mutants occurred three months before it was supposed to, but here it is. Claremont goes with the obligatory Marvel superhero first meeting, in which there is a misunderstanding and fighting ensues, but as these are relatively untrained kids, he makes the exceptions of allowing the X-Men to figure out who the New Mutants are, only the new kids mistaking the X-Men for enemies. Thus, they get to cut loose on the X-Men while the X-Men pull their punches:  Cliche, but damned fun. Beyond the initial meeting, this story provides the conclusion to the Professor-Xavier-as-Brood-Queen dilemma. I suppose it would have been unrealistic to have the New Mutants solve that problem on their own. Still, the solution of cloning a new body for Xavier and then transferring his mind over takes more than a generous helping of suspension of disbelief. After all, wasn't the Brood Queen still largely in control of his mind? As Roquefort Raider mentioned earlier, Kitty Pryde does offer the possible explanation that Xavier's decision to take in these new students may have been engineered by the Brood Queen in order to provide her with new hosts for her eggs:  But Xavier gives no indication that he shares this suspicion when he recovers and introduces the two teams to one another. It would appear that, in The Professor's mind, nothing about his decision to take on The New Mutants has changed. Well, nothing other than the idea that Kitty should probably be a New Mutant and not an X-Man. And we all know where that's going next issue... Whoops! I meant... But that story has no real impact upon the New Mutants (beyond Kitty proving to The Professor that she should remain an X-Man), so we'll skip it. Important Details:- The X-Men return from space and meet The new Mutants Grade: B+ |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 9, 2017 16:22:26 GMT -5
I loved that issue of X-Men. Especially the exchange
"So, that's Cyclops".
"Wow!"
(I miss the days when Cyke commanded respect from people).
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Post by shaxper on Feb 9, 2017 17:07:23 GMT -5
I loved that issue of X-Men. Especially the exchange "So, that's Cyclops". "Wow!" (I miss the days when Cyke commanded respect from people). And the lines just before it too, with Wolverine being the worrier of the group for once. Great dialogue all around. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Feb 9, 2017 17:28:22 GMT -5
I don't think I read the first few last time I read through New Mutants (I started with the Demon Bear Saga, I think, maybe an issue or two before). Couple things that pop out to me:
-- That art is REALLY bad.
-- Sam not being able to turn is a long term thing, IIRC.
-- Berto.. wow. OK, so first of all, they definitely make a big deal later how Rahne is younger than the rest of them... so someone changed their mind about Berto's age at some point (especially now!) Also, he definitely WASN'T invulnerable (or anywhere close to it) for long... he definitely gets defeated on several occasions by one human-ish powered punch later
-- Kitty totally should have swapped over and been the leader, that would have been excellent! Some of my favorite NM scenes were with her and Illyana just chatting.
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Post by shaxper on Feb 9, 2017 17:37:34 GMT -5
-- That art is REALLY bad. YES I think it would have made the team too safe, though. So much of the book's potential right now is coming from these totally inexperienced kids having to figure things out on their own without stable guidance. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 9, 2017 18:26:54 GMT -5
Some of my favorite NM scenes were with her and Illyana just chatting. Absolutely! |
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Post by String on Feb 9, 2017 19:10:08 GMT -5
Art being subjective, I have no problem with McLeod here. In fact, those splash pages from those early issues bring back some nice memories. I would put McLeod in the same category with Herb Trimpe, solid artists within Marvel's stable of talent. He may not bring the same level of detail as Paul Smith but combined with Smith on UXM at the time, the X-books were in very good shape at that time. In UXM #167 (long a favorite issue of mine), there's blunt confirmation of the purpose of the two groups.  The X-Men's primary goal is to fight 'evil' mutants, not to foster some peace between mutants and humanity. What's more concerning is that the implication here is that Xavier has long considered it to be dangerous for someone of Kitty's age to serve with the X-Men. So why wait this long to admit new students (even under the possible influence of a Brood Queen) so as to resolve this issue? |
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Post by shaxper on Feb 9, 2017 23:54:30 GMT -5
The X-Men's primary goal is to fight 'evil' mutants, not to foster some peace between mutants and humanity. That's a possible way to read it, but all Xavier is outright saying is that the younger, less experienced students shouldn't be on active combat duty. Maybe he sincerely hopes they'll never see combat and will be dedicated to a more diplomatic goal, or maybe he just doesn't feel they're ready for combat yet. |
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