The New Mutants
Graphic Novel and # 1-10


The New Mutants Graphic Novel: "Renewal"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Bob McLeod
Inker: Mike Gustovich
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis:
Fate burdens Professor X with the responsibility of a third mutant team composed of Robert DeCosta (Sunspot) with enhanced strength drawn from the sun; Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbain) with the ability to transform into a wolf; Karma (X'an McCoy) who is able to possess people; and Danielle Moonstar (Psyche) who can generate illusion based on the target's fears.

Donald Pierce, a member of the Hellfire Club, is also interested in these mutants and has already discovered Sam Guthrie (Cannonball), who can fly by means of a powerful force field. Pierce captures Mirage and Professor X . The New Mutants come to their rescue and defeat Pierce and Cannonball. Professor X begins to the training of the New Mutants who are joined by a remorseful Sam Guthrie.

Jay's Notes:

  • Claremont draws together another pleasant international cast each with their own colorful characterization.
  • McLeod does a wonderful job with the art chores.
  • Karma made her debut in Marvel Team Up #100.

The New Mutants # 1: "Initiation!"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Bob McLeod
Inker: Mike Gustovich
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis:
Danielle (Psyche) Moonstar has a rough start with her teammates when she inadvertently uses her powers on Karma. Professor X introduces them to the Danger Room and put them through their paces. Psyche is too scared to face the Danger Room and runs off. Rahne (Wolfsbain) Sinclair restores Psyche's confidence and she tackles the Danger Room alone. Unfortunately, someone attacks her and puts her in a dangerous scenario with the safety controls turned off.

The New Mutants # 2: "Sentinels"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Bob McLeod
Inker: Mike Gustovich
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis:
Psyche barely escapes from the Danger Room alive. Meanwhile, her teammates are out shopping and are confronted by several government agents. The New Mutants resist them and the government agents call upon their backups, the Sentinels. Fortunately, the New Mutants defeat the Sentinels and return to the Mansion.

Jay's Notes:

  • These Sentinels were created as a joint venture between Peter Gyrich, head of Project: Wideawake and Sebastian Shaw, the Hellfire Club's Black King.

The New Mutants # 3: "Nightmare"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Bob McLeod
Inker: Mike Gustovich
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
Psyche is still haunted by the mysterious presence that trapped her in the Danger Room. She gathers her teammates and lets them in on what has happened. Unfortunately, she's used as a pawn and her powers almost get her teammates killed.

Jay's Notes:

  • These mysterious attacks were actually caused by Professor X who was being influenced by the Brood egg that grew within him. This resolution of these events occurred in Uncanny X-Men #167.

The New Mutants # 4: "Who's Scaring Stevie?"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Bob McLeod
Jay's Rating:
JJJ
Synopsis:
In light of his recent possession by the Brood, Professor X addresses the New Mutants and regains their confidence and trust as their instructor and mentor. The team decides to help one of their teachers Stevie Hunter since she's being harassed by a disturbed caller. They discover that the harasser is one of her other students and that he has a crush on her. However, he comes from an abusive home and has a rather twisted view of love.

The New Mutants # 5: "Heroes"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Bob McLeod/Armando Gil
Jay's Rating:
JJJ
Synopsis:
The New Mutants enjoy a bit of time off and take in a local fair. Unfortunately, Viper and the Silver Samurai have their sights set on the fair's main attraction, a motorcycle group called Team America. They attack Team America hoping to draw out the Black Rider and they're successful. They defeat the Black Rider who turns out to be Danielle Moonstar. Despite the best efforts of the New Mutants, the villains escape and kidnap Danielle. Unknown to the Viper, the Black Rider is a projecting gestalt that Team America inadvertently summons when they're in dangers and in this moment of crisis it was projected onto Danielle.

The New Mutants # 6: "Road Warriors!"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Armando Gil/John Tartag
Jay's Rating:
JJJ
Synopsis:
The New Mutants confront Karma's mobster uncle and learn where Danielle is being held unfortunately at the cost of Karma vowing to server her uncle for a year. The New Mutants invade Viper's stronghold and free Danielle while Team America infiltrates an A.I.M. installation an inadvertently unleash a new mutant menace. The Silver Samurai destroys the Viper's stronghold with the New Mutants apparently still inside.

The New Mutants # 7: "Flying Down to Rio!"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Bob McLeod
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ1/2
Synopsis:
Professor X assigns the X-Men to search for Karma, missing in the explosion of Viper's stronghold, and sends the New Mutants off on a field trip with Roberto's mother, Nina. Before heading into the Amazon, they spend some time in Rio enjoying the hospitality of Roberto's father, Emmanuel. However, Roberto's parents are at odds with each other. Rather than have Nina disrupt his business' expansion into the Amazon, Emmanuel has Hellfire Club agents kidnap her. Fortunately, the resourceful New Mutants rescue her and head off on their excursion.

The New Mutants # 8: "The Road to ... Rome?"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Bob McLeod
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
The New Mutants enjoy a bit of down time as they travel farther and farther down the Amazon. Unfortunately, the Hellfire Club is very interested in having Emmanuel DeCosta join their organization and has an agent along on their excursion who makes several attempts to kill them. They survive and encounter a mysterious young woman posing as a native and then are surrounded by Roman Legionnaires.
 

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of Amara Aquilla aka Magma.

The New Mutants # 9: "Arena"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Bob McLeod
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis:
The New Mutants are led through a secret passage in the Andes to city of Nova Roma. Sam and Roberto are sent to fight in the Arena while the girls are prepared for the auction block. Fortunately, their display in the arena proves them worthy and Rahne, with red hair marking her as a descendent of Julius Caesar, they are triumphantly accepted by the people of Nova Roma and Senator Gallio.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of Selene.

The New Mutants # 10: "Betrayal!"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Tom Mandrake
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
The New Mutants briefly enjoy all that Nova Roma has to offer. They also learn about the power struggle between Senator Gallio and Senator Aquilla, father of the young woman Amara whom they met (issue #8). Senator Gallio arrests Senator Aquilla on false charges and the New Mutants do what they can to protect him. Meanwhile, Danielle and Amara are captured and led off to be the next victims of Selene.

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