"The New Mutants: Renewal" by Chris Claremont and Bill Mantlo

 

            This is a review of the graphic novel “The New Mutants: Renewal” by Chris Claremont and Bill Mantlo. This review does not have anything to do with “The New Mutants” film.

            This book was about the formation and early and early adventures of the team The New Mutants. I feel that a brief description of the characters will enhance this review to people unfamiliar with The New Mutants, not knowing the characters or storylines and mostly only reading this out of obligation of me and this blog.

            Xi’an Coy Manh/Karma. Powers: Mental possession.

            Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane. Powers: Metamorphosis from human to lupine form.

            Danielle Moonstar/Psyche. Powers: Able to mentally projects a person’s deepest fears or desires.

            Samuel Guthrie/Cannonball. Powers: Ability to transform into an invulnerable projectile.

            Roberto DaCosta/Sunspot. Powers: Ability to draw energy from the sun which gives him super strength.

            Amara Aquilla/Magma. Powers: Geokinesis and control over fire and magma.

            Illyana Rasputin. Powers: Sorcery.

            Charles Xavier/Professor X. Powers: Telepathy and mind control.

            The story begins when geneticist Moira McTaggert brings her charge Rahne Sinclair to Charles Xavier. Xavier was the mentor to the mutant team the Uncanny X-Men, who have disappeared and pronounced dead. A mutant is a person with powers caused by a genetic mutation which usually emerge during puberty. Xavier has a device called Cerebro which can detect mutants. His base is his School for Gifted Youngsters where he taught mutants both scholastically and in the use of their mutant powers. Xavier is reluctant to take on any new students due to the danger it leaves to his students. Xi’an is discovered as a mental possessor and Xavier takes her in, giving her a job and a home. Dani is also discovered, the granddaughter of an acquaintance to Charles Xavier and also taken in after predicting the murder of her grandfather which comes to be. Roberto is discovered when he transforms during a soccer/football game. Sam’s powers emerge during a mine collapse where he saves himself and his supervisor by blasting out.

            A group called the Hellfire Club discover these newly empowered mutants as well as Xavier and attempt to capture and possibly destroy them. They use Sam as a pawn and convinces him that mutants must be destroyed. By circumstances, the young mutants are all gathered together, convince Sam of the Hellfire Club’s true mission and come together as a group. Reluctantly, Xavier accepts all the kids to his school, but refuses to call this new team X-Men out of his legacy to the original team. The kids are then dubbed “The New Mutants.”

            They do battles with foes such as the Sentinels, robots designed to kill mutants; the Brood, an alien species bent on universal domination; Viper/Madame Hydra; the Silver Samurai; and Selene Gallio, a mutant vampire who attempts eternal life by draining the life essence out of a person. The original X-Men are discovered alive when they return to the School. The New Mutants arrive in Nova Roma/New Rome, where the team discover Amara, a newly emerged mutant who takes on the codename Magma. The book also features the story of Illyana’s time in Limbo where she is held for seven years by the Demon Lord Belasco, but seconds pass between her entrapment and escape from the dimension.

            This book contained several storylines, what I described were mostly just my highlights. Now to the important parts, my scoring. First I’ll start with the ever important accessibility rating. If you go to read this book, you should be able to pick it up with little to know knowledge of any Marvel history pretty easily is this is the start of the series. If you saw “The New Mutants” film (and you were probably very disappointed) and want actually good stories, this is for you. The origins of the characters were clearly displayed in this book, and the book is labeled Volume 1, so, yeah, you can start your introductions to the characters with ease. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, which was mostly written by Chris Claremont, who is a favorite writer of mine. He was definitely on top of his game here. I’m a fan of the current “New Mutants” comic book series, and this was actually quite a good bit better. The history was assembled well. I do complain about the “Magik” limited series being included, as Illyana was not in any other part of the book and a flashback scene was featured from an issue not contained in this volume. Do I recommend this book to you? Absolutely. Now, what you’ve really been waiting for; my numerical score. For those who don’t know my system, the score is from one to ten, one being stay the heck away from this book, ten being go out and read this because I will not shut up talking about it and you will, too, I give it a nine. Again, “Magik” didn’t feel appropriate in this volume and I might have given this book a ten if it wasn’t actually included in it. Another factor in lowering the score is not including “The Uncanny X-Men” issue titled “PROFESSOR XAVIER IS A JERK!” where Xavier tried to demote X-Man Kitty Pryde/Sprite to the New Mutants felt like an important piece was left out. Otherwise, I felt this was a rather good read.

            Now I leave you with my signoff: Tim Cubbin… out!