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New Mutants (1983-1991) #18-20

New Mutants/X-Force: Demon Bear

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Collects New Mutants (1983) 18-20, X-Force (1991) 99, X-Force (2008) 7-10.

The visionary talents of legendary illustrator Bill Sienkiewicz bring the Demon Bear that has haunted Danielle Moonstar's dreams to horrifying life! It took her parents, and now it has returned for Dani -- and only the combined efforts of her fellow New Mutants can stop it from finishing the job! Sink your teeth into a true classic! Then, Dani's nightmare returns years later as San Francisco -- and her new team, X-Force -- come under attack from a similarly unholy ursine! And when the Apache mutant Warpath faces his own Demon Bear, he must forge an unlikely alliance with Ghost Rider -- and embrace his birthright -- to discover the truth. It's a trilogy of terror, featuring a threat far scarier than the average bear!

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2014

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About the author

Chris Claremont

3,270 books882 followers
Chris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.

Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.

Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.

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5 stars
33 (16%)
4 stars
71 (34%)
3 stars
82 (40%)
2 stars
16 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Nicholas Kaufmann.
Author 37 books217 followers
March 16, 2020
THE NEW MUTANTS was one of the few comics I read regularly back in the early to mid-1980s (along with X-MEN and ALPHA FLIGHT), so with a film adaptation on the horizon I thought I'd revisit one of the comic's best-known story arcs. I'm sure I read it in issues back in the day, but I was surprised how little of it I remembered. For example, I remembered all the members of the New Mutants except Magma, whom I had completely forgotten existed! I was also surprised to see just how small a role Dani Moonstar plays in the overall story, despite the Demon Bear being her personal nemesis. After the first issue, Dani spends the rest of the time in the hospital while her teammates battle the Demon Bear on her behalf. These aren't necessarily bad things, by the way, just things I didn't remember. The story is actually quite exciting!

It's also a reminder of what an efficient writer Chris Claremont is. Not only does he pack an epic, mystical battle into just three issues, he also takes the time within those issues to set up significant future plot lines. We briefly see Rachel Summers, the daughter of an alternate-future Cyclops and Phoenix, looking for Professor X at the mansion before her story takes off in the pages of X-MEN. We also get a few interludes setting up Warlock's imminent arrival on Earth, including a small cameo by the Starjammers and Binary, a.k.a. Carol Danvers, the Captain Marvel we know from the MCU. As for Bill Sienkiewicz's art, I remember thinking at the time that it was "weird," but now I think it's pretty great. I also appreciate that he draws our young heroes as realistic teenagers rather than giant-boobed pin-ups like other artists.

This volume also features two re-appearances of the Demon Bear in later issues of X-FORCE, but neither adds much to the story, in my opinion, although it's nice to catch up with an adult Dani Moonstar in the first of them. Overall, I found THE NEW MUTANTS: DEMON BEAR to be a highly enjoyable blast from the past (with no bigger blast, perhaps, than seeing Storm's 1980s mohawk again!). I don't think I was fully conscious of it at the time, but THE NEW MUTANTS spoke to me in a way no other comics did because the characters were all around my age at the time and shared many of my insecurities, which helped me see that those insecurities were universal. I'm older now -- much older -- but the New Mutants still have a special place in my heart, and I enjoyed spending some time with them again.
Profile Image for Rafa Araujo.
414 reviews15 followers
May 9, 2020
3.5
Me gustaron los números clásicos de New Mutants que es la mayor parte de este tradepaperback, el número de X-force de Danny y la otra chica mehh, y el número de Warpath también estaban bien nivel o. k. la historia y el dibujo.
Profile Image for Bridgettearlee.
58 reviews
September 23, 2020
The initial 3 episodes that are Claremont’s original New Mutants Demon Bear actually deserves 4 stars. The story is woven with themes of bravery, trust, and the familiar fairy tale trope of the ancient wild world as mystical and hiding dangerous evil. The next iterations of the bear (and the New Mutants) are lackluster.

Sienkiewicz doesn’t draw a face that isn’t alarmed and his backgrounds typically lack detail, but his issues stand out as the best because his layouts are varied and serve the story. His art conveys movement instantly and doesn’t rely on onomatopoeia to assist action, it’s thematic and directs the eye clearly, zooming in and out in scope.

Mike Choi’s artwork in the final issue of the collection is glossy and detailed in a way that feels like watching a film, unfortunately writers Kyle and Yost take advantage of that skill by giving over half the issue to textless spreads.
Profile Image for Monita Roy Mohan.
862 reviews16 followers
November 8, 2019
What a complete cringe-fest. I remember reading the 80s storyline a while back, but I’d forgotten how pedantic the language of comics from that era was. Oh my gawd. It was hard to get through. I also wasn’t a fan of the art style. It was so overly sketched and erratic, it made it impossible to make out what was going on in each panel. I remember it being especially frustrating when reading the New Mutants run as a whole, because suddenly the art style changed mid-run.

I find it ridiculous that a story that’s ostensibly about Dani and her emotional/personal struggles, then actively works to remove her completely from the action. Dani becomes a plot device and the story has absolutely no gravitas, no emotional heft. And whatever attempts at being diverse is undone by the fact that the majority white team is squabbling with each other and also saving the day. What a load of croc.

The way this saga has been edited isn’t well thought out. It’s incoherent at best, and uninteresting at worst. This Demon Bear story was not meant to be a standalone story and that shows in this book.

Don’t get me started on the second and third part of this ‘trilogy’. Part two was trying to leverage the original storyline in the hopes of making Dani interesting (my guess is the writers had no other ideas left even though Dani can be fascinating if written well). I liked the art in the Warpath story, but it was so thin on plot and character that it was hard to be invested in it. The denouement was probably supposed to be shocking but I don’t know what the reference was so I couldn’t care less.

The only good thing in this book was that the female characters weren’t overly sexualized. Those bits of the New Mutants run didn’t make it into this book, which is a surprise. The creators and artists of these teen characters were disturbingly lascivious - that’s not improved in comics in general - so it’s nice that this book somehow eschewed those parts mostly.

All in all, hard pass on this book because it’s not really a fun or interesting read. The characters deserve a lot better than this hack-job can give them.
Profile Image for Rolando Marono.
1,944 reviews19 followers
March 23, 2020
Este libro trae tres diferentes historias sobre el oso demonio. La primera es en la que aparentemente estará basada la película, muy retrasada por tanto muy esperada, de New Mutants. Esta historia de tres partes es interesante y nos muestra como un demonio indio de la infancia de Dani Moonstar regresa para atormentarla y requiere de todos los New Mutants para detenerlo. Esta historia yo la esperaba más interesante. Un poco más psicológica y que se adentraran más en el aspecto del miedo y de la psicología de los personajes. Pero todo eso no es abordado y el enemigo es derrotado a golpes.
El papel de Magik es bastante importante y eso me gusta porque hasta la fecha es un personaje que tiene mucha importancia en las historias de X-Men y sus poderes me gustan mucho.
La segunda historia es de un dos números y no me atrapó como la primera. Los personajes cambian, Dani Moonstar ahora tiene unos poderes de alteración de la realidad que nunca son explicados y el surgimiento del oso demonio no es atractivo y tampoco como lo derrotan.
La tercera historia es de un sólo número y nos muestra a otro héroe indo americano, Warpath, en un camino de redención donde se enfrenta al Oso Demonio y aprende nuevas habilidades de Ghost Rider. Me hubiera gustado que esta historia fuera un poco más larga porque era realmente interesante.
Como material de lectura para la película es bueno pero sólo si eres un gran fan de los cómics y te gusta leer el material fuente antes de ver la película.
Profile Image for Louis Skye.
652 reviews8 followers
November 7, 2019
I had read the earlier (80s) stories about the Demon Bear when I was first reading the X-Men. I absolutely adored the New Mutants so it was great to catch up with them again.

The writing style was just too old school for me. Having read so many contemporary comics, I found it very old-fashioned. There was so much text!

The art wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Quite pared back and bare at times but not terrible, just outdated. I've seen art that's horrendous and this is not it.

However, the art in the last issue is gorgeous. That's the kind I love, and it's definitely more contemporary. Would have loved an entire volume of that, honestly.

The actually story was a big dull. It takes forever to unfold, even though this volume only contained snippets of relevant pages.

And the resolutions (in the world of comics, nothing ever stays dead just once) were too simplistic, almost an afterthought.

This wasn't the worst read, and I was nostalgic meeting up with the New Mutants again, but I would have preferred a stronger plot.
Profile Image for Lucas.
491 reviews5 followers
June 14, 2024
Not gonna lie and say I didn't entirely read this for Sienkiewicz's art. And it absolutely delivered. It's not quite as unhinged as his stuff on Elektra or Stray Toasters, but the seed is there. It hits a great balance between that 80s house style he started in, and the more expressionistic style he grew into. The titular bear has some of that Kingpin energy he brought to the page a couple years later. Taking up all of the real estate. Kind of derpy but absolutely terrifying. And the covers... Especially that more recent X-Force, I want that on my wall ! The story's kind of cool, though definitely more of a vessel for the art. The follow ups where the bear comes back are mostly dumb, but I was glad to read some Mike Choi again. His stuff is absolutely overrendered to shit, but it hits that post House of M era nostalgia. I remember really loving that run, despite how edgy and frankly kind of cringe it now looks..
Profile Image for Vladimír.
429 reviews10 followers
December 27, 2018
Demon bear je pre čitateľov, ktorým nevadí trochu psychedélie a téma, ktorá sa interpretuje skrz rôzne komiksy a éry. Hlavnou postavou je logicky démonický medveď a Danielle Moonstar, mutantka s čejenskými koreňmi. Táto dvojica sa spolu stretne v troch príbehoch, ktoré sú zasadené v troch rôznych sériách z rokov 1983 až 2008. Nejde teda o príbeh, skôr motív, ktorý sa ťahá históriou X-Menov. Najviac oceňujem úvod a kresbu Billa Sienkiewicza, ale aj ostatné príbehy sú zaujímavé a nechýba v nich akcia, tradície, súboje mimo tento svet a veľká dávka nadprirodzena. Komiks nie je pre každého, ale ak niekomu brnkne na strunu, bude ho milovať.
Profile Image for Crazed8J8.
748 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2020
An odd collection, in that, it jumps decades between stories. Contains the original story (New Mutants 18-20), a resurgence of the Demon Bear in X-Force 96-99, and then a later encounter between Warpath and the Demon Bear in a different X-Force volume.
Aside from the odd gathering of stories (that don't make for a comprehensive read), each story is interesting, and gives interesting insights into the Demon Bear. This is, theoretically, the basis of the upcoming New Mutants movie (which is why I wanted to read it). Even the afterword is awkward.
I gave it 4 stars for the different stories, artwork, and unique tales, but the fluidity really drags it down.
Profile Image for Rosie.
573 reviews5 followers
August 17, 2020
With New Mutants on the horizon, I wanted to pick up the source material in preparation. The Demon Bear Saga follows the New Mutants as Dani is haunted by the Demon Bear, a being from her childhood that killed her parents and now stalks her. I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was a self-contained story that drew me in with the artwork, magic and characters. I was engrossed. The only thing I can’t speak on is the Native American representation as I’m not Native American, however, a few reviews I have read have said it does rely on stereotypes and I did find some of the choices the authors made were uncomfortable to read.
Profile Image for Ma'Belle.
1,223 reviews44 followers
December 9, 2018
The upcoming New Mutants (horror) film is supposed to be based on the Demon Bear story line, so I thought this should be essential reading. The collection I got from the library, with additional issues and excerpts from later X-Force issues, was definitely among the best I've seen so far from New Mutants comics. I wish I remembered more specifics to mention, but I've been dealing with a dying computer and keeping up with other books and life events.
Profile Image for Zachariah.
1,214 reviews
November 1, 2020
So I'm a little pissed. This story was supposed to be a new story by Chris Claremont, the guy who put the X-men on the map. It's not. It's a new writer revisiting a Claremont story. You know. Like every fucking writer after Claremont left.

I also wasn't too thrilled that - while the Claremont story featured a Cheyenne protagonist - he also turned two white people Cheyenne through magic. That just...I mean, what?
Profile Image for Kris.
768 reviews39 followers
February 29, 2020
Compiles the early issues of New Mutants, where the Demon Bear is first encountered, with various issues of X-Force, where it reappears. As such, there's a lack of continuity - brief excerpts of some issues, whole issues at other times, with no background to what's going on in the issue (aside from the Demon Bear's appearance).
Incredible early art by Bill Sienkewicz!
Profile Image for Ahdom.
1,314 reviews25 followers
May 3, 2020
I had read some of the early run of New Mutants and a little of X-Force, but I wanted to read the most famous storyline from the New Mutants before Disney drops Fox's last Marvel project. The material was pretty good in this, but I admit that New Mutants has had a harder time of keeping my interest as other properties. I will say this: This book has some of the best cover art ever.
Profile Image for Hisham.
78 reviews2 followers
April 17, 2021
The highlight of this collection is the first New Mutants story illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz. His beautiful abstract art turned a good story into a great one.

There are a couple other stories included from later X-Men comics that referenced the Demon Bear, but they are fairly forgettable. It's the Claremont & Sienkiewitz story that make this book worth checking out.
Profile Image for Enrique del Castillo.
120 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2019
The Demon Bear Saga is a classic story and for good reason; both the art and the writing make it one of the best mutants stories ever.

Sadly, this edition features 2 very mediocre X-Force stories that add little to Dani's path and to the Demon Bear overall.
30 reviews
December 10, 2017
Good read

It was great how this story moved thru the various incarnations of the X teams. Each Era with the bear was different but the action was good.
Profile Image for Shawn Ingle.
1,000 reviews8 followers
January 8, 2018
The first/original Demon Bear story was by far my favorite. Could have done without the others.
421 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2018
Read in preparation for the New Mutants movie. A good reminder of how much comics have changed, while still going back to the same wells.
Profile Image for Felipe.
Author 135 books33 followers
March 19, 2020
The Sienkiewicz pages are great. The other stuff... not so much
Profile Image for Roberto Audiffred.
64 reviews3 followers
October 4, 2020
Las primeras historias por Claremont y Sienkiewicz son fabulosas y merecen 4 estrellas, pero las restantes son pésimas y merecen 1 estrella.
Profile Image for Andres Pasten.
1,169 reviews5 followers
March 6, 2021
Un 3 porque la historia de los new mutants es bastante buena, pero el relleno con lo de xforce es muy deficiente.
Profile Image for Dennis Ferguson.
2 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2023
4 stars is for the original Demon Bear story with the amazing Sienkiewicz art. I tried reading the later stories but got bored and didn't finish them.
Profile Image for Jared.
62 reviews
November 21, 2019
The Demon Bear saga is held in high regard for one big reason: the art of Bill Sienkiewicz. It's striking, it's different, and it significantly elevates what would otherwise likely have been a forgettable villain.

The actual story isn't much to marvel at. The New Mutants are tasked with defending one of their own from an enemy that is particularly difficult to pin down due to its spiritual nature. The climax is appropriately tense and again, the art is terrific. But then it's over, and the book goes on.

Also featured here are multiple future stories that would revisit the Demon Bear mythos. These stories are unnecessary at best and a bore at worst, serving only to pad the page count.

The original Demon Bear tale is worth reading, though it might not deserve all of the hype it has gathered in the years since its release. Your value in this collection will likely depend on your interest in Sienkiewicz's art. It is the highlight and the main attraction.
Profile Image for Wade McGinnis.
238 reviews13 followers
May 10, 2015
I read this exclusively because of its high regard by the hosts of Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men, a weekly podcast I very much enjoy... The New Mutants issues in this TP were spot-on, some classic team storytelling accenting Dani's awful history and team dynamics as Illyana, Sam, Rhane, Bobby and Amara learn about their abilities and loyalties. An added bonus was the introduction of separate stories involving Warlock and Rachel Summers. I definitely enjoyed reading this decades-old issues... on the other hand, the X-Force issues including in this TP left much to be desires when held up to the original story, though I have always loved the art from the late '00s run of X-Force. The original story or totally worth purchasing this whole collection.
Profile Image for Charles Mitchell.
597 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2016
This was an interesting book. It focused mainly on a Native American character, Danielle Moonstar and her spiritual battles manifesting into physical and mental battles with the eponymous Demon Bear. It collects a couple New Mutants issues from 1983 and X-Force issues from 1991 and 2008. So it feels a little disjointed but Doctor Who dealt similarly with minor village, bringing them back decades apart. The highlight for me was the art of Bill Sienkiewicz, which was highly reminiscent of Ralph Steadman's work (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). I always enjoy seeing minorities get time to shine in comics, but it walks a fine line between reverence and cheesiness/borderline racism for Native Americans. An interesting footnote in the greater X-Men canon.
Profile Image for D.M. Dutcher .
Author 1 book50 followers
April 29, 2015
Three different stories in the book, the original demon bear saga, and two semi-sequels where the bear attacks again. The semi-sequels are worthless, but the original arc has some of the best art of eighties comics, and I don't think Bill Sienkiewitz has done better. It's probably better if you track the older book that collected the saga down, as it does the entire Sienkiewitz run I think, but in a pinch, this one will do for introducing you to an epic (and sadly forgotten) storyline of the eighties mutant books.
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