What do you think?
Rate this book
New Mutants Omnibus
New Mutants Omnibus, Vol. 1
The future of the X-Men is here! Karma. Wolfsbane. Sunspot. Cannonball. Moonstar. Follow their early days at Xavier's School - including battles against Sentinels, the Hellfi re Club, the Brood and more! New recruits Magma, Magik and Cypher fi nd their footing, a deadly rivalry begins with Emma Frost's Hellions - and the Demon Bear that haunts Dani Moonstar bares his teeth, Bill Sienkiewicz-style! Will the New Mutants survive - and if so, can they make a new friend in the alien Warlock? Plus, the mind-bending debut of Professor X's son, Legion! The unsettling return of a shadow from the past! And the tragic tale that transformed Illyana Rasputin into Magik! COLLECTING: MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL (1982) 4; NEW MUTANTS (1983) 1-34; NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL (1984) 1; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) 100 (A STORY), 149; MARVEL TEAM-UP ANNUAL (1976) 6; UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) 160, 167, 180, 189, 192; MAGIK (1983) 1-4
1272 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1985
30 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Chris Claremont
3,281 books894 followersChris 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 24 reviews
June 17, 2024
Re-read 5/18 thru 6/13
I still hold this at that 3.5 star mark. Some solid arcs. Feel like every time I read Demon Bear I like it more. Been re-reading all the X-Men and related omnis in preparation for the stuff I haven’t read, Uncanny omnibus vol 5 and beyond. Let’s gooo!!!
3.5 stars. While not quite as good as his Uncanny omnibus, Claremont still cranks out some fun adventures in this New Mutants book. These are characters that I could tell you what their names were if you showed me a picture but that’s about it. It was cool reading this and learning more about these people. From Rahne being so timid, Decosta being the hot head and Sam trying to master his powers. This also has Emma Frosts’ mutant team, the Hellions showing up. Our team deals with all kinds of craziness in this book. Taking on Emma, fighting some Brood, dealing with Silver Samurai and Viper, fighting against Selene and teaming up with Cloak and Dagger. Plus the first appearance of Magma. I always thought that Nova Roma place was cool. Kind of like the Savage Land but Ancient Rome instead of dinosaurs. Although there were some bland arcs in here, the majority of the stories were fun. I had read the Demon Bear trade a couple of years back and gave it 3 stars. Re-reading it here though I found myself liking it better this go around. I also found myself liking Bob McLeod, Sal Buscema and John Romita Jrs art better then Sienkiewicz. He does great with his painted covers but some times his interior art can be sloppy. But all in all I had fun reading this. We will see if Marvel makes a volume 2.
I still hold this at that 3.5 star mark. Some solid arcs. Feel like every time I read Demon Bear I like it more. Been re-reading all the X-Men and related omnis in preparation for the stuff I haven’t read, Uncanny omnibus vol 5 and beyond. Let’s gooo!!!
3.5 stars. While not quite as good as his Uncanny omnibus, Claremont still cranks out some fun adventures in this New Mutants book. These are characters that I could tell you what their names were if you showed me a picture but that’s about it. It was cool reading this and learning more about these people. From Rahne being so timid, Decosta being the hot head and Sam trying to master his powers. This also has Emma Frosts’ mutant team, the Hellions showing up. Our team deals with all kinds of craziness in this book. Taking on Emma, fighting some Brood, dealing with Silver Samurai and Viper, fighting against Selene and teaming up with Cloak and Dagger. Plus the first appearance of Magma. I always thought that Nova Roma place was cool. Kind of like the Savage Land but Ancient Rome instead of dinosaurs. Although there were some bland arcs in here, the majority of the stories were fun. I had read the Demon Bear trade a couple of years back and gave it 3 stars. Re-reading it here though I found myself liking it better this go around. I also found myself liking Bob McLeod, Sal Buscema and John Romita Jrs art better then Sienkiewicz. He does great with his painted covers but some times his interior art can be sloppy. But all in all I had fun reading this. We will see if Marvel makes a volume 2.
January 16, 2021
The Bill Sienkiewicz run, starting halfway through, is five star comic book gold. Inventive, unique, exciting, and full of Claremont's purple prose to help clear up the wild art. The New Mutants team is flawed but plucky, and are constantly put up against existential threats that punching won't solve as well as goons to punch. This is a deserved classic.
The McLeod and Buscema runs bookending it are not so hot. There are some good bits (Emma Frost and the Hellions are a great opposite number, and the pilot has a great hook) and some cringey bits (Team America action figure tie ins, Secret Wars tie ins, Amara's Native disguise). Even these aren't as awful as, say, an Excalibur fill-in issue; it's still readable.
The book also collects a bunch of related X-Men issues, making it easier to follow the plot, but also making the artist on the main title look bad because they have to compete with Paul Smith at his creative peak. I really don't need the Magik mini again, but that's a problem with X-Men collections, not this one where it belongs.
The McLeod and Buscema runs bookending it are not so hot. There are some good bits (Emma Frost and the Hellions are a great opposite number, and the pilot has a great hook) and some cringey bits (Team America action figure tie ins, Secret Wars tie ins, Amara's Native disguise). Even these aren't as awful as, say, an Excalibur fill-in issue; it's still readable.
The book also collects a bunch of related X-Men issues, making it easier to follow the plot, but also making the artist on the main title look bad because they have to compete with Paul Smith at his creative peak. I really don't need the Magik mini again, but that's a problem with X-Men collections, not this one where it belongs.
May 15, 2021
The New Mutants is a book that I recall striving to find their place. The art, characters, theme of the book, and plots were looking for a new definition of the X-men in the early 1980s. I’m a fan from childhood so this may be a biased review. The transition that occurs through the issues on all the aforementioned things really is great. I love seeing characters that even today are being refined start so rough. The introduction of Warlock, Legion, and the Shadow King’s return are all captured here. I love the wild art of the Demon Bear Saga and remember being inspired by its edgy lines and style as a kid. If you are a marvel fan and not the movie only sort this will be a great read.
March 11, 2025
Years ago I remember reading the then current iteration of New Mutants and being both enthralled and confused. It was a run that had the return of a lot of the original members, and the stories were mostly good. I didn't know the history though, and that made it a bit frustrating at the time, so I was really looking forward to getting to this run as I slowly tackled the greater X universe, and for the most part, it delivers.
The origins of this younger team, and their growing pains are oddly a lot of fun to read. The way it works as it's own title while tying in to Uncanny X-Men is done pretty flawlessly, even if it does require me to jump between two different books at times. It's the first real hint of a greater family of mutants under one roof, and gives a lot more room for stories with unique combinations of characters.
The inclusion of the Magik miniseries again here makes sense, though because I was reading across books, I read it where it makes sense rather than during the read. It's a good story though, and well worth having in multiple places (I actually have an old hardcover of just that series as well, I love it so much).
When it comes down to it, I only really have one gripe with this book and the stories therein, and it's one I believe I get to make in at least four different reviews as I finish books, and that is the utter mess that is Secret Wars II. I get that the idea of an event that also has issues from regular running series tied to it was brand new to Marvel (and possibly comics as a whole) at the time, but this one swoops in and causes all kinds of mayhem with the flow of the storyline. The even odder thing with New Mutants especially is that it happens twice. We get the interruption, and then we're back to story comics, and then I see it will happen again in the beginning of the next Omnibus. I honestly can't wait to be past this event and all the irritation it causes.
But yeah, that aside, this was a cool read, and it has me very excited for more adventures with these kids.
The origins of this younger team, and their growing pains are oddly a lot of fun to read. The way it works as it's own title while tying in to Uncanny X-Men is done pretty flawlessly, even if it does require me to jump between two different books at times. It's the first real hint of a greater family of mutants under one roof, and gives a lot more room for stories with unique combinations of characters.
The inclusion of the Magik miniseries again here makes sense, though because I was reading across books, I read it where it makes sense rather than during the read. It's a good story though, and well worth having in multiple places (I actually have an old hardcover of just that series as well, I love it so much).
When it comes down to it, I only really have one gripe with this book and the stories therein, and it's one I believe I get to make in at least four different reviews as I finish books, and that is the utter mess that is Secret Wars II. I get that the idea of an event that also has issues from regular running series tied to it was brand new to Marvel (and possibly comics as a whole) at the time, but this one swoops in and causes all kinds of mayhem with the flow of the storyline. The even odder thing with New Mutants especially is that it happens twice. We get the interruption, and then we're back to story comics, and then I see it will happen again in the beginning of the next Omnibus. I honestly can't wait to be past this event and all the irritation it causes.
But yeah, that aside, this was a cool read, and it has me very excited for more adventures with these kids.
October 25, 2021
This massive New Mutants collection was a really interesting introduction to an X-Men spinoff I'd never actually read before. I finally see why Bill Sienkiewicz's time on art was so revolutionary for the team -- it's a real high point of the first few years of this series. I just didn't realize it was so short! Despite my disappointment when I realized I was already through the Sienkiewicz era, I quite liked Steve Leialoha on art afterwards as well. However, the early issues' art by Bob McLeod didn't do it for me, personally, and it takes a few story arcs for Claremont to find a personality for the series that really works. I think it really starts to gel around issue #14 when Magik becomes a more key player and by which time Sal Buscema has taken over art until Sienkiewicz arrives. There are lots of bonus stories in here from Marvel Team-Ups and Uncanny X-Men, as well as the Magik mini -- they vary in quality and importance but are nice for a completionist-style experience. All of that to say, New Mutants started off slow but eventually won me over.
June 27, 2024
This omnibus features the slightly uneven start of the second X-Men ongoing series. The solo character introductions and the team’s formation are great. However, the Team America and Nova Roma arcs are early lowlights for the series. Fortunately, the series gets way better again with the Demon Bear saga, Legion, and the return of ! It’s mostly prime Claremont with some great art from Miller, McLeod, Smith, Buscema, and some career defining art from Sienkiewicz.
Marvel Team-Up #100 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “And Introducing -- Karma! She Possesses People!”
A genuinely great story that introduces the first New Mutant: Karma. The mysterious and scary opening is boosted by Miller’s characteristic use of shadow enhancing the noirish quality of the possession and ensuing fight. The Four vs Spider-Man is also incredibly fluid. This is the first half of Marvel Team-Up #100. The second half is collected in X-Men Omnibus 2. It’s also quite good!
Uncanny X-Men #160 ⧫ 4 Stars “Chutes and Ladders”
Space is warped and time is bendable. I like how crazy this is, and I’m a big fan of Illyana. While Illyana technically appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1, and has been an X-Men supporting character as the baby sister of Colossus, this is the start of teen Illyana as one of Marvel’s coolest characters.
Marvel Graphic Novel #4 ⧫ 5 Stars “The New Mutants”
Religious bigotry, bright promise crushed, working-class anxiety, and generational racial trauma come together as Claremont assembles the third team of X-Men. True, there are some stereotypes from the angry Cheyenne to the “woman in the fridge” that happens here. However, Dani’s rage is more complex, and she’s resourceful and even empathic. Rahne’s backstory, ostracization by a small community due to her horror-themed appearance to the religious angle, is reminiscent of Nightcrawler, though she is far more innocent and less jovial. I even like the wealthy Pierce deceiving the poor Sam into unknowing betrayal of his peers is perfect and provides some initial team friction. Even the overused Professor X mind blast victory is only achieved after the kids team up to save him. It’s such a great issue for bringing a team together, and that’s not even everything. This is one of my favorite teams, and their first issue is near perfect.
New Mutants #1 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Initiation!”
Being a teenager is tough, and this issue really gets at teenage struggle and outbursts. Given that they’re all together, the team just gets to gel slowly as they explore the X-Mansion. The threat is more subtle here, and I have to say, I love that they start with a character focused story with a major threat teased for next time!
New Mutants #2 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Sentinels”
Sentinels always attack malls… Okay, this is only the second time, but we all know it’s going to happen again, like a mall baby chili fries amiright? The team all get to utilize their powers in cool ways. The issue is very solid.
New Mutants #3 ⧫ 5 Stars “Nightmare”
A genuinely cool and haunting story that is probably cooler if you don’t know the threat, but I like the implications for Dani’s powers and the future. Also, the Demon Bear cameos! The series starts by playing off the angst and aggression of puberty so well. Five stars!
Uncanny X-Men #167 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “The Goldilocks Syndrome! (or: Who's Been Sleeping in My Head?)”
The battle is cool with added stakes of the X-Men not knowing who the New Mutants are, and the New Mutants defending a now-possessed Xavier. This concludes the Brood storyline from both Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants. It also sets up a few things that won’t matter in New Mutants like Cyclops’ father and the superb “Trial of Reed Richards” over in Fantastic Four. It’s as good as a transition issue can be, while being a bit overstuffed with plot. However, this also gives some wonderful downtime for character development and team building.
New Mutants #4 ⧫ 3 Stars “Who’s Scaring Stevie?”
Some good team interactions, but it’s a very after school special kind of issue that isn’t the comic at its best. It feels like a retread of the abuse that is already in Rahne’s backstory. It adds a love angle to it, but the done-in-one message issue doesn’t do enough. New artist Sal Buscema brings a solid consistency to the team that I find less distracting than McLeod’s more overt cartoonishness. I also love the moment Cannonball gets.
Marvel Team-Up Annual #6 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Hunters and the Hunted!”
Ah, the lamest of the Spider-Man books. Honestly, this one’s fine if lackluster. It has way too many characters and too much ground to cover, but it’s a decent story that brings many of Marvel’s teen heroes together. Spider-Man works as a positive force that helps buoy the melodrama of Cloak and Dagger and the darkness in this story. This is the only non-Claremont issue, and Mantlo does a nice job.
New Mutants #5 ⧫ 2 Stars “Heroes”
Team America… I had completely forgotten about them. They were one of the licensed properties that got forced into Marvel. These guys never took off, were gone in about a year, and are the low point in this, otherwise superb, period of mutant history. They only fill pages, way too many of them with hardly any of the characters we actually care about! They bring down Viper and Silver Samurai in this stupid plot. They feature in far more interesting and sensible plots over in the “Wolverine in Japan” arc in X-Men at this time. At least we get some of the kids at the fair, and this leads to some really dark developments.
New Mutants #6 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Road Warriors!”
The story is better, except any page with Team America who act like real assholes. They refuse to help a girl we put in danger! Our heroes, ladies, gentlemen, and others! I love the fact that the kids show those douchebags up, even though it comes at a high cost. This is a very important issue that is brought down by some stupid relics.
New Mutants #7 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Flying Down to Rio!”
Roberto DaCosta’s backstory is expanded, and the family drama is really nice. I also like the opening fallout from the previous issue. It hits like it should. Poor Xi’an, I remember exactly what happened to her following this issue. I think the weak spot here is the villain. He’s lame and a bit of a racist caricature… However, the team works well together, and the plan uses their powers well. There’s also a nice twist at the end for the next issue.
New Mutants #8 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Road to... Rome?”
Buscema really lushly renders Amazon Rainforest in this issue, and it is very much appreciated. The team gets to show off their powers again, including a newer ability for Dani. We also get our first introduction to Amara… whose plot is a mess, more in the next issue summary. She has a really nice moment with Rahne. Some things involving the “natives” haven’t aged well, but I think the issue handles everything else pretty well.
New Mutants #9 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Arena”
Nova Roma plays like a lame movie version of Rome dropped into the Amazon with centurions, senators, arenas, and slave auctions. I’ve seen B-movie Rome, so this holds little appeal. Much like the Savage Land, I try to ignore it as much as possible. This issue has some great art, but much of it involves setting up Nova Roma. It’s a good thing the art is so good because the characters are mostly drugged and out of character in this!
New Mutants #10 ⧫ 3 Stars “Betrayal!”
The best of the Nova Roma issues involves the kids actually getting to interact, discover and combat the villains. Dani gets to be a badass, though the art gets a little uncomfortable with its underage girls in bikinis motif. Roberto and Sam get some great interaction. Rahne is dealing with some issues, but they make sense. I’d have liked a little more of Amara since it’s really going to matter over the next few issues.
New Mutants #11 ⧫ 3 Stars “Magma”
The conclusion has all the action that entails. It feels a little light, but I’m also kind of glad to be done with the arc and that it was pretty good for such a silly Lost World premise.
New Mutants #12 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Sunstroke”
I love all the Roberto DaCosta stuff, but the Amara stuff seems a little too fast. Roberto faces his father and does some growing. Amara freaks out and nearly kills everyone… I understand why she feels the way she does, but this should have had more build up.
New Mutants #13 ⧫ 4 Stars “School Daysze”
A great character-focused issue that connects with Uncanny X-Men #167 and #179 since Kitty Pride’s insecurities connect with the New Mutants again. It’s the character issue that Amara needed.
Magik #1 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Little Girl Lost”
The placement for this miniseries is probably the best in this omnibus. As an introduction issue, this one does a good job of introducing the status quo for the first half of the series. Older Storm and Kitty reveal a possible future for poor little Illyana, and the concepts of limbo are introduced well.
Magik #2 ⧫ 3 Stars “Cold Iron Hot Blood!”
This one’s probably the weakest… Not bad, it just feels like it could have been a half issue. Also, this is where some more development of Belasco or the threat he poses could have occurred, once again done better earlier.
Magik #3 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Soulquest”
Illyana’s descent continues and the stakes increase. Here’s where we get more Belasco, finally. It’s a solid penultimate issue, but this could have been a three-issue series.
Magik #4 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Darkchild”
The conclusion does a good job of using the frame story to create a solid conclusion, and this is the best part of the story. After all the baser horror, it ends on a surprisingly mature note. Illyana has matured into a teenager, and her growth really helps here. Finisher Tom Palmer also does quite a bit of work keeping the art consistent across three artists.
New Mutants #14 ⧫ 5 Stars “Do You Believe in–Magik?”
This issue focuses on introducing Magik and establishing a team for the next arc. The use of heightened teenage emotions to affect their actions is in full effect here as crushes intersect with fears.
Uncanny X-Men #180 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?”
Doug Ramsey tells Kitty about Massachusetts Academy… again? It’s a weird oversight given that both books were written by the same person. Kitty and Ororo have a very unsatisfying conversation. I do like the Colossus, and the rest of the Kitty and Doug stuff is good, but it’s another issue where Claremont's overwork strikes.
New Mutants #15 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Scaredy Cat”
Just a beautiful episode with the kids going to challenge authority despite the odds. It’s like a better version of issue six with all the foreboding and turmoil that stepping into the dangerous unknown entails. The Sam-Rahne conversation alone is gold.
New Mutants #16 ⧫ 4 Stars “Away Game!”
Naturally, little goes to plan. The Hellions are more properly introduced here, though a few of them slip through the cracks. This continues the team's development as superheroes and lets them stumble.
New Mutants #17 ⧫ 4 Stars “Getaway”
Not quite as strong as the rest of the series, but I like that it is essentially a retreat, so the overall emphasis is good. Everybody gets a little something, and one of the Hellions turns out to be less bad. I almost forgot how great Catseye is! She’s a really underutilized character. It’s the final issue for Sal Buscema on the main New Mutants series, at least until a fill-in in issue 54. I’ve enjoyed him, and I think he brings a solid comic style to these early arcs; however, Sienkiewicz arrives in the next issue to take the series to its peak.
New Mutants #18 ⧫ 5 Stars “Death-Hunt”
The Demon Bear Saga proper begins! Sienkiewicz brings a surreal style. It begins with many subplots, not all of which are completed in this series (see the X-Men books). However, the main story is a classic for a reason. There are two iconic splash pages in this issue: the full reveal of the Demon Bear and that final panel. Those are two stark moments in a more experimental and surreal book, but that’s the threat in two splash pages. Brilliant.
New Mutants #19 ⧫ 5 Stars “Siege”
The hospital setting takes this fully into horror mode. The fear and paranoia surrounding the cause of the closing incident create ripples in the team as a medical drama occurs behind closed doors. Sienkiewicz’s surreal art forges all this into a surreal nightmare. Also, a brief interlude into space drama.
New Mutants #20 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Badlands”
The resolution, though the racebending stuff doesn’t hold up, is an overall great issue with a surreal setting, ever-present stakes, and an emotionally strong epilogue.
New Mutants #21 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Slumber Party!”
I have nothing critical to say about this issue… It has the kids being kids with some fantastic teen moments. It introduces Warlock and the threat of his father: Magus. Doug Ramsey finally gets properly introduced to the team. The idea of a metallic race is the kind of science fiction concept I love. This is a double-sized issue used to great effectiveness.
New Mutants Annual #1 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Cosmic Cannonball Caper”
Co-Creator Bob McLeod returns for the annual with some great looking art. The prestige format really suits him. The concept is great, but it seems like this Annual could have used an extra twenty pages to show some of the jumps a little better.
Marvel Team-Up #149 Spider-Man & Cannonball ⧫ 4 Stars “The Incandescent Man”
This is a really great issue that blends the teenage concerns of Cannonball with the young adult concerns of Spider-Man. Simonson uses their parallel stories to full effect with a really cool threat to challenge them.
New Mutants #22 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Shadow Within”
Sienkiewicz’s art really ties this issue together, though it reads a little weird on its own. It’s essentially Wolfsbane wandering around trying to find a friend before descending into a weird Sleeping Beauty fantasy. It’s cool, it’s surreal, and I’m not a big fan of where it leads, but I like it on its own.
Uncanny X-Men #189 ⧫ 4 Stars “Two Girls Out to Have Fun”
This is another great character episode with Rachel and Amara, some great choices for character as they each have a shared villain and haven’t had a ton of page time. Definitely a little bit of fetish stuff, but it’s a Hellfire issue, so...
New Mutants #23 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Shadow Man”
I forgot how directly this revisits Marvel Team-Up Annual #6, and while I don’t mind, the issue basically just has the team figuring out stuff the reader knows. I appreciate some of the pathos, but I was hoping for better.
New Mutants #24 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Hollow Heart”
There’s some similar stuff going on here with the solution seeming fairly straightforward, though the magical consequences being brought up is nice.
New Mutants #25 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Only Thing to Fear…”
A decent end, though more Cloak and Dagger focused. This leads into their ongoing series, so it’s sort of a relaunch for the team. Not sure how I feel about them “scaring teens straight” at the end, but whatever. Feelings on this arc will depend on how much you’re okay with this book being hijacked by another team, though at least it’s not Team America.
Uncanny X-Men #192 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Fun 'n' Games”
An interesting addition as there’s one scene of Illyana, and the rest is the X-Men vs. Magnus, the Technarch and Warlock’s father. It’s a great issue, though to get the full effect, read the great
*The Firestar Miniseries is probably best read here or before Uncanny X-Men #192 even though it’s at the end of The New Mutants Omnibus #2 for some reason*
New Mutants #26 ⧫ 4 Stars “Legion”
The arc starts great with a big mystery relating to the previous arc, then focusing on Wolfsbane’s homecoming and insecurity. There’s also some sections showing the wider effects of Legion’s power. It uses Dani’s reaction to Wolfsbane’s injury as a catalyst for some solid character stories. Great start!
New Mutants #27 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Into the Abyss”
So, I know how this comes out, but it is uncomfortable seeing “the Arab” written a bunch, especially in the context of several prominent Israeli characters… Keep with it, though, as it gets better. I think the biggest problem here is that the story is a little direct and seems to lean on the art for most of the awe.
New Mutants #28 ⧫ 4 Stars “Soulwar”
A good end… for now! I rather like that Legion’s ongoing mental illness isn’t just fixed. It’s an ongoing thing. Dani got him through this episode, but it isn’t over. Oh, and it ends on a reminder that Secret Wars II is going to start intersecting with this series, which isn’t my favorite thing.
New Mutants #29 ⧫ 3 Stars “Meanwhile, Back at the Mansion...”
Intersecting with the terrible Beauty and the Beast miniseries and Secret Wars II. It could have been good if not for the crossovers. Guido aka Strong Guy first appears here, though! With Multiple Man in the last arc, I wish this was Peter David’s X-Factor…
Secret Wars II #1 ⧫ 1 Star “Earthfall!”
In only a few pages from the event, the X-Men and New Mutants act like caricatures, similar to the first event where they were the weakest link too. I’ve read all of this event, and it's not worth it.
New Mutants #30 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Singer & Her Song”
The Beyonder lingers as the story gets itself back on track. Issues 29 and 30 should have been one issue, or they could have included more character development.
New Mutants #31 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Saturday Night Fight”
Boosted by the surprise reveal, though the emotional place for Dazzler is off from her series. At this point, Archie Goodwin is building her back up. Fortunately, the rest of the team feels on, and their determination really serves them in the next arc.
New Mutants #32 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “To the Ends of the Earth”
The team needs to find their lost friend and figure out what’s up with her. Despite focusing on Roberto’s turmoil, it doesn’t carry over much to the remaining issues.
Read Uncanny X-Men #198 here
New Mutants #33 ⧫ 4 Stars “Against All Odds”
Karma has had an upgrade, the future looks grim, fortunately some help arrives.
New Mutants #34 ⧫ 4 Stars “With a Little Bit of Luck!”
The truth behind Karma’s upgrade is revealed, and this omnibus ends on a high note!
Other Comics Reviews
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #4
Marvel Team-Up #100 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “And Introducing -- Karma! She Possesses People!”
A genuinely great story that introduces the first New Mutant: Karma. The mysterious and scary opening is boosted by Miller’s characteristic use of shadow enhancing the noirish quality of the possession and ensuing fight. The Four vs Spider-Man is also incredibly fluid. This is the first half of Marvel Team-Up #100. The second half is collected in X-Men Omnibus 2. It’s also quite good!
Uncanny X-Men #160 ⧫ 4 Stars “Chutes and Ladders”
Space is warped and time is bendable. I like how crazy this is, and I’m a big fan of Illyana. While Illyana technically appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1, and has been an X-Men supporting character as the baby sister of Colossus, this is the start of teen Illyana as one of Marvel’s coolest characters.
Marvel Graphic Novel #4 ⧫ 5 Stars “The New Mutants”
Religious bigotry, bright promise crushed, working-class anxiety, and generational racial trauma come together as Claremont assembles the third team of X-Men. True, there are some stereotypes from the angry Cheyenne to the “woman in the fridge” that happens here. However, Dani’s rage is more complex, and she’s resourceful and even empathic. Rahne’s backstory, ostracization by a small community due to her horror-themed appearance to the religious angle, is reminiscent of Nightcrawler, though she is far more innocent and less jovial. I even like the wealthy Pierce deceiving the poor Sam into unknowing betrayal of his peers is perfect and provides some initial team friction. Even the overused Professor X mind blast victory is only achieved after the kids team up to save him. It’s such a great issue for bringing a team together, and that’s not even everything. This is one of my favorite teams, and their first issue is near perfect.
New Mutants #1 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Initiation!”
Being a teenager is tough, and this issue really gets at teenage struggle and outbursts. Given that they’re all together, the team just gets to gel slowly as they explore the X-Mansion. The threat is more subtle here, and I have to say, I love that they start with a character focused story with a major threat teased for next time!
New Mutants #2 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Sentinels”
Sentinels always attack malls… Okay, this is only the second time, but we all know it’s going to happen again, like a mall baby chili fries amiright? The team all get to utilize their powers in cool ways. The issue is very solid.
New Mutants #3 ⧫ 5 Stars “Nightmare”
A genuinely cool and haunting story that is probably cooler if you don’t know the threat, but I like the implications for Dani’s powers and the future. Also, the Demon Bear cameos! The series starts by playing off the angst and aggression of puberty so well. Five stars!
Uncanny X-Men #167 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “The Goldilocks Syndrome! (or: Who's Been Sleeping in My Head?)”
The battle is cool with added stakes of the X-Men not knowing who the New Mutants are, and the New Mutants defending a now-possessed Xavier. This concludes the Brood storyline from both Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants. It also sets up a few things that won’t matter in New Mutants like Cyclops’ father and the superb “Trial of Reed Richards” over in Fantastic Four. It’s as good as a transition issue can be, while being a bit overstuffed with plot. However, this also gives some wonderful downtime for character development and team building.
New Mutants #4 ⧫ 3 Stars “Who’s Scaring Stevie?”
Some good team interactions, but it’s a very after school special kind of issue that isn’t the comic at its best. It feels like a retread of the abuse that is already in Rahne’s backstory. It adds a love angle to it, but the done-in-one message issue doesn’t do enough. New artist Sal Buscema brings a solid consistency to the team that I find less distracting than McLeod’s more overt cartoonishness. I also love the moment Cannonball gets.
Marvel Team-Up Annual #6 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Hunters and the Hunted!”
Ah, the lamest of the Spider-Man books. Honestly, this one’s fine if lackluster. It has way too many characters and too much ground to cover, but it’s a decent story that brings many of Marvel’s teen heroes together. Spider-Man works as a positive force that helps buoy the melodrama of Cloak and Dagger and the darkness in this story. This is the only non-Claremont issue, and Mantlo does a nice job.
New Mutants #5 ⧫ 2 Stars “Heroes”
Team America… I had completely forgotten about them. They were one of the licensed properties that got forced into Marvel. These guys never took off, were gone in about a year, and are the low point in this, otherwise superb, period of mutant history. They only fill pages, way too many of them with hardly any of the characters we actually care about! They bring down Viper and Silver Samurai in this stupid plot. They feature in far more interesting and sensible plots over in the “Wolverine in Japan” arc in X-Men at this time. At least we get some of the kids at the fair, and this leads to some really dark developments.
New Mutants #6 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Road Warriors!”
The story is better, except any page with Team America who act like real assholes. They refuse to help a girl we put in danger! Our heroes, ladies, gentlemen, and others! I love the fact that the kids show those douchebags up, even though it comes at a high cost. This is a very important issue that is brought down by some stupid relics.
New Mutants #7 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Flying Down to Rio!”
Roberto DaCosta’s backstory is expanded, and the family drama is really nice. I also like the opening fallout from the previous issue. It hits like it should. Poor Xi’an, I remember exactly what happened to her following this issue. I think the weak spot here is the villain. He’s lame and a bit of a racist caricature… However, the team works well together, and the plan uses their powers well. There’s also a nice twist at the end for the next issue.
New Mutants #8 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Road to... Rome?”
Buscema really lushly renders Amazon Rainforest in this issue, and it is very much appreciated. The team gets to show off their powers again, including a newer ability for Dani. We also get our first introduction to Amara… whose plot is a mess, more in the next issue summary. She has a really nice moment with Rahne. Some things involving the “natives” haven’t aged well, but I think the issue handles everything else pretty well.
New Mutants #9 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Arena”
Nova Roma plays like a lame movie version of Rome dropped into the Amazon with centurions, senators, arenas, and slave auctions. I’ve seen B-movie Rome, so this holds little appeal. Much like the Savage Land, I try to ignore it as much as possible. This issue has some great art, but much of it involves setting up Nova Roma. It’s a good thing the art is so good because the characters are mostly drugged and out of character in this!
New Mutants #10 ⧫ 3 Stars “Betrayal!”
The best of the Nova Roma issues involves the kids actually getting to interact, discover and combat the villains. Dani gets to be a badass, though the art gets a little uncomfortable with its underage girls in bikinis motif. Roberto and Sam get some great interaction. Rahne is dealing with some issues, but they make sense. I’d have liked a little more of Amara since it’s really going to matter over the next few issues.
New Mutants #11 ⧫ 3 Stars “Magma”
The conclusion has all the action that entails. It feels a little light, but I’m also kind of glad to be done with the arc and that it was pretty good for such a silly Lost World premise.
New Mutants #12 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Sunstroke”
I love all the Roberto DaCosta stuff, but the Amara stuff seems a little too fast. Roberto faces his father and does some growing. Amara freaks out and nearly kills everyone… I understand why she feels the way she does, but this should have had more build up.
New Mutants #13 ⧫ 4 Stars “School Daysze”
A great character-focused issue that connects with Uncanny X-Men #167 and #179 since Kitty Pride’s insecurities connect with the New Mutants again. It’s the character issue that Amara needed.
Magik #1 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Little Girl Lost”
The placement for this miniseries is probably the best in this omnibus. As an introduction issue, this one does a good job of introducing the status quo for the first half of the series. Older Storm and Kitty reveal a possible future for poor little Illyana, and the concepts of limbo are introduced well.
Magik #2 ⧫ 3 Stars “Cold Iron Hot Blood!”
This one’s probably the weakest… Not bad, it just feels like it could have been a half issue. Also, this is where some more development of Belasco or the threat he poses could have occurred, once again done better earlier.
Magik #3 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Soulquest”
Illyana’s descent continues and the stakes increase. Here’s where we get more Belasco, finally. It’s a solid penultimate issue, but this could have been a three-issue series.
Magik #4 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Darkchild”
The conclusion does a good job of using the frame story to create a solid conclusion, and this is the best part of the story. After all the baser horror, it ends on a surprisingly mature note. Illyana has matured into a teenager, and her growth really helps here. Finisher Tom Palmer also does quite a bit of work keeping the art consistent across three artists.
New Mutants #14 ⧫ 5 Stars “Do You Believe in–Magik?”
This issue focuses on introducing Magik and establishing a team for the next arc. The use of heightened teenage emotions to affect their actions is in full effect here as crushes intersect with fears.
Uncanny X-Men #180 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?”
Doug Ramsey tells Kitty about Massachusetts Academy… again? It’s a weird oversight given that both books were written by the same person. Kitty and Ororo have a very unsatisfying conversation. I do like the Colossus, and the rest of the Kitty and Doug stuff is good, but it’s another issue where Claremont's overwork strikes.
New Mutants #15 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Scaredy Cat”
Just a beautiful episode with the kids going to challenge authority despite the odds. It’s like a better version of issue six with all the foreboding and turmoil that stepping into the dangerous unknown entails. The Sam-Rahne conversation alone is gold.
New Mutants #16 ⧫ 4 Stars “Away Game!”
Naturally, little goes to plan. The Hellions are more properly introduced here, though a few of them slip through the cracks. This continues the team's development as superheroes and lets them stumble.
New Mutants #17 ⧫ 4 Stars “Getaway”
Not quite as strong as the rest of the series, but I like that it is essentially a retreat, so the overall emphasis is good. Everybody gets a little something, and one of the Hellions turns out to be less bad. I almost forgot how great Catseye is! She’s a really underutilized character. It’s the final issue for Sal Buscema on the main New Mutants series, at least until a fill-in in issue 54. I’ve enjoyed him, and I think he brings a solid comic style to these early arcs; however, Sienkiewicz arrives in the next issue to take the series to its peak.
New Mutants #18 ⧫ 5 Stars “Death-Hunt”
The Demon Bear Saga proper begins! Sienkiewicz brings a surreal style. It begins with many subplots, not all of which are completed in this series (see the X-Men books). However, the main story is a classic for a reason. There are two iconic splash pages in this issue: the full reveal of the Demon Bear and that final panel. Those are two stark moments in a more experimental and surreal book, but that’s the threat in two splash pages. Brilliant.
New Mutants #19 ⧫ 5 Stars “Siege”
The hospital setting takes this fully into horror mode. The fear and paranoia surrounding the cause of the closing incident create ripples in the team as a medical drama occurs behind closed doors. Sienkiewicz’s surreal art forges all this into a surreal nightmare. Also, a brief interlude into space drama.
New Mutants #20 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Badlands”
The resolution, though the racebending stuff doesn’t hold up, is an overall great issue with a surreal setting, ever-present stakes, and an emotionally strong epilogue.
New Mutants #21 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Slumber Party!”
I have nothing critical to say about this issue… It has the kids being kids with some fantastic teen moments. It introduces Warlock and the threat of his father: Magus. Doug Ramsey finally gets properly introduced to the team. The idea of a metallic race is the kind of science fiction concept I love. This is a double-sized issue used to great effectiveness.
New Mutants Annual #1 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Cosmic Cannonball Caper”
Co-Creator Bob McLeod returns for the annual with some great looking art. The prestige format really suits him. The concept is great, but it seems like this Annual could have used an extra twenty pages to show some of the jumps a little better.
Marvel Team-Up #149 Spider-Man & Cannonball ⧫ 4 Stars “The Incandescent Man”
This is a really great issue that blends the teenage concerns of Cannonball with the young adult concerns of Spider-Man. Simonson uses their parallel stories to full effect with a really cool threat to challenge them.
New Mutants #22 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Shadow Within”
Sienkiewicz’s art really ties this issue together, though it reads a little weird on its own. It’s essentially Wolfsbane wandering around trying to find a friend before descending into a weird Sleeping Beauty fantasy. It’s cool, it’s surreal, and I’m not a big fan of where it leads, but I like it on its own.
Uncanny X-Men #189 ⧫ 4 Stars “Two Girls Out to Have Fun”
This is another great character episode with Rachel and Amara, some great choices for character as they each have a shared villain and haven’t had a ton of page time. Definitely a little bit of fetish stuff, but it’s a Hellfire issue, so...
New Mutants #23 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Shadow Man”
I forgot how directly this revisits Marvel Team-Up Annual #6, and while I don’t mind, the issue basically just has the team figuring out stuff the reader knows. I appreciate some of the pathos, but I was hoping for better.
New Mutants #24 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Hollow Heart”
There’s some similar stuff going on here with the solution seeming fairly straightforward, though the magical consequences being brought up is nice.
New Mutants #25 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Only Thing to Fear…”
A decent end, though more Cloak and Dagger focused. This leads into their ongoing series, so it’s sort of a relaunch for the team. Not sure how I feel about them “scaring teens straight” at the end, but whatever. Feelings on this arc will depend on how much you’re okay with this book being hijacked by another team, though at least it’s not Team America.
Uncanny X-Men #192 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Fun 'n' Games”
An interesting addition as there’s one scene of Illyana, and the rest is the X-Men vs. Magnus, the Technarch and Warlock’s father. It’s a great issue, though to get the full effect, read the great
*The Firestar Miniseries is probably best read here or before Uncanny X-Men #192 even though it’s at the end of The New Mutants Omnibus #2 for some reason*
New Mutants #26 ⧫ 4 Stars “Legion”
The arc starts great with a big mystery relating to the previous arc, then focusing on Wolfsbane’s homecoming and insecurity. There’s also some sections showing the wider effects of Legion’s power. It uses Dani’s reaction to Wolfsbane’s injury as a catalyst for some solid character stories. Great start!
New Mutants #27 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Into the Abyss”
So, I know how this comes out, but it is uncomfortable seeing “the Arab” written a bunch, especially in the context of several prominent Israeli characters… Keep with it, though, as it gets better. I think the biggest problem here is that the story is a little direct and seems to lean on the art for most of the awe.
New Mutants #28 ⧫ 4 Stars “Soulwar”
A good end… for now! I rather like that Legion’s ongoing mental illness isn’t just fixed. It’s an ongoing thing. Dani got him through this episode, but it isn’t over. Oh, and it ends on a reminder that Secret Wars II is going to start intersecting with this series, which isn’t my favorite thing.
New Mutants #29 ⧫ 3 Stars “Meanwhile, Back at the Mansion...”
Intersecting with the terrible Beauty and the Beast miniseries and Secret Wars II. It could have been good if not for the crossovers. Guido aka Strong Guy first appears here, though! With Multiple Man in the last arc, I wish this was Peter David’s X-Factor…
Secret Wars II #1 ⧫ 1 Star “Earthfall!”
In only a few pages from the event, the X-Men and New Mutants act like caricatures, similar to the first event where they were the weakest link too. I’ve read all of this event, and it's not worth it.
New Mutants #30 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Singer & Her Song”
The Beyonder lingers as the story gets itself back on track. Issues 29 and 30 should have been one issue, or they could have included more character development.
New Mutants #31 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Saturday Night Fight”
Boosted by the surprise reveal, though the emotional place for Dazzler is off from her series. At this point, Archie Goodwin is building her back up. Fortunately, the rest of the team feels on, and their determination really serves them in the next arc.
New Mutants #32 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “To the Ends of the Earth”
The team needs to find their lost friend and figure out what’s up with her. Despite focusing on Roberto’s turmoil, it doesn’t carry over much to the remaining issues.
Read Uncanny X-Men #198 here
New Mutants #33 ⧫ 4 Stars “Against All Odds”
Karma has had an upgrade, the future looks grim, fortunately some help arrives.
New Mutants #34 ⧫ 4 Stars “With a Little Bit of Luck!”
The truth behind Karma’s upgrade is revealed, and this omnibus ends on a high note!
Other Comics Reviews
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #4
January 21, 2025
Classic Claremont New Mutants when he was at his prime writing everything X-Men. The Demon Bear Saga and Legion story arc alone make this volume worth every penny.
January 24, 2023
It takes a little time to get going, but from when they go on an adventure to Brazil (issue 7 I think) it becomes a lot of fun and when Bill Sienkiewicz joins as an artist it becomes absolutely amazing. Some of the best art and character work in all X-men comics, especially with the Demon Bear and Legion saga’s. The Magik miniseries remains a classic as well, but is also collected in one of the Uncanny X-men omnibuses.
March 12, 2022
(Zero spoiler review) 3.5/5
Everything was going along swimmingly with this one. Sure, the reading was a little slow going, this being written by Claremont, and, well, Mr. Claremont likes to give you value for money when it comes to reading, that's for sure. But hey, if something is good, why not have a lot of it. And this was good. Very good, in fact. So good, I was seriously thinking that this run was better than the first two Uncanny omni's (which is all I've currently read on his Uncanny run. That statement held true, right up until the time we lost Sal Buscema from the book, and picked up Bill Sienkiwicz.
I was really, really digging Buscema's clean and classic style. Possibly even the best X artist I've yet had the privilege to witness. A bold statement to be sure, but let's just say, if your last name is Buscema, you can bloody well draw some. Unfortunately, Sienkiwicz's style following Sal was about as welcome as pouring my morning cereal only to find a big brown shit in the middle of the bowl. And also, all of the little cereal pieces are smaller, even more foul smelling pieces of shit. I didn't much care for it is what I'm vaguely hinting at here. I know the man is much lauded, and has a long and (when he isn't on twitter) distinguished career, and I'm sure under the right circumstances, or when he is working with one of his many differing styles, it would be a pleasure having him on a book. But unfortunately for me, none of that is the case, and this went from a solid 4+ to a middling mid 3 score. Character models changed from panel to panel, let alone page to page, all the women were now ugly, you couldn't tell what was going on half the time... (takes small break to lower blood pressure). This book went from a rather drawn out pleasure to a slog. It didn't help that the issues towards the end were probably the weakest, or maybe that was just Sienkiwicz's art dragging decency down a peg or two. Either way, the artist change at the very end, which I'm hoping is permanent still was a pale shadow of Sal Buscema, but at least it was a step in the right direction. I really did like this run, it's just a shame that it could have been so much more. Where for art thou Sal art? 3.5/5
OmniBen.
Everything was going along swimmingly with this one. Sure, the reading was a little slow going, this being written by Claremont, and, well, Mr. Claremont likes to give you value for money when it comes to reading, that's for sure. But hey, if something is good, why not have a lot of it. And this was good. Very good, in fact. So good, I was seriously thinking that this run was better than the first two Uncanny omni's (which is all I've currently read on his Uncanny run. That statement held true, right up until the time we lost Sal Buscema from the book, and picked up Bill Sienkiwicz.
I was really, really digging Buscema's clean and classic style. Possibly even the best X artist I've yet had the privilege to witness. A bold statement to be sure, but let's just say, if your last name is Buscema, you can bloody well draw some. Unfortunately, Sienkiwicz's style following Sal was about as welcome as pouring my morning cereal only to find a big brown shit in the middle of the bowl. And also, all of the little cereal pieces are smaller, even more foul smelling pieces of shit. I didn't much care for it is what I'm vaguely hinting at here. I know the man is much lauded, and has a long and (when he isn't on twitter) distinguished career, and I'm sure under the right circumstances, or when he is working with one of his many differing styles, it would be a pleasure having him on a book. But unfortunately for me, none of that is the case, and this went from a solid 4+ to a middling mid 3 score. Character models changed from panel to panel, let alone page to page, all the women were now ugly, you couldn't tell what was going on half the time... (takes small break to lower blood pressure). This book went from a rather drawn out pleasure to a slog. It didn't help that the issues towards the end were probably the weakest, or maybe that was just Sienkiwicz's art dragging decency down a peg or two. Either way, the artist change at the very end, which I'm hoping is permanent still was a pale shadow of Sal Buscema, but at least it was a step in the right direction. I really did like this run, it's just a shame that it could have been so much more. Where for art thou Sal art? 3.5/5
OmniBen.
July 31, 2023
BILL SIENKIEWICZ IS A NAKED EMPEROR.
I know those are fighting words. Just to suggest the mighty Bill S is anything less than top notch is comics heresy. But, honestly, his art is ugly as sin—most of the time. And he’s a terrible storyteller—most of the time.
Demon Bear, granted: that truly is gold. Bill’s pencils really shine on that arc, but it’s all downhill from there. And it doesn’t help that Claremont gives him some crappy plots, though. Cloak and Dagger, blah. More gladiators, blah. The Legion story goes on forever and gets worse and worse as it goes. Just pages and pages of schizoid pinups overlayed with humongous Claremont blocks of text. (And, no, schizoid pinups don’t work in the Legion story just because Legion is nuts; they kill any flow.)
I do think Bill has his merits, but he’s wicked overrated and nowhere is that more obvious than here. In this oversized format, with this glossy white bright paper and high definition production, his work is just fug. Characters don’t look the same from one panel to the next, backgrounds are nonexistent. For every well done close-up, there’s another where the character looks… um, special. There’s one panel of Rachel Summers that has to be seen to be believed. It looks like Wolfsbane’s ugly brother. Kitty looks like a completely different character, like she’s aged about twenty years (still it’s irksome when she acts older than Dazzler. Kitty sucks.)
For all that, though, this is still The New Mutants. The good far outweighs the bad. Even if only a fifth of this book is five stars, those five outshine the rest.
I know those are fighting words. Just to suggest the mighty Bill S is anything less than top notch is comics heresy. But, honestly, his art is ugly as sin—most of the time. And he’s a terrible storyteller—most of the time.
Demon Bear, granted: that truly is gold. Bill’s pencils really shine on that arc, but it’s all downhill from there. And it doesn’t help that Claremont gives him some crappy plots, though. Cloak and Dagger, blah. More gladiators, blah. The Legion story goes on forever and gets worse and worse as it goes. Just pages and pages of schizoid pinups overlayed with humongous Claremont blocks of text. (And, no, schizoid pinups don’t work in the Legion story just because Legion is nuts; they kill any flow.)
I do think Bill has his merits, but he’s wicked overrated and nowhere is that more obvious than here. In this oversized format, with this glossy white bright paper and high definition production, his work is just fug. Characters don’t look the same from one panel to the next, backgrounds are nonexistent. For every well done close-up, there’s another where the character looks… um, special. There’s one panel of Rachel Summers that has to be seen to be believed. It looks like Wolfsbane’s ugly brother. Kitty looks like a completely different character, like she’s aged about twenty years (still it’s irksome when she acts older than Dazzler. Kitty sucks.)
For all that, though, this is still The New Mutants. The good far outweighs the bad. Even if only a fifth of this book is five stars, those five outshine the rest.
September 9, 2024
There are legendary writers and then there's chris Claremont having written the x men title for about 16 years and as an introduction to his world the new mutants is a good starting point of you want to check out his run without having the baggage of 70s comics but if bronze age art isn't your thing you might have to power through a pretty good but standard teen superhero story to get to the point where this story starts to get interesting with the great psychology horror of the demon bear saga bit once you get there you get a great teen series with fleshed out characters and great art by Bill sienkiewicz
March 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this but there were some weak aspects/places where the story seemed to jump. Sunspot didn't get as much story to shine (get it?) but Dani is such a great character and I also enjoyed Sam more then I have in other X-titles. Legion was an awesome story and Bill Sienkiewicz style really helped me appreciate it. Rahne is an interesting character because even though she's a mutant facing intolerance she can be pretty intolerant herself, but all in all Claremont did another great job creating new characters to flesh out and interact.
July 18, 2024
Maybe it's two stars. I took a break after demon bear saga, but everything after that was a bloody slog. I skipped through a lot because eit was so verbose and uninteresting to me.
Issue 30 had pretty poor art for my liking abd once Sienkiewicz leaves it only gets worse. Stories were poorly executed to my liking. Issue 34 was pretty good.
I'll be selling this abd volume 2 most likely as soon as that's read.
Issue 30 had pretty poor art for my liking abd once Sienkiewicz leaves it only gets worse. Stories were poorly executed to my liking. Issue 34 was pretty good.
I'll be selling this abd volume 2 most likely as soon as that's read.
February 3, 2021
This is the third copy I own of some of the comics in this masive hard omnibus of 80s Marvel mutant delights but it's worth it for the classic Claremont / Sienkiewicz run which got me hooked on all that sort of thing back in 1984!
July 31, 2021
Doing a read of Magik’s history and decided to just read all of New Mutants. It’s fun to see what things have changed and what things never have. (Rahne…)
The issues with Bill Sienkiewicz as the artist are definitely my favorites of the entire 100 issue run.
The issues with Bill Sienkiewicz as the artist are definitely my favorites of the entire 100 issue run.
September 21, 2022
Introduction, the Brood and Team America (#1-6): 6/10
Nova Roma and Hellions (#7-17): 7/10
Demon Bear (#18-20): 9/10
Annual #1 and Cloak & Dagger (#21-25): 8/10
Legion (#26-28): 8/10
Gladiators (#29-31): 6/10
Karma (#32-34): 8/10
Nova Roma and Hellions (#7-17): 7/10
Demon Bear (#18-20): 9/10
Annual #1 and Cloak & Dagger (#21-25): 8/10
Legion (#26-28): 8/10
Gladiators (#29-31): 6/10
Karma (#32-34): 8/10
June 14, 2021
3.5 stars. Some really good stories, but also a couple very dull ones, the second half was way better then the first, and the artwork overall improved alot.
June 27, 2021
The first (of what would become many, many) X-Men spin-offs. Takes a while to find its footing. The Claremont/Sienkiewicz run is phenomenal. The rest is less so.
July 2, 2021
he Nova Roma issues are a bit of a slog, but otherwise great comics!
October 21, 2024
Bill Sienkiewicz absolutely insane artist. Demon Bear Saga #2 just being Magik mini
March 16, 2025
4.5/5
Displaying 1 - 22 of 24 reviews