New Mutants, Vol. 2

New Mutants (2019)

by Vita Ayala (Writer), Martin Simmonds (Cover Art), Alex Lins (Illustrator)

At the Hellfire Gala, the New Mutants have the chance to take a break from training the youth of Krakoa — an opportunity to get dressed up and get down! But not everyone is on their best behavior…and someone is about to vanish without a trace. In the heart of the Wild Hunt, schemers are dreaming, deceptions are coming to light — and the dead are walking. Now, as the New Mutants gear up for their biggest battle yet — and start to turn on each other in the process — mayhem is in the making on the moon! Something is creeping in the long lunar shadows of the Summer House, and the New Mutants are about to come face to face with it…

COLLECTING: New Mutants (2019) 19-24

Genres: Comics, X Men, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

168 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the X-universe's darkest and oldest villains is up to something really bad with the younger mutants... is what some of the mutants believe? The all-mutant-villains amnesty on Krakoa has some hard core villains twiddling their thumbs so in this case, the super villain sees easy prey with the young mutants, but is all what it seems? This was so average, that when I finished it months ago and forgot to review it! Not too happy having such a prominent foe of Xavier and taking on mutant kids! The great, supporting original New Mutants cast sees this still get a 6 out of 12, Three Stars from me.

2024 read

[Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful. This story with the Shadow King has been going on for two volumes and it's just boring. Then there's the logic errors like Gabby's body is just found. Gabby is a clone of Wolverine making her almost impossible to kill. Her body certainly wouldn't just be found untouched. It would take an enormous amount of damage to kill her.

Rod Reis's art just gets sloppier and sloppier. He really frustrates me how his panels shift between scribbles and nice looking panels.

[Jesús De la Jara · Rating 2 out of 5]

El primer número de la Hellfire Gala es insignificante a menos por el estado catastrófico en el cual se encuentra a Scout (la hermanita de Laura). Al parecer el villano Shadow King (quien para mí tiene demasiados números) está detrás de ello. Luego que Wolfsbane confesara que aparentemente fue controlada por él para hacer daño a los demás el grupo de New Mutants van tras Farouk.
Caen en esta especie de ilusiones y control mental que la verdad me aburrió un poco. El final abre las puertas para el evento que viene al cual le tengo mucha fe y espero sea bueno porque Magik estará en el centro.
Una historia a mi parecer lenta y que no es la gran cosa. El arte del último número no me gustó.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shadow King steps out of the shadows, but his emergence is only to drag the New Mutants back in with him! But there's something wrong with him, moreso than usual, and perhaps all has never been what it appears with the mutant known as Amahl Farouk...

First off, I can't believe it's taken 19 issues to reach a Volume 2 of this series. What a mess that trade numbering is.

Now, onto the good stuff - everything else. I never expected to read the redemption of the Shadow King, but given what's been going on with people like Apocalypse in this era of X-books, I don't think anything should surprise me anymore. This side plot's been bubbling around in the back of Ayala's run for a while, but now that it takes centre stage it shows that it can hold its own as the main plot too.

It's also nice to see characters talking about these things they've been keeping from one another, like Dani and Rahne, or Scout and the other young X-Men, instead of just keeping them all inside and causing more problems that way. Healthy communication solves problems. Who knew?

The art here is split between usual series artist Rod Reis, who gets to go mad with some zany mindscapes and such, while Alex Lins does a great Reis impression for the first two issues and Danilo Beyruth brings the arc home in its final issue.

Vita Ayala's split focus at last turns its attention to the elephant/evil mutant in the room, and the series is all the better for it.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I think I've figured out the theme of New Mutants (since Krakoa became a thing). It's connection. Connection to ones self. Connection between different voices in a community. Connection to family. They've even mentioned circuits being connected in various issues. I don't think it really came together in the series until now. THIS arc has the Shadow Kin confrontation that's been coming for months now.

The Lost Ones aka the 'New New Mutants' have their issues resolved. Some get character progression. Others are still the same 2D versions placed on the page to advance the plot.

Bonus: The mutant population realllllllly got self indulgent. How many times do we have to hear about them being 'essentially immortal' with their endless rebirth possibilities
Bonus Bonus: I keep wanting to call 'Rain Boy'....'Water Boy'. Sue me.

[Alex Sarll]

I'm not sure why I'm so far behind on this one; I like that there's a Krakoa book which isn't about the fate of mutantkind, just a bunch of kids who don't trust the grown-ups, and a bunch of characters we met as kids gradually realising that they are also now grown-ups the actual kids don't trust. The trippy art means it can carry off reified psychodrama which would fall totally flat done in house style, and the quandaries may be relatively small-scale but still feel like they matter simply because we care about these characters, both from long acquaintance and from how real they seem here. If there's a weakness, it's in occasionally modelling good responses to trauma, being wronged, communication breakdowns &c at the expense of pace and plausibility - but then I am a grumpy old man, whereas if there are still any young people reading X-books, I imagine they find this a godsend.

[JCRD]

Vita Ayala poco a poco me está ganando como guionista. Creo que hace un uso excelente de los mutantes aquí para tratar problemáticas reales con muchísimo tacto y sensibilidad (como persona no binaria, se nota muchísimo qué quiere decir con esos diálogos).

Su uso de Gabby, Cosmar y Martha Johansson es buenísimo, pero no descuida a otros miembros del grupo, con una conversación preciosa entre Dani Moonstar y Rahne en el último número. Rahne es un personaje con una historia jodidísima y me alegra que aquí pueda encontrar un respiro aunque siga habiendo problemas.

La trama del Rey Sombra parece haberse cerrado por ahora, y de nuevo, aprecio cómo los mutantes de Krakoa están dispuestos al perdón antes que al castigo. Buscan otras soluciones antes que la violencia entre ellos mismos, siempre que se pueda.

Total, que estoy satisfecho con cómo está yendo esta etapa. Ganazas de ver qué más se ha guardado bajo la manga Ayala.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terrible, though I think the Shadow King story was drawn-out for far too long. The artwork in the last issue collected here is some of the worst I've ever seen--was that Rod Reis? Just mind-bogglingly awful.

[Andres Pasten · Rating 3 out of 5]

buen arco, y un numero de transicion a la siguiente etapa de Krakoa

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second volume of Ayala's New Mutants is unfortunately muddy.

Much of that is the way that the Shadow King story eventually moves into psychedelic astral planes, which makes for great art but not a great story.

But also the whole story of what happens to Gabby and the Lost Club in the early issues is muddy too, possibly because of the interjection of the Gala into the story.

Overall, an OK conclusion to most of the arcs from the previous volume, but nothing beyond that, because of the poor pacing and unclearness of the storyline.

Oh, and the whole power-synchronization thing has gotten super old. I understand Ayala is going for some transhuman thing to show how mutantdom is ascending, but after two volumes of this, it feels more like a writing quirk.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt like an old school New Mutants tale set within the new Krakoan age. It was a decent read but there were quite a few confusing panels due to some odd art choices and the and writing didn't do enough to make things clear. We are given many repetitive notes that we've seen many times before with a lot of these characters. Shadow King can be a great antagonist but he can also be one note and that's how it felt here. Gabby was a star here, as she usually is. I enjoyed her journey as well as Dani and Rahne's relationship. The art was both very good and maddening at times. Rod Reis does a solid work evoking memories of yesteryear but the other artists missed the mark. Overall, a decent read that felt like it had been done before.

[Kara Nevle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent second volume. Ayala’s writing gives the social issues that the mutants are supposed to represent and navigate a new life. While not directly speaking to queerness and ableism, Ayala touches on some difficult topics and is aided by the gorgeous art. Well, until the last issue. The art shift is massive, and I’m not sure if I’m as big of a fan. Interested to see where ‘Shadow King’s’ character arc goes from here, as well as our New Mutants & New New Mutants

[Rylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

kinda needed a book like this in the krakoa era that’s more character focused i think ayala does a great job with the cast and i like them showing what it’s like living on krakoa from the perspective of mutants not directly involved in the politics

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Gabby

[Aisling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

the children are learning :')

rod reis' art esp with all the shadow king stuff was Perfection. so conceptual so imaginative

[Christian Zamora-Dahmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never expected to get into a New Mutants story where I just wanted to get over with. What happened here? The art was perfect until the last issue, that was just second rate. But the story… It dragged and dragged, either dry or over emotional. And the worst mistake that I see more often than not: They keep relying too strongly on stories that were over ages ago. That’s not how interested is conquered, and definitely, not the way to keep a reader coming back.

[Matty Dub · Rating 1 out of 5]

This garbage is nearly as bad as Fallen Angels

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume concludes the Shadow King storyline set up in the previous volume, and I am very glad that that is finally over. It was starting to really drag out and feel tedious, but there was still a lot I enjoyed about this volume. I really like how much Vita Ayala's story is focused on these characters and their relationships. Ayala captures the voices of the characters well, and I've really been enjoying the split in attention between the elder New Mutants characters and the younger generation characters like Rain Boy, No-Girl, Cosmar, Anole, and Honey Badger.

The actual conclusion to the Shadow King story had potential to be amazing but ended up being a muddled, rushed encounter in the astral plane that was pretty unsatisfying. However, despite the actual climax being underwhelming, the character moments that took place during, and especially after, were fantastic. In the final issue that provides an epilogue to the Shadow King story, so many characters (No-Girl, Cosmar, Rahne & Dani, Warpath, Honey Badger) get very satisfying closure to things that had been troubling them for a while, and these moments were beautiful and well earned. Ayala's treatment of these characters shows tremendous love for them, and I think the way they write these characters and their relationships makes up for any shortcomings I experienced with the plot. Seriously, how was someone nearly invincible like Gabby killed? And why did she need a new body created when No-Girl was hijacking it and they should have just been able to put her mind into No-Girl with Cerebro and then just swap back?

Rod Reis provided the art for most of these issues, and his work is absolutely gorgeous. I really like how his style changes to a sketchy, frenetic style when appropriate for whatever is going on in the story. Again, he is reminiscent of Sienkiewicz without being a copy of his style. And the covers for this series are absolutely delightful in their bizarreness and creativity. Is this the best mutant book in Marvel's current line-up? No, but I'm still having a great time here, and I'm exited to continue.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vita Ayala sigue tratando de hacerse destacar en esta cabecera. Por lo que trata de hacer más apremiante esa nueva (vieja) amenaza del Rey Sombra acechando a un grupo de Nuevos Mutantes más jóvenes y perdidos en este contexto Krakoaniano. De hecho, desliga de la Gala de Fuego Infernal de la que se da un suceso perturbador en las cabeceras troncales de la franquicia mutante, otro incidente que lleva a que uno de los mutantes más invulnerables (sic.) se encuentre fallecida. Y si bien es cuestión de tiempo que en lo ya conocido del nuevo escenario mutante de resurrecciones aseguradas. Ese pequeño margen impulsa el misterio y paranoia en torno a la amenaza en ciernes.

Ayala fragmenta demasiado el foco de la historia en grupos de mutantes de quienes incluso los Nuevos Mutantes originales aún tiene que coger "el punto" argumental. Si bien el drama particular de Wolfsbane es un motor argumental bien potente. El hacerla partícipe de todos los eventos de este arco argumental hace perder bastante el sentido de su historia. Ese grupo de jóvenes mutantes menos "humanoides" también salen algo malparados en cómo no se complementan al corpus general de la historia,... aún siendo justamente una dinámica más "interna" entre mutantes su gran arco argumental de estos números. Pero quizás lo que más pesa a la autora de este volumen es el mismo Rey Sombra. Un villano que sí, da rienda suelta a un despliegue lisérgico gráfico para el que Rod Reis aún rellena algo los huecos argumentales. Pero no estamos ante un antagonista que pueda concretarse exclusivamente a los Nuevos Mutantes. Y aunque Vita termina acudiendo al pretexto del "Lado Oscuro", la funesta proclama de Farouk sobre este nuevo "Sueño Mutante" que oculta una pesadilla que no se puede postergar. Deja desconcertante que esto no llegue al Consejo Silencioso (los grandes mutantes sí que se implican en las resurrecciones y en una solución "corporal" denunciablemente postergada con una mutante de la era Morrison).

[Michael Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely incredible. I think Vita Ayala’s Shadow King work will go down in history with the likes of the Demon Bear Saga and other classic stories, but even better because it doesn’t have any of the problematic baggage that we’ve identified in those older issues (to my knowledge, at least).

I don’t want to give away anything that happens in the story, because it’s just so good. It was complex and nuanced and yet also easy to understand while touching on higher concepts. All while also having absolutely stunning art by Rod Reis and Alex Lins. I was flabbergasted by how well Reis’s art fit with what little I know of classic New Mutants and it’s flirtations with the horror genre, and Lins provided the perfect lead-in for that story.

I’m particularly fond of the character work with Dani and Karma, but the whole ensemble is fantastic. Rhane is having a really difficult time, but still is presented rather empathetically. Illyana is exactly what I expect of her. Jimmy Proudstar has become a stand out for me as part of the supporting cast. And all the “students” work really well - Scout, Anole, Martha, Cosmar, Rain Boy.

The only issue I had was the art on issue 24 by Danilo Beyruth and colored by Dan Brown was a startling shift from the previous artists. On its own, it’s probably fine, though not my preferred style. As part of this collection, it first came across as “horrible.” However, Ayala’s writing was so strong, that it managed to grow on me to the point that I didn’t mind the issue being drawn differently, which is high praise in my book.

I’ve seen some early reactions that the next issue is amazing, so I can’t wait to read the next volume when it comes out.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amongst all the X-books, New Mutants is the one still experimenting and trying to find their stride. Initially this caused me some hesitation about the future of this title, but now I see that it is very similar to how the new mutants themselves feel. I'm enjoying going on the journey with them.
Highlights:
- Some attention is giving to the strained relationship between Dani and Rahne. They do resolve their issues, but I think I might want to go back and explore how they bonded as "soulmates".
- Appearance still plays a role here, and Cosmar and No-Girl take center stage on this. Visiting Masque (originally one of the Morlocks) who is now a famous plastic surgeon (he can reshape appearance by sticking his fingers in your skin), Cosmar's face loses most of its warp and oblong shape, but she keeps her eyes and tone. Still very recognizable. No-Girl's petition for resurrection has been granted, and coming out of the grove, she is a capped brain that is inside her original female body. She takes the new name Cerebella.
- Gabby Kinney (Scout) is found dead shortly after the events of the Hellfire Gala. The team work together to get her resurrected and she rejoins the team after some talk and healing.
- The bulk of this Volume surrounds the redemption of Amahl Farouk and the banishing of the entity inside him known as the Shadow King. Lots of fighting in mental landscapes and teamwork saves the day, and Farouk is temporarily banished from Krakoa, seeking intensive therapy before being allowed to return.

Enjoying my new outlook on this title. Always room for "new" mutant characters. Could be a new favorite!
Recommend.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

No ugly girls allowed.
I liked the stories and the art of Rod Reis but I disliked the way the stories were told and the others artists.
Ok, we get it Vita: men are intrinsically bad and they should be on their knees apoligizing over and over again. Women can have flaws but they are forgiven because they see the error (yes, singular) and thus be better. The sad thing is the comic is written that badly. I don't say I agrre or desagree with the message but with the crafting of it.
The super weird thing with Vita who presents herself like an inclusive person is that she can not stand "ugly" girls. Maybe is because she doesn't know what to do with them, how to writte them but No-Girl (a Grant Morrison character, so you know you shouldn't mess with it) ans Cosmar (with a great monstruous design) are now normalized if not pretty (I can not say for sure, the art is not very good). It reminds me of the transformation of Marrow in Alan David's run (before 2000's) but he can draw. Nonetheless, Anole and RainBoy remains the same with their monstruous features. Ugly boys, yes (to remind us that men are still bad ?), ugly girls, no !
However, the most important thing is that I liked the resolution with the Shadow King and that I am ready to read more about those characters. But I hope the writting gets better and that Rod Reis is able to draw more issues.

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayala’s second set of issues continues to tell a fun, youthful story brought to life by Reis’s beautifully unconventional art. I appreciate this series’s mature focus on adolescent issues that the other Krakoa era books understandably skip past. I’m also a fan of the large cast that’s been settled on, following the core New Mutants from the 80s plus a slightly younger assortment from the 00s, and even giving a few pages to a younger group being taught by Warpath. Most of the conflict here is inner turmoil plus some projection of that into interpersonal angst; the Shadow King gets involved too and amplifies the stakes to superhero scale.

My only complaint is I wish at least a few character didn’t talk out every conflict with therapy word monologues. It would be less noticeable if it weren’t literally every character, but it is and at times that can read like a one-note emotional power fantasy.

[Rick Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Lost, AKA the "New New Mutants", deal with the Shadow King for far too many issues. The story is completely stretched thin over six issues with nothing of real note happening here. I would have taken a fun slice of life book over whatever this was. The story takes off right from the end of the Hellfire Gala, where Gabby (Scout) is found dead. What an odd choice by the X-office to have two mysterious deaths in one event. Turns out the Shadow King is involved and he's luring the more susceptible of the younger mutants to him. Veteran members of the New Mutants (AKA the "Old New Mutants") must step in to lead the youth. There really isn't much development of any of the characters here unfortunately. Rod Reis' artwork is nice to look at, but the abstract forms are a strange addition to a rather straightforward story. It sort of felt like Reis and Ayala are operating on very different wavelengths and overall this book just didn't work for me at all.

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the art style is ALL OVER THE PLACE in this volume, which I think has been a hallmark of the New Mutants of late. Having watched most of Legion, I was really excited to see what would happen with Farouk/The Shadow King and while I think having two parallel murder mysteries running simultaneously and in totally unrelated fashion on Krakoa, this one seemed to resolve more logically and quickly according to the characters involved. The whole angle of forgiveness and rebirth and self-determination down to one’s body and name really seems to strike a chord in this current environment without ever feeling shitty (arguably cramming so much of this into the final issue feels like an overplay, but I see it more as a thematic interweaving). Looking forward to the next volume.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shadow King's story is concluded in Vita Ayala's second New Mutants volume. It's a fine ending, if confusing. Expect some unexpected portal fantasy and an illogical twist regarding Gabby (As a clone of Wolverine, she's nearly impossible to kill and yet seems to have been quite easily offed in this volume). That said, the whole "are clones people?" discussion is intriguing.

The art continues to either excel or grate, changing wildly from page to page. I liked the Hellfire Gala tie-in a lot - I didn't like how many characters I had to follow. New Mutants could really use some sort of "dramatis personae," especially with nearly everyone having a nickname (or two). Of course, you could make the same request of every Marvel comic.

[Adam Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this has the same strengths and weaknesses as volume 1. Rod Reis's art is so good. The story is solid enough -- I generally like Vita Ayala on the classic New Mutants but I don't think the younger kids are interesting. The dialogue just pulls me out of the story pretty often, it's so labored with trauma and healing and forgiveness that it rings as artificial. Ayala has absolutely no use for subtlety or implication, they really just put it ALL right there on the page. Every character speaks with the same voice, and that voice is some kind of internet activist, so they're all pretty much interchangeable (except sometimes Magik).

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a very strange, cerebral, psychedelic book. But this is the best it’s been. The resolution of multiple ongoing stories in issue #24 was masterfully done. Ayala recognized injustices on Krakoa and shined a light on them, allowing characters to speak with their own voices, and made it make sense in the context of a fictional story. For some reason she couldn’t make Dani and Rahne kiss, but aside from that it was pitch perfect. Cerebella and Cosmar got to own their bodies and look how they want to look without ignoring the struggles they experienced to get here.

As a queer trans person it means a lot to me to see these characters be who they want to be.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

In terms of taking a pure emotional and dramatic look at the younger generations of mutants and what theyve had to endure and grow from, and how it links to possibly one of the oldest mutants dealing with similar trauma, it's a beautiful story once it all comes together. Very much the psychological debate corner of the Krakoan era, but one that needs to be there, there's actual depth and purpose behind this story, and provides actual characters the chance to take stock of themselves and move forward, a real rarity in sequential storytelling