New Mutants, Vol. 3

New Mutants (2019)

by Vita Ayala, Rod Reis (Artist)

The Labors of Magik! Since the founding of the island nation of Krakoa, Illyana Rasputin has been focused on mutant affairs and world-building — but she hasn’t spent much time on her other-dimensional throne in Limbo. And someone has been eyeing the empty seat! Now, Magik must fight for her hellish kingdom — and her very life — in a classic hero’s journey featuring some of the most hated villains in New Mutants history! The biggest resurrection in Krakoan history is about to shatter both Limbo and its ruler — and you’re gonna love to see it!

COLLECTING: New Mutants (2019) 25-28

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

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2022

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

My all-itime favourirte Marvel character is Magik, Illyana Rasputin and this volume very cleverly ties into her backstories especially re': Limbo. In a mutually beneficial move Illyana announces that she will be handing over the governorship of Limbo to the Goblin Queen! Before this handover can take place S'ym makes a deadly boss-move that strands Illyana, Rahne, Dani and Madelyne in Limbo! Can I get a Claremont-inspired story hell-yeah? This was a refreshing Marvel read that made sense with the past and present and was also very well drawn by Rod Reis. A 7 out of 12, Three Star read pour moi.

2024 read

[Jesús De la Jara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este número prometía ser la aventura que todos los fans de Magik esperaban. En mi opinión no lo ha sido.
Empieza con la decisión de hacer a Madelyn Prior reina del Limbo. Magik quiere liberarse del lugar que le arrebató todo según sus propias palabras, aunque esto de por sí ya es un poco anticlimático en el personaje. Habiendo evolucionado tanto desde la saga de "Uncanny X-Men" de Bendis y volviéndose cada vez más poderosa, la decisión de abandonar el control del Limbo y el gran poder que le otorgan los demonios de los cuales puede disponer para atacar lo hace bastante raro. En todo caso se pretende decir que Magik quiere volver por el camino de la humanidad y esa idea no es tampoco tan mala.
No me ha gustado el paralelismo que se hizo con la historia de la "Duendecita" (una versión ¿conejo? de Magik) en la cual se contaba las aventuras de la misma Magik. Me c0nfundía aún más. Y las distintas versiones de ella misma que aparecen en el volumen para mí es algo innecesario. También esta historia da el origen al nuevo traje que no es de mis favoritos. Por todas estas malas impresiones me quedo con esta calificación. Sin embargo, tiene buenas cosas, los dibujos buenos en su mayoría y bueno, el hecho de hacer una historia central de ella que tendrá influencia en el futuro es algo.

[johnny ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

illyana's story is just... muah!!!

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Transfer of power in limbo from Illyana to newly resurrected Madelyne Pryor. I like the idea. Reasons and expectations are reasonable, what comes out of it might be interesting in the future.

The path leading there is not particularly original- Madelyne’s line "Oh! I didn’t see that coming" is quite funny in that regard- but well done.
And I’m still a sucker for Rod Reis art.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright I’m calling it. After four attempts to conquer this book - read it carefully, read it slow, read it for fun, hate read jt - I’m just not getting why this story exists, and it’s definitely boring me to tears. Illyana is an awesome character in the right hands - what isn’t to like about a mutant with demon-magic powers - but navel-gazing and meek ain’t her jam. Who let this wet fart out?

[Alex Sarll]

A complete shift in tone after the previous volumes, and one not helped by the collection opening with a 'previously' page that covers its own first issue, at once spoilering me and sending me haring around Wikipedia to see whether I'd missed something in another title. Excellent work, guys. It's always disappointed me that Marvel's Limbo is just another flavour of Hell - even monotheism self-insert fic bore Dante managed better than that - and this is a story about who gets to rule it, complete with various jumps around its own timeline, side-quests &c crammed into a pretty short trade, so in that sense at least it never gives itself time to get boring. The core concept that this is a plane which needs someone broken and dangerous to have a chance of coping with it is sound, ditto the mirroring which sees both leads looking to escape the past that has defined them for too long by handing over ownership of same; the art has the jagged, slightly eerie beauty to sell the scenario; and all those scenes of Magik and Madelyne Pryor being prickly with each other engendered appropriately impure thoughts. But I still found myself missing the much looser, more Krakoan vibe of what went before.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good Magik centered story and Vita Ayala's best in this new Mutants run. We get a nostalgic look at Illyana's early days in Limbo and how its still affecting her and her decisions. This book was solely focused on this story and I enjoyed that fact. It was paired down to just a handful of the classic New Mutants that I love versus the new students who I have yet to fall for. Reis's art was a perfect fit for this story. Overall, a very good Magik read.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sort of want to give this book four stars because I was rarely bored but something never quite clicked for me. Not sure what it was but this volume really isn't bad at all. Props to Ayala for still finding a story to tell about Magik and Limbo.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illyana, Madelyne and exploration of trauma. A little confusing but good. Also I really liked the art style used in falshbacks

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: the "previously on" at the beginning of this volume isn't actually a "previously on", instead it spoils the entire plot of the first issue of the collection. So, you know, don't read it 🤣

Otherwise though. Bloody hell is this good. Just an incredible, engaging, beautiful story of Ilyana and Madelyne and trauma and identity and healing and autonomy.

Beautifully written, gorgeous art, wonderful pacing.

I'm very sad that Ayala left this book after this arc. Their New Mutants was a consistently top of the line book in an already exceptional line of X-books in the Krakoan era.

[Andres Pasten · Rating 1 out of 5]

No es el tipo de comic que me gusta leer, que es el que exige tanto conocimiento previo y se hace ajeno de leer. Veremos si el cambio de mano, mejora esta serie.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tras esos arcos argumentales totalmente difusos en el poco "cuajo" argumental de Vita Ayala con esta cabecera. La autora acude a la gran potencia que siempre es Magik. Esa mutante que también pertenece a la rama sobrenatural del Universo Marvel por su crucial estancia secuestrada en el Limbo. Justamente las circunstancias actuales coinciden para que Illyana pueda "cerrar" esa etapa de su vida pudiendo hacer recaer su cargo como regente de ese plano Infernal a Madelyne Pryor. Esa clon malvada de Jean Grey que también está ligada al Limbo, aunque históricamente de forma más negativa que Magik. Pero siendo Krakoa un punto y a parte para TODOS los mutantes (incluso los villanos más reincidentes). Esta oportunidad para que la Reina Goblin sea una aliada es tomada por Illyana aún con la suma reticencia de Danielle Moonstar. Junto a Karma, este grupo se adentra en el Limbo solo para encontrarse en un alzamiento que lleva a que este plan se convierta en una incertidumbre constante de cómo volver incluso a Krakoa, debido a una primeriza derrota que desvincula a Magik de sus capacidades teleportadoras.

Este volumen de Nuevos Mutantes focaliza totalmente su interés entorno a Magik. Llegando incluso a realizar un trabajo de "retrocontinuidad" al hacer que todo se ligue a esas historias fundacionales del personaje del siglo pasado de su estancia infantil en el Limbo por parte del demonio Belasco. Se dará mucha coincidencia con ciertos eventos de por aquel entonces o se desligará bastante de ciertas "posibilidades" futuras de Illyana más afincadas al Limbo que a su realidad mutante. Esto hace que por una parte, la lectura sea más apasionante si el lector puede y sabe implicarse con Illyana (llegamos a contar con la participación de su hermano, Piotr). Pero también es cierto que este apelar de forma TAN "bruta" a ese pasado del personaje puede ser algo "estomagante" para lectores que estén con el personaje desde hace poco de su historia editorial. No es como si Vita Ayala no tratase de hacer el conjunto accesible... Pero inevitablemente hace buen alarde de datos relevantes de esos números de la "Marvel pasada" como para que pueda ser algo pesado de seguir. También las desventuras del Limbo no llegan a contar ninguna con un enfrentamiento totalmente a la altura para lo que la conclusión supone en un nuevo estatus de los poderes de Magik. Se llega a pensar y lamentar que todo esto pudiese profundizar de verdad y destacar en una miniserie EXCLUSICVA del personaje. La presencia de Mirage y Karma apenas está para mantener su posición contraria a Madelyne. Y esta última queda dispuesta a provocar uno de los peores micro eventos Marvelitas recientes en ese reinado en el Limbo y a que su papel en el desarrollo de estos números pase por enumerar de forma vaga su "historia de origen" para hacerla ver menos "villanesca" ante los ojos de Moonstar.

[Michael Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. I feel like it would be even better if I had a deep attachment to the original Magik: Storm and Illyana story.

The one thing that threw me off was there’s an intro that kind of spoils what happens in the main story. It made me think I had missed a pretty significant issue or something from the last issue. Turns out, it was just describing what happens in this volume.

I think there’s great characterization of Magik and Maddie. It delves into what makes both women tick, and builds on what we knew about them going in. It really works, and I like what it sets up for the future. It’s a good standalone story, too.

It balances between the current plot, flashback scenes to Illyana’s childhood in Limbo, and a fantasy parallel story. The flashback stuff is surprisingly evocative of the 80s comics. Ayala is able to switch their writing style completely, while still keeping consistency of the story and the same quality. It’s excellent.

Rod Reis is great on art again and Jan Duursema does a fantastic job on the flashbacks. Similarly, the style changes drastically to match the 80s style. It all works together to be a great arc overall.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 3 is a complete Magik show. Wonderful writing, not only with natural flow, but the interjection of the storybook pages to show how a child's mind might cope with such power struggles... genius.
This one is all about Magik transferring her ruling power over Hell and Limbo to Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen. Much of it is about trusting her with this second chance, which helps redeem her somewhat in my eyes, vision of her character tainted by the chaos she caused in my beloved Summers Family. Of course there is an adversary, this time in S'ym, who seems to pop up every time we deal with Hell. There is also some weirdness, especially in: an old Magik, a Magik who embraced her power early on, and a converting of Limbo in to a kind of Wonderland (temporarily). Of course there is also Magik having to learn how to resummon her Soulsword after it shatters...

Overall, this Volume was really great and restored some of my faith in the title. Excited to see what they do with the anniversary of the New Mutants coming up soon.
Recommend.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting Ayala's New Mutants run to improve in quality, but it did. "The Labors of Magik" arc might be the best stretch for the title since Hickman and Brisson were on the title, and I'd say it has a lot to do with a much more focused story around Illyana Rasputin and just a few team members.

In this arc, Illyana has effectively been deposed from the throne of Limbo, which has been surreptitiously seized by Madelyn Pryor, AKA the Goblin Queen. Framed partially as a fairytale about Limbo, this book ventures into a more ambitious scale not seen in many of the other running X-titles. Rod Reis continues to deliver some great art (I know not everyone is a fan of Reis' style, but it always worked for me), but he's also joined by Jan Duursema who utilizes a much more classical aesthetic for the flashback sequences. Ayala keeps the New Mutants roster small for this arc, with much of the focus going towards Magik, Wolfsbane and Mirage, and it really pays off. It took a dozen or so issues, but glad this book finally clicked.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vita Ayala's third New Mutants volume feels unnecessary. The second volume concluded the Shadow King storyline, allowing certain gross mutants to change their form and firmly establishing clones as resurrectable mutants. Problems solved!

Here in the third volume, we follow Magik and Madelyne Pryor to Limbo, where Magik wants to hand over the throne. Most of the friendly faces from previous books are left behind and instead, you're required to remember a great deal about Limbo (a very familiar Marvel location for everyone, right?). It's a fine, quest-style fantasy story with way too much time travel and portaling thrown in for no reason. Maybe some reader somewhere was begging for more Magik, but I was not. Nor was I begging for more Rod Reis.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 issues of a series that seems to meander wherever...

Magik is juggling too many roles in this Krakoan empire. With Madelyne Pryor back, (bad things never EVER happen in X titles) she's set in motion a transfer of power in Limbo. It doesn't looks like Wolfsbane or Moonstar are big fans. Even though these Krakoan rebirths are supposed to be fresh starts, they think the Goblyn Queen will have it in for all of them.

Reviewing the series and the concept...it feels like these are characters who NEED further definition. They've gone past their initial young adult personas and are aging up into 'adult' roles. I don't know if it'll stick. They seem to get tossed around whatever crisis hits the X-titles next.

Bonus: Timey Wimey timeline self referencing
Bonus Bonus:

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can feel the unstable nature of swapping from writer to writer sometimes in series like New Mutants, but the last volume by Ayala seemed to be a return to form, for the most part. I’m all for a 4-issue arc focusing on a single member of the team, and I like Magik typically as a supporting character. I felt like the various iterations of her that appear throughout this sequence actually served to undermine the clarity of both the themes and the plot, at times. The stuff with Madelyne and wanting to see each other’s trauma and right to recreate oneself is certainly compelling, but I’m not sure it felt entirely earned in the context of what I’ve been reading since Hickman kicked off House of X/Powers of X.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ayala and Reis's run on NM goes out on a decent note, trying to give Maddy some of her agency back like they did for Shadow King, but it's a bit muddled comparatively. While the broad strokes make sense, like Magik and Maddie trying to get back at a demon ruining her last, the actual beat by beat isn't entirely clearly, I feel like scenes are missing at times, at least to establish where the cast is. Wolfsbane is basically action scene fodder, and Dani is just hear to doubt the plan. Magik gets a sailor moon like transformation, but it's cute at best, and Maddie gets a new post, but might be undone by Dark Web. Meh ending to a great run.

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

Wow, I’m so impressed by this set. It relies deeply into a very old story of Magik’s, but it’s done in such a fashion that you don’t need to go all the way back to read it. Illyana was never a favorite of mine, but this story gave her all the depth she needed— and did I enjoy it!
Ayala’s previous set was horrible, crowded with crossovers and plots coming from other books, this time, they brought what they could do with this title, and it was stunning.
It was just four single issues and with each one he explored a different side of Magik, along with the crew she brought from Krakoa to Limbo. Having Madelyne with the team was definitely a plus.
I couldn’t recommend more this particular set.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than its predecessors, Ayala's V3 is a magnificent take on Illyana's modern story that revisits the Magik miniseries better than anything else previously, really understanding its timey-wimeyness and the effect that has on Illyana's story.

This also offers a great take on Madelyne Pryor, victims of one of the worst character assassinations in the whole Claremont run. Though what she's done is neither forgiven nor forgotten (nor is what was done to her), she seems like a real person here, trying to move forward with a new life.

Overall, a terrific end to Ayala's run.

[Alfredo Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Illyana is one of my favorite X-people even though I've always felt a bit out of the loop with her, as I was too young to read the 80's stuff when it was new, and it wasn't as well collected as other stories. Still though, as someone who has been a devout X-reader since about '94, I've grown into a big fan. This deals mostly with those 80's books I never got around to, but it was still a fun read, if a bit too dense at times for those not in the know. The art from Reis was phenomenal as always, and the Jan Duursema bits were nice as well.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, this was fine. Just not all that interesting. Magik returns to Limbo to give it over to the Goblin Queen. They get attacked and her Soul Sword is destroyed. For some reason this affects Magik's ability to teleport even though that's her mutant power and not magic. They end up flopping through time in Limbo for 4 issues fighting demons along the way. It really just all feels like filler because nothing of interest happens.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

rod reis's art !!! i'm especially obsessed with the panels that don't have borders. the colours look extra pretty

the lil fairytale magik was writing for herself was very cute. somehow she really works as a tiny goblin. also wow she's really been Through It but i loved seeing all these versions of her overcome that trauma :'))

also her sailor moon transformation! is this new outfit permanent?

[Fraser Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great run. To bad it ended after just three volumes. This one is how Magik loses her groove and gets it back again, more-or-less. I’m not wild about limbo but did like the focus on character development, since I don’t know that character well at all. Prefer the Krakoa stuff, but this was still better than average in every respect.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is occasionally guilty of one of my least favorite conceits of the Krakoa era (presenting a crucial conversation or, even worse, an action scene as one of the Krakoan Text Pages instead of part of the illustrated comic pages), it's still a very good Magik story. And Magik is one of my favorite characters. So it was nice to see some focus on her again.

[Adan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Limbo’s timey wimey nonsense always makes my head hurt, but I like Magik a lot so I’ll put up with it for her. I’m also strangely all for Madelyne getting a proper shot at building something for herself away from all the men who have caused her harm. Just don’t lead another demon invasion of earth, mkay?

[Joshua]

Vita Ayala’s run on New Mutants has been the first kind of extended period of time I’ve spent with these characters and despite there clearly being a lot of history I’m not privy to their writing over these three volumes has very much made me a fan of these characters, particularly Magik.

[Tuni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magik having a Sailor Moon transformation sequence. Need I say more?

Art is flawless as always. Story was pretty fun, too. It was a nice little love letter to Magik’s OG mini.

I’m sad that Vita’s run is coming to an end. They were the top tier X-writer.

[Adam Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best of Vita Ayala's New Mutants run for me. The writing is a lot less overwrought than the first volumes, and Rod Reis knocks it out of the park on Limbo art. Recommend for Magik and Madelyne Pryor fans. Can't wait to see what the Goblin Queen does next!