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New Mutants (1983-1991) #87-94
Cable and the New Mutants
Witness the man called Cable's formidable debut and his early adventures as he and the New Mutants (soon to be X-Force) take on such foes as Stryfe, the Mutant Liberation Front, Sabretooth, Freedom Force, and the one and only Wolverine!
Collects New Mutants #86-94
Includes only the last 2 pages from New Mutants (1983) #86 and 16 pages from #87. As such, Balder, Eitri, Fandral, Hogun, Hrimhari, Kidra, Mirage and Volstagg do not appear in this collection.
Collects New Mutants #86-94
Includes only the last 2 pages from New Mutants (1983) #86 and 16 pages from #87. As such, Balder, Eitri, Fandral, Hogun, Hrimhari, Kidra, Mirage and Volstagg do not appear in this collection.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1995
3 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Louise Simonson
967 books101 followersLouise Simonson (born Mary Louise Alexander and formerly credited as Louise Jones, when married to artist Jeff Jones) is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman, and Steel. She is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Weezie".
Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson
Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 24, 2023
Just awful.
The Rob Liefeld era begins. I know it’s commonplace to hate on him online these days, which is well-deserved, but apparently these comics were a big hit circa 1990. In retrospect, we really should have known better…
It doesn’t get more 90s than Cable. After years of the New Mutants being about teenage superpowered students, all of a sudden Marvel pushed aside poor Louise Simonson and gave the reigns to this edgy young artist who wanted to direct a bad action movie.
It’s not just the overdetailed art and muscles and guns and ridiculous poses, it’s the storytelling. It’s honestly hard to keep track of what’s going on in these issues. It’s one thing for Liefeld to draw “badass” covers, but a comic needs to have a coherent story structure.
As far as I can follow, Cable goes on some missions fighting new villains the Mutant Liberation Front. Then, the New Mutants coincidentally run into him on the street (what great writing)! Then he’s their leader and they move into the destroyed X-Mansion and train in the danger room. Oh, and also an unnecessary crossover with Wolverine because of course.
Certainly worth rereading for the historical context, and admittedly Cable did become an intriguing character once professional writers came in and retconned his origin. But that was a long way off. At this time, just reading as a standalone graphic novel for what it was, these were objectively terrible comics.
The Rob Liefeld era begins. I know it’s commonplace to hate on him online these days, which is well-deserved, but apparently these comics were a big hit circa 1990. In retrospect, we really should have known better…
It doesn’t get more 90s than Cable. After years of the New Mutants being about teenage superpowered students, all of a sudden Marvel pushed aside poor Louise Simonson and gave the reigns to this edgy young artist who wanted to direct a bad action movie.
It’s not just the overdetailed art and muscles and guns and ridiculous poses, it’s the storytelling. It’s honestly hard to keep track of what’s going on in these issues. It’s one thing for Liefeld to draw “badass” covers, but a comic needs to have a coherent story structure.
As far as I can follow, Cable goes on some missions fighting new villains the Mutant Liberation Front. Then, the New Mutants coincidentally run into him on the street (what great writing)! Then he’s their leader and they move into the destroyed X-Mansion and train in the danger room. Oh, and also an unnecessary crossover with Wolverine because of course.
Certainly worth rereading for the historical context, and admittedly Cable did become an intriguing character once professional writers came in and retconned his origin. But that was a long way off. At this time, just reading as a standalone graphic novel for what it was, these were objectively terrible comics.
April 13, 2015
For some reason I can't find a paperback that collects the first half of Simonson's run on the New Mutants, even the Inferno paperback only has a couple of issues of NM which is weird considering how much build up there is to it and how Magik's development is just *slightly* relevant to that event. So anyways just pretend this is a rating for NM 55-84 plus X-Terminators(I'm not into Cable, SORRY.)
ETA: I read through to 100 and I liked it a lot more than I was expecting so the rating still stands.
ETA: I read through to 100 and I liked it a lot more than I was expecting so the rating still stands.
July 23, 2013
Hates will hate. At this time in comics, Liefeld was a breath of fresh air. Add in Louise Simonson's great story telling, makes this TPB a great read.
January 14, 2021
"Cable and the New Mutants" is more of an artifact than a story. The individual issues here aren't very good--they're slapdash and over the top, with inconsistent plotting and art. But they provide a spark that transformed the X-men franchise, introducing super-soldier Cable and his terrorist foils in the Mutant Liberation Front.
Cable himself is loosely defined in these early issues. He's clearly has some robotic upgrades, but he's framed as a old-time super-soldier, a Nick Fury-type with a rep with characters as diverse as Wolverine and Moira McTaggert. His characterization is inconsistent. In these pages, he's more of a father figure, a serious solider but less bloodthirsty than when the series makes the shift to X-Force.
While the comics themselves aren't great, his presence offers a shot in the arm for a New Mutants series that was sputtering before he came along. The junior team had lost their freshness but failed to really develop their own identity. The start of this volume finds them coming off an extended journey to Asgard, of all places, and they clearly needed something to reinvigorate them.
Cable offered that, for better or for worse. Even from the start, though, the comics featuring him are flashy and empty. Definitely a nostalgia trip.
Cable himself is loosely defined in these early issues. He's clearly has some robotic upgrades, but he's framed as a old-time super-soldier, a Nick Fury-type with a rep with characters as diverse as Wolverine and Moira McTaggert. His characterization is inconsistent. In these pages, he's more of a father figure, a serious solider but less bloodthirsty than when the series makes the shift to X-Force.
While the comics themselves aren't great, his presence offers a shot in the arm for a New Mutants series that was sputtering before he came along. The junior team had lost their freshness but failed to really develop their own identity. The start of this volume finds them coming off an extended journey to Asgard, of all places, and they clearly needed something to reinvigorate them.
Cable offered that, for better or for worse. Even from the start, though, the comics featuring him are flashy and empty. Definitely a nostalgia trip.
April 5, 2025
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#87): 3 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#88): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#89): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#90): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#91): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#92): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#93): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#94): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#88): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#89): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#90): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#91): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#92): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#93): 5 stars
New Mutants (1983-1991) (#94): 5 stars
January 17, 2019
This and other Louise Simonson books reviewed here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com...
March 16, 2009
Aw Rob Liefield...
It's funny looking back at him now. Probably the only bigger person in comics at the time was Jim Lee (oh and that McFarlane fellow), who jumped into Uncanny around the same time as Liefield started moving the New Mutants. And that would be where this book, basically, starts.
After Magneto's failure at being a leader for the New Mutants apparently Marvel felt they needed a new leader. Not terrible logic. They also wanted him to be a man of action to counter Xavier. This was probably already with the return of Xavier in mind. Thus Cable was made and the road to X-Force was paved. Simonson was still writing, but Liefield made it quite obvious who was responsible for creating the character.
Cable is a character that has been kinda created backwards. And it is hard to know how much was originally planned and how much wasn't. The Stryfe connection was obviously part of the original plan. I'm fairly certain Cable's true identity was not originally what it turned into. But I do not know that for fact.
Anyways, the "reasoning" to get Cable to lead the New Mutants makes little sense. I want to make the excuse that they were rushing things with X-Tincion Agenda on the horizon, but the more likely reason was, because they couldn't think of anything better. Actually, yeah, they had plenty of time. And they could have done something better in the same amount of time.
Cable himself is almost a Wolverine clone. I think the 90's had this same character repeated over and over again, being part of the cause of the comic implosion. The most interesting thing is trying to watch him lead kids. That's about it so far.
You also get the Mutant Liberation Front and of course Strife. They are a very 90's group, and there's good reason they are all forgotten characters, save Strife alone. Most of Liefield's work has kinda disappeared over time.
It is kinda sad to see the New Mutants, which I have really enjoyed finally getting to read their whole story being turned into X-Force. Dani has moved on. Rahne and Warlock are not much longer for the title. A number of my favorite characters are going the way of the dodo.
As for the art... honestly I don't hate Rob's art that much early on. But it is hard to understand why the comic community thought it was good. Everything is extreme and silly proportions. Not as bad as he will get, but not at all entertaining. Nowadays he's the butt of every joke about the 90's etc. It is funny to see how much Cable has morphed. I kinda like him as a big ugly old guy though. Doesn't take much after his father however...
In the end though, I enjoyed myself. Probably because I am attached to the New Mutants, and this isn't exactly complete butchery. It was probably the change of pace the series needed. I had gotten parts of this story before, so it was weird, and good, to finally match it with continuity.
It's funny looking back at him now. Probably the only bigger person in comics at the time was Jim Lee (oh and that McFarlane fellow), who jumped into Uncanny around the same time as Liefield started moving the New Mutants. And that would be where this book, basically, starts.
After Magneto's failure at being a leader for the New Mutants apparently Marvel felt they needed a new leader. Not terrible logic. They also wanted him to be a man of action to counter Xavier. This was probably already with the return of Xavier in mind. Thus Cable was made and the road to X-Force was paved. Simonson was still writing, but Liefield made it quite obvious who was responsible for creating the character.
Cable is a character that has been kinda created backwards. And it is hard to know how much was originally planned and how much wasn't. The Stryfe connection was obviously part of the original plan. I'm fairly certain Cable's true identity was not originally what it turned into. But I do not know that for fact.
Anyways, the "reasoning" to get Cable to lead the New Mutants makes little sense. I want to make the excuse that they were rushing things with X-Tincion Agenda on the horizon, but the more likely reason was, because they couldn't think of anything better. Actually, yeah, they had plenty of time. And they could have done something better in the same amount of time.
Cable himself is almost a Wolverine clone. I think the 90's had this same character repeated over and over again, being part of the cause of the comic implosion. The most interesting thing is trying to watch him lead kids. That's about it so far.
You also get the Mutant Liberation Front and of course Strife. They are a very 90's group, and there's good reason they are all forgotten characters, save Strife alone. Most of Liefield's work has kinda disappeared over time.
It is kinda sad to see the New Mutants, which I have really enjoyed finally getting to read their whole story being turned into X-Force. Dani has moved on. Rahne and Warlock are not much longer for the title. A number of my favorite characters are going the way of the dodo.
As for the art... honestly I don't hate Rob's art that much early on. But it is hard to understand why the comic community thought it was good. Everything is extreme and silly proportions. Not as bad as he will get, but not at all entertaining. Nowadays he's the butt of every joke about the 90's etc. It is funny to see how much Cable has morphed. I kinda like him as a big ugly old guy though. Doesn't take much after his father however...
In the end though, I enjoyed myself. Probably because I am attached to the New Mutants, and this isn't exactly complete butchery. It was probably the change of pace the series needed. I had gotten parts of this story before, so it was weird, and good, to finally match it with continuity.
December 16, 2016
In the mid 1980's, I read the X-Men books religiously, but gave them up toward the end of the decade as my focus turned to girls and other adult-ing activities. When I walked back into the comic book shops in 1990, I found some things had changed in the few years I'd been gone. Suddenly the female form had become... let's say curvier. And male bodies had likewise been pumped up. The art was generally becoming more detailed and realistic, though, which was a great counter-balance to the expanding violence and blatent sexualism. Another big change, specifically in the X-World, was that the New Mutants were gone. They'd been replaced by a barely recognizable militant group called X-Force, led by a massive dude named Cable who fired off improbably large guns with little effect. Cable was treated in the storylines as a long-time X-Men ally, though he had never appeared in a comic prior to 1989.
Rob Liefeld is largely to credit with all of those changes. Although Louise Simonson is credited as the writes of this particular collection, Liefeld helped create Cable and wrote the transition of TNM into X-Force. 'Cable and the New Mutants' collect the issues showcasing Cable's first appearances and his assumption of the New Mutants leadership. So I was excited to fill in the gap after all these years.
And it's nothing special. The art is uneven, as Liefeld is still obviously still getting his feet underneath him as he works to develop his own style. The writing, too, often feels disjointed and increasingly out of synch with whatever was going on in the flagship titles. And like many trade paperbacks collecting a portion of an ongoing series, this feels nothing like a cohesive story- the book ends in the middle of a Madripoor story arc with no conclusion.
Nonetheless, this book does provide the background origin of X-Force and Cable, and is a good prep for the storylines that follow, as well as the talent Liefeld became leading up to his big move to Image comics.
Rob Liefeld is largely to credit with all of those changes. Although Louise Simonson is credited as the writes of this particular collection, Liefeld helped create Cable and wrote the transition of TNM into X-Force. 'Cable and the New Mutants' collect the issues showcasing Cable's first appearances and his assumption of the New Mutants leadership. So I was excited to fill in the gap after all these years.
And it's nothing special. The art is uneven, as Liefeld is still obviously still getting his feet underneath him as he works to develop his own style. The writing, too, often feels disjointed and increasingly out of synch with whatever was going on in the flagship titles. And like many trade paperbacks collecting a portion of an ongoing series, this feels nothing like a cohesive story- the book ends in the middle of a Madripoor story arc with no conclusion.
Nonetheless, this book does provide the background origin of X-Force and Cable, and is a good prep for the storylines that follow, as well as the talent Liefeld became leading up to his big move to Image comics.
November 25, 2016
Much like stone-washed jeans, or that mullet I - I mean, some people - sported in high school, it is difficult trying to explain the appeal of Rob Liefeld's artwork 15 years later. It's obvious now that he had a problem drawing accurate anatomies, dealing with perspective, and that Cable's head shrank a little each issue while his arms and guns kept getting bigger. But at the time, Liefeld's energetic and detailed style provided some much needed (pardon the pun) young blood for an X-title that had become mediocre at best.
The Cable and the New Mutants trade paperback collects all of the early New Mutants issues with Liefeld artwork. The issues are most noteworthy for introducing Cable, a character who would go on to be a major X-Men character. Of course now we all know Cable's origin as the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor (Jean Grey's clone), who was sent into the future as an infant to save his life. At the time though, all we saw was a grim, enigmatic soldier with a huge metal arm.
Upon meeting the New Mutants, Cable decides to forge them into an army to fight against evil in general and a terrorist named Stryfe (also introduced in this volume) in particular. In the course of these issues, Cable and the New Mutants battle Freedom Force (formerly the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants), Stryfe's Mutant Liberation Army, Sabretooth, and even Wolverine (you could tell Liefeld was just aching to draw that particular battle).
These issues essentially laid the groundwork for the end of the New Mutants title and the birth of X-Force, which made Liefeld the hottest name in comics for a brief period of time. Love him or hate him, you can't deny he made a big impact on the comics scene, and his work here does play a key role in the X-Men history.
The Cable and the New Mutants trade paperback collects all of the early New Mutants issues with Liefeld artwork. The issues are most noteworthy for introducing Cable, a character who would go on to be a major X-Men character. Of course now we all know Cable's origin as the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor (Jean Grey's clone), who was sent into the future as an infant to save his life. At the time though, all we saw was a grim, enigmatic soldier with a huge metal arm.
Upon meeting the New Mutants, Cable decides to forge them into an army to fight against evil in general and a terrorist named Stryfe (also introduced in this volume) in particular. In the course of these issues, Cable and the New Mutants battle Freedom Force (formerly the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants), Stryfe's Mutant Liberation Army, Sabretooth, and even Wolverine (you could tell Liefeld was just aching to draw that particular battle).
These issues essentially laid the groundwork for the end of the New Mutants title and the birth of X-Force, which made Liefeld the hottest name in comics for a brief period of time. Love him or hate him, you can't deny he made a big impact on the comics scene, and his work here does play a key role in the X-Men history.
April 5, 2019
There are some very good things about this. Namely, Rob Leifeld’s art. There are also some bad things... like Rob Liefeld’s art.
It’s true. He’s pretty hit or miss. Some pages are breathtakingly awesome, and then on the next page, Cable looks like a cardboard box. The shading is pretty consistently cool, but overall, it was just a mixed bag.
Louise Simonson is a good comic writer. He knows how to flirt with tension... but there are also some parts that had me scratching my head. This just wasn’t his best work.
The Mutant Liberation Front is basically a carbon copy of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. They have the same goals, they have similar members... they didn’t have to exist. They are basically the same, only less cool.
Cable rules. Cable vs Wolverine rules. Stryfe looks fucking ridiculous, and Sunfire looks just as stupid as he looked in Len Wein’s Giant Sized X-Men.
This bridges Inferno with X-Tinction Agenda pretty well, but it’s very, very weak as a standalone story.
It’s true. He’s pretty hit or miss. Some pages are breathtakingly awesome, and then on the next page, Cable looks like a cardboard box. The shading is pretty consistently cool, but overall, it was just a mixed bag.
Louise Simonson is a good comic writer. He knows how to flirt with tension... but there are also some parts that had me scratching my head. This just wasn’t his best work.
The Mutant Liberation Front is basically a carbon copy of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. They have the same goals, they have similar members... they didn’t have to exist. They are basically the same, only less cool.
Cable rules. Cable vs Wolverine rules. Stryfe looks fucking ridiculous, and Sunfire looks just as stupid as he looked in Len Wein’s Giant Sized X-Men.
This bridges Inferno with X-Tinction Agenda pretty well, but it’s very, very weak as a standalone story.
November 24, 2016
This was... disappointing mostly. Simonson's writing feels nowhere near up to her usual caliber. The Asgardian saga before this wasn't my favorite, but she must have been getting some heavy editorial mandates for it to feel as disjointed and out of character as it did in these issues. Also, Boom-Boom and Rictor's budding romance (which was just starting to get interesting) was abruptly and rather arbitrarily nixed in favor of Rictor and Wolfsbane and Boom-Boom and Cannonball match-ups. Which just feel wrong!
As for the art, Liefeld draws these 14 to 17 year olds to look way older than they are. And worse, he makes Warlock look boring! On the redeeming side, his Cable looks pretty good and I really like his Sunfire.
Overall, I had some trouble getting through this bunch, and the main highlight was Caliban.
As for the art, Liefeld draws these 14 to 17 year olds to look way older than they are. And worse, he makes Warlock look boring! On the redeeming side, his Cable looks pretty good and I really like his Sunfire.
Overall, I had some trouble getting through this bunch, and the main highlight was Caliban.
March 14, 2018
I've come into the comic collection of one of Ginny's friends who left them at her office. Saw this one and had to pick it up, just because I remember being 10 years old and getting obsessed with Cable and XForce when they came on the scene.
Wow. The writing is terrible. But watching Liefeld spend these 9 issues turning himself into the caliber of artist that could eventually go on to co-found Image was fun to relive.
Wow. The writing is terrible. But watching Liefeld spend these 9 issues turning himself into the caliber of artist that could eventually go on to co-found Image was fun to relive.
March 5, 2023
Great Marvel Readthrough, pt 31
Typical early-90s Marvel Comics/Rob Liefeld stuff. Long legs, small waists, short feet, big boobs, bigger machine guns. And a somewhat ridiculous storyline.
But in its way, it holds together.
Typical early-90s Marvel Comics/Rob Liefeld stuff. Long legs, small waists, short feet, big boobs, bigger machine guns. And a somewhat ridiculous storyline.
But in its way, it holds together.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews