Tag: #bobmcleod

87. New Mutants 3

Sep 26th, 2023

Thoughts

Another issue, another story. And this time the new X-men Spin-off title is tying in with the story in Uncanny X-men. It’s New Mutants versus Brood. And, it seems, New Mutants rebelling against Professor Xavier.

Thanks to the crazy world of scheduling – by the time this issue came out – Uncanny X-men 167 had been released, where the X-men return, meet the New Mutants and defeat the Brood infected Xavier. To readers at the time, this must have felt a bit like a prequel.

But aside from just setting up the Brood finale, there’s a really nice plot here for Psyche (urgh! still hate that name – when, oh when it it becoming Mirage). She is tormented by a Demon that might not be real, she learns to be wary of Xavier, she ropes in the New Mutants in secret and they take on a Monster that suggests her power potential is much greater than she realises.

The fact that the New Mutants secretly rebel against Xavier is a nice dynamic in this issue – and sets up nicely how this title is going to work. It’s rarely going to be a tale of them learning to use their powers under kindly Professor Xavier. Instead its going to be their adventures as a team. Distrusting what they are told to do and striking out on their own. That is a set-up with a lot of potential.

Fun Panel

Despite its obvious Nightmarish qualities, McLeod doesn’t really amp up the Horror Comic nature of the opening sequence. Which does mean it ends with a moment of Pure Scooby Doo! The Nightmare phantom is unmasked! Its only the Caretake Bear who would have got away with it were it not for those meddling kids.
86. New Mutants 2

Sep 25th, 2023

Thoughts

It’s a new team of Mutants, and like all new teams they have to face the baptism of fire that is taking on the Sentinels.

After the deliberately low-key first issue, the scale of the storytelling becomes noticably bigger this issue. Whether its the scale of the world within the Danger Room that Dani Moonstar explores, or the rumble in the shopping mall, there’s a scale here thats impressive.

It especially good for McLeod to be able to show off his skills at drawing on this scale. He hasn’t been given the opportunity to cut loose like this so far, and its a reminder that he can do so much more than the more basic, restrained, low key peril and character interaction that has defined the title so far.

And it also reminded me that at this stage Dani Moonstar is not Mirage by Psyche. What a dreadful name. Indeed its only in this re-read that I’ve realised that the team don’t get the names until the text boses in issue one. Which is a shame – it really feels like a missed opportunity to have these kids, learning they could be heroes, create or embrace their code names. Or even a scene where they are assigned (and as teens inevitably kick against it). I have no recollection of what Psyche turns into Mirage. I guess a reason to keep reading.

Fun Panel

I had never come across the name Rahne when I started reading the comic. So my brain iervitably defaulted to think it was pronounced something like “Rani”.

And now it doesn’t matter how much I know that the name is meant to be pronounced “Rain” – I still immediately read it as “Rani”.

No matter how many times I tell myself otherwise.

Its RAIN.

RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN.

*sees panel*

Oh look – it’s Rani.

One day I might get it right immediately, but I fear it might be too late for me. Too many years reading comics with “Rani” Sinclair in it has wired my brian to default to that name. Maybe this re-read will change things.
85. New Mutants 1

Sep 24th, 2023

Thoughts

It’s an all-new Issue 1, for an all-new X-title. And from the outset you can tell they are trying to downplay things. This is the lowest level Issue 1 of a superhero comic I can imagine.

It starts with the team gathering round to watch someone get a haircut. Before we get re-introduced to the Danger Room. And finally a hint of danger for one of the team as she secretly attempts to cross the Danger Room, and someone seems to be turning the safety protocols off.

The issue does do some low-level threat-building. We learn that Xavier has a son he doesn’t know about. And we learn that elements of the US government are keeping an eye on the Xavier mansion. But neither of these remotely suggest a big blowout is just around the corner.

Fun Panel

The super new holographic Danger Room gets revealed here – in what is probably the biggest conceptual moment of the issue. From now on the Danger Room isn’t some Work Out room dialled up to eleven – its a super sci-fi cliche of a holographic world creator that just might kill you.

Like the Holodec in Star Trek I always find these totally immersive holographic environments slightly dull, story-wise. It’s an easy way to drop in new environments but I miss the travelling to new environments and the “is it potentially going to kill you” schtick gets old pretty fast.

Still, I love the reveal in this fun panel.

None More Claremont

I’ve mentioned how low-level this issue is, but on one level that isn’t really true. This issue drops quite a bomb when it comes to one of the characters. She has a dark past – that involves rape and sexual abuse. Narrated as clearly as could be done under the Comics Code.

This is all stuff that is taken from her debut in Marvel Team-Up Annual 100. An issue where Spider-man and the Fantastic Four discover Karma and learn of her backstory. The darkness of it emphasised by Frank Miller’s inventive visuals.

This is serious ground for comics to tread, especially as it can be brought in as a lazy way to make things seem more grim/gritty and serious. The fact that this side of her story is so heavily emphasised in Issue 1 of a brand new title, in probaby the issues most dramatic moment really sets up the idea that for this comic this story will be incredibly important and its exploration at the heart of the comic.

It’s a shame then, that this really doesn’t become the case. Of all the New Mutants, Karma is really let down by Claremont in terms of character development and story-telling. As I go on reading the run of issues it seems that Claremont is far, far more interested in Magik as a character to explore the themes of post-trauma and abuse survival. And as a result, Mirage pretty much literally disappears. Which is a huge shame

But one we’ll get to as we keep reading…
84. Marvel Graphic Novel 4: The New Mutants

Sep 23rd, 2023

Thoughts

By 1982, the relaunched X-men comic was an unqualified success. So naturally Marvel wanted a spin-off. The idea of branding each title in the range with an “X” was not yet born, so instead the new comic stresses the fact that its effectively The Next Generation.

In doing so it feels like going back to basics for not only the original Lee/Kirby title but also the Giant Size relaunch. From the former, it takes the idea that these are kids, teenagers brought to the academy to learn how to use their powers. From the latter the title has another global feel. The new team are once again taken from around the planet.

This still feels like a global perspective as seen through the Big Book of Stereotypes. Wolfsbane doesn’t seem to come from Scotland in 1982, but the same eighteenth century timesink that Nightcrawler inhabited. But within the stereotyping, there are interesting decisions being made. Sunspot is Brazilian, so obviously loves football – but he’s also Black Brazilian, from a wealthy family. An intriguing outsider status that the comic doesn’t shy away from.

Visually the comic does a good job of illustrating all their powers. And also grounding all their powers as relatively low-level. These aren’t a team of big-hitters to rival the Avengers. (or even, lets be honest, the Defenders). They’re kids, with obvious weaknesses. Yet an interesting and diverse set of powers.

There is one thing that is striking though. I mentioned recently that Dave Cockrum’s visual creativity was a big deal in selling the all-new X-men of the relaunch. By contrast, this team have the standard X-uniform. Which just makes them look like awkward kids in a costume. Story-wise it makes perfect sense, but it does lack the visual grab of the successful relaunch that made this all possible.

Fun Panel

Welcome to the new team!