Let’s celebrate 40 years of the New Mutants (and Ryan Reynolds?!?) in New Mutants #30 from a stacked team of Vita Ayala, Alyssa Wong, Alex Lins, Emma Kubert, Roberto Poggi, Antonio Fabela, Jason Loo, Justin Mason, Bryan Valenza, Geoff Shaw, Nolan Woodard, and Travis Lanham.
Liz Large: All good things must come to an end, and that goes double for great things. Vita Ayala’s run on New Mutants has been a consistent highlight of the X-line, and ending with this milestone issue is fitting. How are you holding up?
Stephanie Burt: I’m crushed. I wanted Vita Ayala on this title for at least as long as Louise Simonson, and now it looks like they’re not even staying as long as Marjorie Liu. We may literally never know the full story behind why they left, but I’m hoping it’s the pull of something amazing. Writing the Marvel X-Men movie, perhaps. Still want them back. As Roberto says in the opening pages, “The point is to have it all.”
Young Hearts Run Free
Liz: I love a meta moment, and this issue’s framing story provides it. The New Mutants are celebrating their team’s anniversary, an apparently long running tradition of *mumble* number of years. This year’s a milestone for them, and Roberto’s gone all out, with a space yacht, decorations, and a guest list expanded beyond the team to include their friends and loved ones. It’s so sweet to see everyone together.
Stephanie: It is, and there’s a tradition of New Mutants in swimsuits at pool parties almost as long (though not nearly as famous) as the tradition of X-Men playing baseball (opening pages of New Mutants Special Edition 1, for example, where they go from a Mediterranean idyll straight to Asgard). Roberto really would make a nervous host. Where’s Sam, though? I’m waiting for him to plummet into the deep end and yell “Cannonball!”
Liz: This issue really does replicate the experience of hanging out with a friend group that was established before you showed up, in the best way. We (as their guests) know the overall story and have heard plenty of details, but we don’t know everything, and with everybody in a nostalgic mood it’s the perfect opportunity to learn more.
I love a flashback to early New Mutants, and our first story takes us there. The kids— young Sam, Dani, Roberto, and Rahne— train in the Danger Room, under the watchful eye of Kitty Pryde. The art here, from Justin Mason and Bryan Valenza, is perfect. I love how young all the kids look (seeing Rahne produced an audible “oh, a BABY” from me). What do you think about our first flashback?
Stephanie: It’s fine and very much in keeping with the Claremont/ McLeod early issues, though the figure drawing could improve. The kids look like kids (yay!) with engaging facial expressions (double yay!) but with faces tilted and bones out of place (sigh). Kitty’s hair and soccer jersey (I think that’s a soccer jersey) look just right.
The dialogue feels very much like it comes from that era, when Claremont was still introducing the characters. That’s not necessarily a compliment: Dani’s stolen belt “is my connection to my history and my family. It keeps my grandfather’s memory close to me while I’m here, away from my mountains and my people.” She’s telling Kitty things Kitty already knows, even if the readers need to learn them. On the other hand, that’s a standard Bronze Age technique… as are the copious thought balloons (all Kitty’s). The nostalgia… it’s got me.
Liz: This story is peak teenage hijinks. There’s no malice at play (or Malice, for that matter) when Dani’s belt is broken, but her feelings are absolutely justified. I like this look back into a time before the team was the friend group we know and love today, where there’s a little bit of uncertainty about where they stand with each other. They don’t yet know each other well enough to know if they’re the sort of teammates who will steal your heirloom or pay to have it repaired, and this is an incident that really sets the tone for their future.
Stephanie: Roberto’s the kind of teammate who would do both. Especially since he grew up rich and generally assumes that if a physical thing breaks, he’ll pay to have it repaired. (Me too, tbh: it’s a world-expanding moment when you realize that your working-class friends really can’t afford a new pair of shoes, or at least grew up unable to afford them.)
Liz: Do you have a favorite moment in this flashback? I think mine is the appearance of Stevie Hunter escorting the kids into town— nothing says “this story was set in the 80s” like everyone’s favorite dance teacher keeping an eye on some mutants.
Stephanie: Stevie Hunter plus the very last panel. “You’re such a softy, Roberto.” “Don’t insult me!” Said as they walk away from an ice-cream place whose sign promises soft-serve. The monster on the sign also echoes Dani’s fear-demons: possibly the demons looked the way they did because Dani saw the sign.
I’m Coming Out
Liz: Back at the party, the adult New Mutants take part in another time honored tradition: lovingly roasting your friend in front of their new partner. It’s nice to see how comfortable they all are with each other!
Stephanie: And there’s Sam, participating in the forty year old tradition of shirtless hot Sams. Bravo! And isn’t that Shatterstar, in a Speedo so 1990s that it has multiple pouches? I’m having fun. I’d attend this party. Though only if invited.
Liz: I love a makeover montage. Karma is a character that’s been through a lot of changes, and this story is set at a time when she was really coming into her own. She’s got an adorable pink haircut, courtesy of Shatterstar, and they’re off to a music festival, where she’s finally going to get a chance to let loose and have fun.
Stephanie: Not just any music festival, and not just any haircut! She’s getting ready for X-Force #75 (1998), the famous-in-some-quarters “Burning Man” road trip issue where Karma shows up with that ultra-short pink haircut and all but announces that she’s gay, gay, gay. She never said back then who gave her the haircut, and I love the idea that it’s ‘Star.
Liz: What did you think of this meet-cute? I love the way Karma is getting to have a good time and meet a cute girl without all of the normal superhero nonsense getting in the way. The way she’s drawn here is so sweet, and I love when good things happen to Karma. She’s had enough bad times, let her meet a cute girl and have fun!
Stephanie: I’m melting. Not least over the diligent and totally neato work done by Jason Loo, who pencils, inks and colors this story. He’s had to draw crowd scene after crowd scene after crowd scene, and he’s still got energy for a three-cornered standoff, a punch-up, and what might be Xi’an Coy Manh’s first gay kiss.
Liz: Of course, it’s not all fun and games. When Karma heads over to Anya’s tent, it’s clear there’s been some sort of confrontation or attack. Karma and Shatterstar rush to the rescue. Before things can get too bad—and before the superheroes can do anything— Anya has taken care of her own attacker. Karma, surrounded by hearts, is absolutely hooked.
Stephanie: Ayala and Loo say so much in these few panels! Karma deserves to date someone she doesn’t have to protect. She doesn’t even have to use her powers: she’s holding off on using them (otherwise the would-be sexual assault jerk wouldn’t be mouthing off before Anya clock’s him). Also, Karma just plain deserves to date someone! The two of them look great together.
Karma’s power set was villain-coded when first introduced (in a Spider-Man story), but it looks different when we see it in the context of rape culture and queer self-defense: awful men try to control women’s bodies without our consent all the time, and Xi’an’s mutant power looks, in effect, like the ability to push back. And she doesn’t even have to use it, in a situation where readers expect it. Lesbian self-defense FTW!
Liz: Karma is such an adorable dork here. They share a kiss, and Anya invites her to meet up at another upcoming music festival. Jason Loo’s art in this story is great, especially the way he draws Karma’s reactions to everything around her. I also support Shatterstar in a crop top, it is both fashionable and entirely in character.
Stephanie: That upcoming music festival is the one in X-Force #75! Which explains why Karma showed up there, rather than, say, making her way to Northampton or greater L.A. to be gayer than gay in a big town. (More hearts: of course Karma claims that she knows all about the Exploding Colossal Man Festival, which she does not.) This snippet is just perfect. Does the Echidna Festival still happen? Can I bring a giant thermos of coffee? If so, can we go? Will Sharon Corvid– or Tori Amos or Sarah Dougher– be there?
Don’t Shop Till You Get Enough
Liz: Back to the party, Warlock is searching for Rahne. The two of them have their own traditional gift exchange as part of the Annual Celebration of the New Mutants, something that only they know about. You know what that means? A flashback telling us why!
Stephanie: Before we go there, may I show some excitement about the way Bei the Blood Moon appears at the never-meant-to-be-a-pool-party? She’s muscular, built, really able to pick up regular old people or cars and throw them. Very strong women in cape comics don’t look this muscular very often, and sometimes they should. I’m also happy to see Fred Dukes behind the bar. I hope he’s having fun too. Liz, do you recognize the sandy-haired, medium-sized young woman who’s standing on the other side of Doug? I like the idea that the New Mutants have more friends than we’ve seen so far on page but I want to know if I’ve missed a callback or a beat. Unless it’s Amara? Is it Amara?
Liz: I too love Bei’s whole look! And I want it to be Amara, but I suppose it could be a friend we haven’t met yet, which is also fun! Speaking of fun, I need to rave about Warlock’s speech bubbles in this section. Instead of words rendered in black and yellow speech bubbles, we get little pictograms and punctuation marks. It’s a fun way to show how alien Warlock can be, especially in a story set early on in his tenure with the team. This story is—spoiler— set at the time of the first Annual Celebration of the New Mutants, so Warlock is still settling in, as they all are.
Stephanie: He’s specifically still learning English, along with the concept of human language. And he would struggle without Doug by his side. And and and and and… X-Men in malls! The X-Men used to show up in malls all the time. Warlock’s the only New Mutant who felt more out of place than Rahne at this time (late in the Claremont run), so she’d feel empowered to help him out, whereas all the others would be teens to whom she would look instead for advice.
Liz: I think this is my favorite story of the issue. Rahne and Warlock teaming up to go incognito at the mall is adorable, and I love their attempts to search the mall for the perfect gift for Doug. Kubert, Poggi, and Fabela do a great job here. I love Rahne’s attempts at disguising Warlock for their outing, and the scenes of them at the mall getting more and more exhausted are so fun.
Stephanie: It’s wonderfully expressive art, where the kids look like kids and the Technarch like a bewildered, delighted, tuckered-out Technarch, although all the blank book titles and record sleeves feel like a series of missed opportunities. I know sliding time is an issue but the records and books they browse need not be new: Warlock could pull out a copy of Purple Rain, say, without telling us whether the LP was one, or five, or twenty years old, and wouldn’t you like to know what Rahne’s been reading?
That said…. Warlock’s emoji-heavy way of explaining why Doug means so much to him… I hope my best friends feel that way about me. Doug and Warlock together = green sprouts. And Doug is Warlock’s strong arm. And his shield. I think I’ll be re-reading this one a couple of times and making “uwu” sounds.
Liz: In a perfect ending to this, it turns out that the party they thought was celebrating Doug was actually celebrating the team—and Doug didn’t tell Warlock in an attempt to protect him from Berto’s overzealous party planning. Warlock and Rahne decide to exchange their gifts for Doug with each other, instead. What did you think about the resolution to this little mix up!?
Stephanie: Rainbow-mobile heart-pin equals-sign bean-sprout emoji!
Liz: As we return to the present, it’s time for Berto to take control. His speech about the New Mutants is heartfelt, and could be an almost sad ending. But of course, Berto knows how to throw a party! Throughout the issue, he’s emphasized that everyone else is underdressed for his space yacht, and his ending reveal that he’s rented an Arakkii beach is perfectly timed.
Stephanie: “Let’s get debauched, my friends!” I mean, not all that debauched. We are reading a teen-friendly comic, and Roberto’s ideas about debauchery have always seemed a little bit PG-13. Love him for it. Love the whole thing for it. So many little Warlock-heart emoji.
Also “You did not come here to listen to me prattle on,” doesn’t sound like early New Mutants: it sounds like a villain speech, because Roberto’s later life has meant that he had to learn to talk like a villain, and villain-splaining is like radio DJ patter: it never fully leaves you afterwards. (Ask me how I know.)
Liz: I’ll be honest, despite the cover mentioning him, I had completely forgotten that Deadpool would be appearing in this issue. In my opinion, Deadpool is someone best used sparingly, and this really worked for me.
Stephanie: You know what? I liked the Deadpool story a lot. Partly because he’s awful in all the right ways, partly because he’s best when the stakes are low— and paradoxically “Those kids could get themselves killed,” is a low-stakes story now on Krakoa!— and partly because his friendship with Gabby makes Gabby more fun. They get along together.
Liz: Yes! Gabby and Deadpool’s friendship is something I like more than I like Deadpool on his own— I guess the Wolverine family “murder man and kid team up” trend works equally well for me if the Wolverine family member is either member of the party.
Stephanie: Also, Illyana gets something to do. We often remember New Mutants stories for their depictions of weird teen camaraderie, of teens taking care and learning to love one another, which means that in terms of the core group Illyana, Amara and Xi’an all sometimes get left out: Xi’an because she semi-aged out of the team even before she left, Amara because she’s boring compared to the others, and Illyana because she’s always had trouble making and keeping close friendships other than, sometimes, Dani, and, usually, a certain Jewish mutant who really deserves more time with her bestie right now.
Liz: Sick burn on Magma, and you’re absolutely correct to say it.
Stephanie: Which means that Illyana keeping the children safe by booting Deadpool through a Krakoan gate and telling him not to come back ever…. feels right and good and true. Even sans Soulsword. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to fold you into a pretzel and send you to Hell.” She said, jocularly.
Liz: In addition to the scene-stealing Deadpool and Gabby, this last story features the youngest New Mutants, who we’ve seen grow up and work together throughout the last few story arcs. It’s a nice ending, showing the through line from the old New Mutants to the newest. They’re all just kids, or they were, and we’re here to watch them grow up together.
Stephanie: I hope we get many more arcs to watch them do so. That page where they’re practicing using their powers, including Natasha Repina a.k.a. Cosmar in her own human-passing body, is such a pinup, in the best sense, in its own right. With all the water splashing, too. New Mutants go to the beach forever!
Liz: Stephanie, are you as sad as I am right now? I’m going to miss this run so much.
Stephanie: Absolutely. However. Guess who’s coming next? CHARLIE JANE ANDERS. And Escapade, whom you may remember from this year’s Marvel Voices: Pride. If Vita must leave, at least Charlie Jane’s on deck. I mean, I want them both writing New Mutants stories. But you can’t have it all. Not even if you’re Roberto Da Costa. And we have seen that guy try.
X-Traneous Thoughts
- Ayala’s run on New Mutants has truly been a joy to read, and to talk about here. They’ve done such a great job balancing the desire for nostalgia with new characters and ideas, and we’re really sad to see them go.
- Doug and his large wife playing shuffleboard are very cute.
- “We have been through much over the last mumble mumble years,” says Roberto in his closing speech. Way to handle sliding time, my friends.
- I’m crying. Are you crying? Can we just…. go to the beach?
Stephanie Burt is Professor of English at Harvard. Her podcast about superhero role playing games is Team-Up Moves, with Fiona Hopkins; her latest book of poems is We Are Mermaids. Her nose still hurts from that thing with the gate.
Liz Large is a copywriter with a lot of opinions on mutants.
