There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week we are looking at the newest run of “New Mutants.”
Who is this by?
“New Mutants” is co-written by Jonathan Hickman and Ed Brisson with artwork by Rod Reis, Flaviano, Carlos Lopez and Travis Lenham on letters.
If you’ve been following X-Men, or even comics in general, for the past year you likely know who Jonathan Hickman is but if not we’ve got you. Jonathan Hickman is known for his high concept sci-fi takes on Marvel’s tentpole characters crafting very seminal runs on “Fantastic Four” and “Avengers” that led to one of the most acclaimed crossover events, “Secret Wars”. This past summer he has turned his powerful gaze towards the X-Men with the two-in-one limited series “House of X” and “Powers of X” that radically changed the X-Line. Post those series he is currently writing two books, “X-Men” and, you guessed it, “New Mutants”
Ed Brisson is also no stranger to the X-Line as well having served as scribe for “Dead Man Logan”, “X-Force”, the “Extermination” event, and was one of the writers for the Uncanny X-Men run that closed out earlier this year. Most relevantly and recently he wrote the “Age of X-Man: NextGen” which features a number of characters that will be focused on directly in his “New Mutant” chapters.
Rod Reis is bringing a really distinct and painterly look to Hickman’s chapters as the main illustrator. Reis mostly is known for his work on “Winter Soldier” and “C.O.W.L”. Flaviano, with a more traditional style, has previously worked on “Black Widow” and “I Am Groot”. Carlos Lopez is a Brazilian colorist whos been making rounds on Marvel books such as “Nova: Annihilation Scourge” and “The Amazing Mary Jane”. Travis Lenham has lettered over 2,000 comics for both DC and Marvel.
What’s it all about?
Back in the day, Charles Xavier welcomed in a new class of teens into his school and in the years since they have been capital “T” Traumatized because they were teens in the Marvel Universe. Now in the Dawn of X Hickman, Brisson and Reis bring that original crew back together with a couple of new faces and take a trip to space where hijinks have ensued. Also sharing the title are even younger mutants, such as Armor, Boom Boom, and the GOAT Glob Herman whose goal is to be a sort of welcoming committee to other young mutants. These chapters will be solely written by Brisson with Flaviano taking on issue #3 and Marco Failla on #4.
What Makes it So Great?
“New Mutants” is so full of joy. That’s the biggest selling point from the offset, Hickman and Brisson are clearly having fun with their scripts in the original New Mutants segments. One of the most memorable aspects of Hickman’s “Avengers” run was the relationship between Sam Gutherie aka Cannonball and Roberto DaCosta aka Sunspot and in “New Mutants” we see that affinity for those characters shine through along with the other New Mutants, especially Illyana Rasputin aka Magik who is extremely fun in “New Mutants”. While the series has only had two issues released so far, there have been a number of warm character moments but not as much forward momentum which is the only major flaw I can cite towards the book. Since it is Hickman, the space aspects are not just set dressing as we breach into Shi’ar space which is very important in X-History and there are likely to be repercussions for the gang galivanting around space.
The warmth, however, has been carried by Rod Reis’s artwork which channels classic “New Mutants” artist Bill Sienkevich but with a more modern approach. Reis’s history as a colorist gives his work a really unique and out of the box approach to rendering scenes and characters. There’s a textured and painted quality that is incredibly distinct and unique to “New Mutants” Reis’s artwork is just as fun as the adventure and does a great job of selling the connections between these characters.
Continued belowAlso, the second issue has Alien Daredevil spoof Murd Blurdock and if that isn’t enough…I don’t know what to tell you!
How Can You Read It?
The first two issues of “New Mutants” should be available in comic shops everywhere and on Comixology. “New Mutants” #3 which is our first look at the younger New Mutants written by Brisson and art by Flaviano and Carlos Lopez is out today wherever comics are sold!
