|
New Mutants is still in its
recruitment phase. But it takes a slightly different
approach this time round. All of the existing characters
tag along as well, making this the first issue that really
reads at all like a team book.
If indeed it's meant to be a team book,
which is open to debate. Thus far it's been written as a
comic about a bunch of students who happen all to be at the
school. Of course, given events over in New X-Men,
god only knows whether there's still going to be a school in a
few issues time. Conceivably, what we're currently
reading is in part an exercise in time killing while the
creators wait for New X-Men to sweep aside all of the
other unwanted characters. Time will tell.
Anyhow, this issue's new recruit is Josh
Foley, a healer who doesn't realise that he's a mutant and has
decided to sign up with one of those anti-mutant militia
groups that turn up from time to time. For some reason,
Foley's joined the Reavers, now reinvented as a grass roots
thug organisation under the leadership of an evidently
down-at-heel Donald Pierce. Of course, Pierce was the
main villain in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 - the original
New Mutants' first appearance - and that's presumably a major
reason why he's been brought in. Nonetheless, it's a bit
of a stretch. Frankly, this sort of scheme seems a bit
low rent for him.
Regardless, at least it gets the cast out
of the house and brings them into conflict with some
opposition, and that does help to liven things up. It's
really taken too long to get to this point; however, the
characters do work rather better in one another's company.
After all, that's presumably what they were designed for.
With Keron Grant moving on, Mark Robinson
takes over to provide fill-in artwork. He's accompanied
by three inkers, which tends to suggest a degree of
last-minute panic. I'm not familiar with Robinson's art;
his work here is looser and sketchier than Grant's, but it has
a somewhat similar style in the distortions and exaggerations.
He seems more comfortable and relaxed with the book than Grant
did, and it's an improvement.
New Mutants still isn't reading like
a great comic, but it's moving in the right direction.
It's just taken too long to get to this point.
Rating: B
back |
continue |
