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The New Mutants (comic book)

From CartoonWiki

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Template:Infobox comic book title

The New Mutants is the name of several comic book titles featuring the team the New Mutants and published by Marvel Comics, beginning with the original The New Mutants comic book series which debuted in 1983.

The team first appeared in The New Mutants (September 1982) by Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod, part of the Marvel Graphic Novel line, followed by their first ongoing series which ran from 1983 until 1991. Like the X-Men parent title, also written by Claremont, The New Mutants featured an ensemble cast, with stories often focused on interpersonal relationships and coming-of-age arcs, blending teen drama with action and adventure. The title was later taken over by writer Louise Simonson, ultimately taking a more action-oriented focus under artist Rob Liefeld, who relaunched the characters as X-Force following the series' end.

Since their inception, several New Mutants series have been published, either focusing on the continuing adventures of the original lineup, new groups of young mutants, or some combination of both.

Publication history

Original run

By the early 1980s, Uncanny X-Men (under the authorship of Chris Claremont) had become one of the comic book industry's most successful titles, prompting Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter to launch The New Mutants, the first of several X-Men spin-offs. X-Men editor Louise Simonson recalled "Neither Chris [Claremont] or I really wanted to do it. We wanted X-Men to be special and by itself, but Shooter told us that if we didn't come up with a new 'mutant' book, someone else would."[1] The series was primarily written by Claremont and Simonson, with Rob Liefeld plotting the final three issues with writer Fabian Nicieza.

The team was intended to debut in their own series. As the first issue was nearing completion, Shooter ordered it to be reworked into a graphic novel so that Marvel Graphic Novel could make its deadline for the next issue. Thus, the New Mutants debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (December 1982), which continued a plotline from Uncanny X-Men. (Despite this, the graphic novel missed its shipping slot by two weeks due to artist Bob McLeod's honeymoon.)[1]

Reflecting later on his run on the title, Claremont spoke about the appeal of stories focused on this younger cast: "The X-Men are fun but they're grown-ups. They're already set. The kids are the fungible ones. They're making mistakes and they don't know quite what they're doing. This adventure might lead them to Asgard, the next one might lead them to someone committing suicide. It's like seeing the evolution of Prince Hal through Henry IV 1 & 2, leading up to Henry V. It's about growing and learning and taking responsibility."[2]

The series was originally written by Claremont and illustrated by McLeod, the team's co-creators, but McLeod soon passed artistic duties on to Sal Buscema. McLeod was unprepared for the demands of doing both pencils and inks on a monthly book, prompting him to have Buscema do the breakdowns after the first three issues, and left entirely after issue #8 when he began to lose interest in the stories.[3] Claremont gave the series a darker tone, which was heightened with the arrival of artist Bill Sienkiewicz. Sienkiewicz's avant garde art style and painted covers broke through the conventional comic book boundaries of the day and helped The New Mutants stand out on the shelf.[3]

In addition to very serious depictions of teenage angst and growing pains, the series featured themes of mysticism. The stories also relied on wilder, more far-fetched premises than were typical of X-Men at the time, shaping into more of a science fiction and fantasy series than the superhero coming-of-age comic it had been touted as in its early days.[3]

A supplementary New Mutants Annual series began in 1984. These annuals were always written by whoever was the regular New Mutants writer at the time and often included significant changes to the status quo. These changes were not explained in the parent series, so that readers would have to buy New Mutants Annual to follow events in both series. The 1985 annual was solicited as New Mutants Annual #2, but published as New Mutants Special Edition #1 because it exceeded the maximum page count for an annual.[4]

With Claremont taking on Wolverine and Excalibur, he left The New Mutants and the series was turned over to writer Louise Simonson and illustrator Bret Blevins with issue #55 (Sept. 1987). Simonson was intended to be only a fill-in writer for the six months Claremont needed to get the two new series launched, but he ultimately remained with his new projects, and Simonson ended up writing the series for over three years.[1] During her run, due to his unpopularity with New Mutants readers and artists, Cypher is killed off in The New Mutants #60 (February 1988). Simonson recalled, "He wasn't fun to draw. He just stood around and hid behind a tree during a fight... Every artist who ever did him said 'Can't we kill this guy?' We would get letters from fans about how much they hated him."[1]

The most controversial issue of Simonson's run was New Mutants #64. Titled "Instant Replay!", the story deals with the New Mutants' mourning for Cypher, and includes a scene in which Warlock attempts to resurrect Cypher by taking his corpse out of its coffin and showing it to Cypher's loved ones. Simonson holds it to be her favorite New Mutants story, though she acknowledges that many readers found it too morbid.[1]

Sales of the series had slumped for several years, but took a sharp upturn after Rob Liefeld took over the penciling and co-plotting chores at the end of 1989.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". A new mentor for the group, the mysterious mercenary Cable, was introduced,[5] further helping sales. However, the relationship between Liefeld and Simonson was fraught with tension, and Simonson claims that editor Bob Harras dealt with the situation by rewriting her plots and dialogue so that the characterizations did not make sense: "Although I wasn't being fired, I think I was being shoved out the door with both hands by Bob Harras. Bob was only doing what he had to do, I expect, which was make Rob Liefeld happy."[1] Simonson eventually gave in, leaving after issue #97. When Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza, who wrote dialogue based on Liefeld's plots, took over as writers of the final three issues of the series, they included several harder-edged characters.

The New Mutants was cancelled in 1991 with issue #100, but the new platoon-like team formed by Cable continued in X-Force, a successful series (whose first issue sold approximately five million copies)Script error: No such module "Unsubst". that would continue until 2002, and feature a variety of the former New Mutants cast.

2003 series

The second incarnation of the New Mutants debuted in 2003 with an ongoing series of the same name, written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir.Template:Cn The series would continue for 13 issues, until June 2004, before being relaunched as New X-Men: Academy X in July 2004, with a new #1.Template:Cn

2009 series

In May 2009, a third volume of New Mutants was launched.Template:Cn The series was initially written by Zeb Wells and pencilled by Diogenes Neves with the titular characters forming a new field team for the X-Men. The team is a reunion of the cast from the first volume.

The reunion is spun from events from the limited series X-Infernus.

This series lasted until 2012.Template:Cn

2019 series

Template:Infobox comic book title

New Mutants was relaunched in November 2019 as part of Dawn of X.Template:Cn It was written by Jonathan Hickman and Ed Brisson, and drawn by Rod Reis.[6]

Vita Ayala took over the title December 2020.[7]

This series lasted until 2021.Template:Cn

Volume 4 issues

Reception of issues of New Mutants volume 4
Issue Publication Date Writer(s) Artist Colorist Comic Book Roundup rating[8] Estimated sales to North American retailers (first month)
#1 November 6, 2019 Jonathan Hickman & Ed Brisson Rod Reis 8.4 by 25 professional critics 138,484[9]
#2 November 27, 2019 Jonathan Hickman 8.9 by 14 professional critics 60,518[9]
#3 December 11, 2019 Ed Brisson Flaviano Carlos Lopez 7.6 by 14 professional critics 49,991[10]
#4 December 18, 2019 Marco Failla 7.3 by 9 professional critics 47,489[10]
#5 January 8, 2020 Jonathan Hickman Rod Reis 8.7 by 13 professional critics 50,013[11]
#6 January 22, 2020 Ed Brisson Flaviano Carlos Lopez 6.9 by 11 professional critics 46,521[11]
#7 February 19, 2020 Jonathan Hickman Rod Reis 8.2 by 13 professional critics 40,427[12]
#8 February 26, 2020 Ed Brisson Marco Failla Carlos Lopez 7.2 by 11 professional critics 39,251[12]
#9 March 11, 2020 Flaviano 7.8 by 11 professional critics 40,974[13]
#10 June 10, 2020 7.5 by 10 professional critics rowspan="2" Template:N/a
#11 July 22, 2020 7.4 by 8 professional critics
#12 September 2, 2020 Marco Failla 8.3 by 9 professional critics 26,500–31,000[14]
#13 October 14, 2020 Rod Reis 8.5 by 8 professional critics 45,000–50,000[15]
#14 December 16, 2020 Vita Ayala 8.0 by 11 professional critics rowspan="3" Template:N/a
#15 January 27, 2021 7.9 by 9 professional critics
#16 February 24, 2021 7.8 by 6 professional critics

Contributors

Vol. 1 (1983–1991)

Writers

Years Writer Issues
1983–1987, 1988, 1989 Chris Claremont #1-54, #63, #81, Annual #1-3
1987–1991 Louise Simonson #55–80, #82–91, #93–97, Annual #4–6
1990 Dwight Zimmerman #92
1991 Rob Liefeld #98-100
1990, 1991 Fabian Nicieza #91, #98-100, Annual #7

Pencilers

Years Penciler Issues
1983-1984 Bob McLeod #1–3, Annual #1
1983-1984, 1987 Sal Buscema #4-17, #54
1984-1985 Bill Sienkiewicz #18-31
1985 Steve Leialoha #32-34
1986 Mary Wilshire #35-37
1986-1987 Alan Davis Annual #2-3
1986-1989 Rick Leonardi #38, #52-53, #78
1986 Keith Pollard #39
1986-1987 Jackson Guice #40-42, #44-48, #50
1986 Steve Purcell #43
1987-1990 Bret Blevins #49, #55, #57–61, #64–69, #71–74, #79–80, #82–83
1987 Kevin Nowlan #51
1987-1988 June Brigman #56, Annual #4
1988 Jon J Muth #62
1988 Bo Hampton #63
1988-1990 Terry Shoemaker #70, #81, #84, Annual #6
1989 John Byrne #75
1989 Rich Buckler #76-77
1989 Louis Williams #81
1990 Chris Wozniak Annual #6
1990 Geof Isherwood #85
1989-1991 Rob Liefeld #86-91, #93-96, #98-100, Annual #5
1990 Bob Hall #92
1991 Guang Yap #97, Annual #7

Collected editions

Volume 1

The New Mutants has been reprinted in several trade paperbacks, some containing specific story arcs (such as the "Demon Bear Saga" by Claremont and Sienkiewicz), and some collected as part of a larger crossover of the various X-titles. Only in 2006, however, did a chronological reprinting of the series begin, with the commencement of The New Mutants Classic series of trade paperbacks.

Omnibus collections of New Mutants (Volume 1)
Title Material collected Publication date ISBN
New Mutants Omnibus, Volume 1 The New Mutants #1–34, Annual #1; Marvel Graphic Novel #4; Marvel Team-Up Annual #6; Marvel Team-Up #100 (A story), #149; Uncanny X-Men #160, #167, #180, #189, #192; Magik #1-4 December 2020 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Omnibus, Volume 2 The New Mutants #35–54, Annual #2-3; New Mutants Special Edition #1; X-Men Annual #9-10; Power Pack #20, #33; Fallen Angels #1-8; Firestar #1-4; New Mutants: War Children #1; Material from Web of Spider Man Annual #2 November 2021 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Omnibus, Volume 3 The New Mutants #55-85, Annual #4; Power Pack #40; Spellbound #4; Uncanny X-Men #231; X-Terminators #1-4; Material from Marvel Comics Presents #22, Marvel Fanfare #55, Marvel Super-Heroes #1; X-Men: Odd Men Out #1 December 2023
X-Men: Fall of the Mutants Omnibus New Mutants (1983) 55-61; Uncanny X-Men (1981) 220-227; X-Factor (1986) 18-26; Captain America (1968) 339; Daredevil (1964) 252; Fantastic Four (1961) 312; Incredible Hulk (1968) 336-337, 340; Power Pack (1984) 35 May 2022 Template:ISBNT
X-Men Inferno Prologue Omnibus New Mutants (1983) 62-70, X-Factor (1986) 27-32, X-Factor Annual (1986) 3, Uncanny X-Men (1981) 228-238, New Mutants Annual (1984) 4, X-Men Annual (1970) 12; material from Marvel Age Annual (1985) 4, Marvel Fanfare (1982) 40 December 2021 Template:ISBNT
X-Men Inferno Omnibus New Mutants #71-73, X-Factor #33-40, X-Terminators #1-4, Uncanny X-Men #239-243, Power Pack #40, #42-44, Avengers #298-300, Fantastic Four #322-324, Amazing Spider-Man #311-313, Spectacular Spider-Man #146-148, Web Of Spider-Man #47-48, Daredevil #262-263, #265, Excalibur #6-7, Mutant Misadventures Of Cloak and Dagger #4, and material from X-Factor Annual #4. May 2021 Template:ISBNT
Atlantis Attacks Omnibus New Mutants #76, Annual #5; Silver Surfer Annual #2; Iron Man Annual #10; Marvel Comics Presents #26; Uncanny X-Men Annual #13; Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23; Punisher Annual #2; Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9; Daredevil Annual #4; Avengers Annual #18; X-Factor Annual #4; Web of Spider-Man Annual #5; Avengers West Coast #56, Annual #4; Thor Annual #14; Fantastic Four Annual #22 March 2011 Template:ISBNT
Acts of Vengeance Crossovers Omnibus New Mutants #84–86; Uncanny X-Men #256–258; Fantastic Four #334–336; Wolverine #19–20; Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #11–13; Incredible Hulk #363; Punisher #28–29; Punisher War Journal #12–13; Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8–10; Daredevil #275–276; Power Pack #53; Alpha Flight #79–80; X-Factor #49–50; Damage Control #1–4; and Web of Spider-Man #64–65 August 2011 Template:ISBNT
X-Force Omnibus, volume 1 New Mutants #98-100, Annual #7; X-Men Annual #15; X-Factor Annual #6; X-Force #1-15; Spider-Man #16; Cable: Blood & Metal #1-2; material from New Warriors Annual #1, X-Force Annual #1 February 2013 Template:ISBNT
Secret Wars II Omnibus New Mutants #30, #36–37; Secret Wars II #1–9; Uncanny X-Men #198, #202–203; Captain America #308; Iron Man #197; Fantastic Four #282, #285, #288, #316–319; Web of Spider-Man #6; Amazing Spider-Man #268, #273–274; Daredevil #223; Incredible Hulk #312; Avengers #260–261, #265–266; Dazzler #40; Alpha Flight #28; Thing #30; Doctor Strange #74; Cloak and Dagger #4; Power Pack #18; Thor #363; Power Man and Iron Fist #121; Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111; Defenders #152; Quasar #8 May 2009 Template:ISBNT
Mutant Massacre Omnibus Uncanny X-Men #210-219, Annual #11; X-Factor #9-17, Annual #2; New Mutants #46; Thor #373-374, #377-378; Power Pack #27; Daredevil #238; Fantastic Four VS. The X-Men #1-4; X-Men VS. The Avengers #1-4 May 2018 Template:ISBNT
Collected Epic Editions of New Mutants (Volume 1)
Title Material collected Publication date ISBN
New Mutants Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Renewal Marvel Graphic Novel No. 4 - The New Mutants, The New Mutants #1–12, Uncanny X-Men #167, Marvel Team-Up Annual #6, Magik #1–4 and material from Marvel Team-Up #100 March 2017 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Epic Collection, Vol. 2: The Demon Bear Saga The New Mutants #13–31, Annual #1 July 2019 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Epic Collection Vol 3: Asgardian Wars The New Mutants #32-44, Annual #2, Special Edition #1, X-Men Annual #9 June 2023 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Epic Collection Vol 4: Fallen Angels The New Mutants #45-54, Annual #3; Fallen Angels #1-8 June 2024
New Mutants Epic Collection Vol 5: Sudden Death The New Mutants #55-70, Annual #4 August 2021 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Epic Collection, Vol. 6: Curse of the Valkyries X-Terminators #1–4;The New Mutants #71–85 February 2018 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Epic Collection, Vol. 7: Cable The New Mutants #86-94,The New Mutants Annual #5-6,The New Mutants Summer Special #1 and material from X-Factor Annual #5 and X-Men Annual #14 October 2020 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Epic Collection Vol 8: The End Of The Beginning The New Mutants #95-100, Annual 7, Uncanny X-Men #270-272, X-Factor #60-62; material from New Warriors Annual #1, X-Men Annual #15, X-Factor Annual #6 July 2022 Template:ISBNT
Collected Editions of New Mutants (Volume 1)
Title Material collected Publication date ISBN
New Mutants Classic, Volume 1 The New Mutants #1–7; Marvel Graphic Novel #4; Uncanny X-Men #167 May 2006 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Classic, Volume 2 The New Mutants #8–17 January 2007 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Classic, Volume 3 The New Mutants #18–25, Annual #1 May 2008 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: The Demon Bear Saga The New Mutants #18–21 December 1990 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Classic, Volume 4 The New Mutants #26–34 March 2009 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Classic, Volume 5 The New Mutants #35–40; New Mutants Special Edition; Uncanny X-Men Annual #9 March 2010 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Classic, Volume 6 The New Mutants #41–47; Annual #2; Uncanny X-Men Annual #10 August 2011 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Mutant Massacre The New Mutants #46; Uncanny X-Men #210–213; X-Factor #9–11; Thor #373–374; Power Pack #27 October 2001 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Classic, Volume 7 The New Mutants #48–54; Annual #3 May 2012 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants Forever The New Mutants #53–54; New Mutants Forever #1–5 February 2011 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Fall of the Mutants Vol. 1 The New Mutants #55–61; Uncanny X-Men #220–227; Incredible Hulk #340 February 2013 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Fall of the Mutants The New Mutants #59–61; Uncanny X-Men #225–227; X-Factor #24–26 February 2002 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Fall of the Mutants Omnibus New Mutants #55–61; Uncanny X-Men #220–227; X-Factor #19–26; Captain America #339; Daredevil #252; Fantastic Four #312; Incredible Hulk #340; Power Pack #35 May 2011 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Inferno Prologue The New Mutants #62–70, Annual #4; Uncanny X-Men #228–238, Annual #12; X-Factor #27–32, Annual #3; Material from Marvel Age Annual #4; Marvel Fanfare #40 December 2014 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Inferno The New Mutants #71–73; Uncanny X-Men #239–243; X-Factor #36–39 December 1996 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Inferno (Hardcover edition) New Mutants #71–73; Uncanny X-Men #239–243; X-Factor #33–40; X-Terminators #1–4; X-Factor Annual #4 June 2009 Template:ISBNT
Cable and the New Mutants The New Mutants #86–94, New Mutants Annual #5 January 2011 Template:ISBNT
Cable Classic, Volume 1 The New Mutants #87; Cable: Blood and Metal #1–2; Cable #1–4 March 2008 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda The New Mutants #95–97; Uncanny X-Men #270–272; X-Factor #60–62 November 1991 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda (Hardcover edition) New Mutants #95–97; Uncanny X-Men #235–238 & #270–272; X-Factor (1986) #60–62 August 2011 Template:ISBNT
Deadpool Classic, Volume 1 The New Mutants #98; Deadpool ("The Circle Chase") #1–4; Deadpool, vol. 2 ("Sins of the Past") #1–4; Deadpool, vol. 3 #1 May 2008 Template:ISBNT
X-Force: Shatterstar The New Mutants #99–100; X-Force: Shatterstar #1–4 August 2005 Template:ISBNT
X-Force: A Force to be Reckoned With The New Mutants #98–100, X-Force #1–4, Spider-Man #16 January 2011 Template:ISBNT

Volume 2

Collected editions of New Mutants (Volume 2)
Title Material collected Publication date ISBN
New Mutants: Back to School New Mutants, vol. 2 #1–6 March 2005 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: Back to School – Complete Collection New Mutants, vol. 2 #1–13; X-Men Unlimited #42–43 January 2018 Template:ISBNT

Template:Clear

Volume 3

Collected editions of New Mutants (Volume 3)
Title Material collected Publication date ISBN
New Mutants: Return of Legion New Mutants, vol. 3 #1–5; Marvel Spotlight: New Mutants December 2009 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: Necrosha New Mutants, vol. 3 #6–11 May 2010 Template:ISBNT
X-Necrosha New X-Men #32; X-Force vol. 3 #11, #21–25; New Mutants vol. 3 #6–8; X-Men: Legacy #231–234; X-Force/New Mutants: Necrosha One-Shot; X Necrosha: The Gathering; material from X-Force vol. 3 Annual #1 December 2010 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Second Coming Second Coming: Prepare; Second Coming #1–2; Uncanny X-Men #523–525; New Mutants, vol. 3 #12–14; X-Men Legacy #235–237; X-Force vol. 3 #26–28 September 2010 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: Fall of the New Mutants New Mutants, vol. 3 #15–21 March 2011 Template:ISBNT
X-Men: Age of X Age of X: Alpha; X-Men Legacy #245–247; New Mutants, vol. 3 #22–24; Age of X: Universe #1–2 July 2011 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: Unfinished Business New Mutants, vol. 3 #25–28 October 2011 Template:ISBNT
Fear Itself: Wolverine/New Mutants Fear Itself: Wolverine #1–3; New Mutants, vol. 3 #29–32 April 2012 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: A Date with the Devil New Mutants, vol. 3 #33–37 April 2012 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: De-Animator New Mutants, vol. 3 #38–41 November 2012 Template:ISBNT
Journey Into Mystery/New Mutants: Exiled New Mutants, vol. 3 #42–43, Exiled #1, Journey Into Mystery #637–638 September 2012 Template:ISBNT
New Mutants: Fight the Future New Mutants, vol. 3 #44–50 December 2012 Template:ISBNT

Volume 4

Collected editions of New Mutants (Volume 4)
Title Material collected Format Publication date ISBN
New Mutants by Jonathan Hickman – Volume 1 New Mutants #1–2, 5, 7 Trade paperback May 12, 2020[16]
New Mutants by Ed Brisson – Volume 1 New Mutants #3–4, 6, 8–12 November 24, 2020[17]
New Mutants by Vita Ayala – Volume 1 New Mutants #14–18 August 10, 2021[18]
New Mutants by Vita Ayala – Volume 2 New Mutants #19–24 August 12, 2022[19]
New Mutants by Vita Ayala – Volume 3 New Mutants #25–28 November 8, 2022
New Mutants – Volume 4 New Mutants #29–33 May 16, 2023
New Mutants: Lethal Legion New Mutants: Lethal Legion #1–5 February 13, 2024

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:X-Comics Template:Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning