The New Mutants (comic book)
The New Mutants is a comic book series which debuted in 1983, featuring the team the New Mutants and published by Marvel Comics.
The team first appeared in the graphic novel The New Mutants 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 series was 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, The Uncanny X-Men 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 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." The series was primarily written by Claremont and Simonson, with Rob Liefeld plotting the final three issues and Fabian Nicieza scripting issues #91 and 98–100.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, which continued a plotline from The Uncanny X-Men.
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."
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. 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.
In addition to 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.
A supplementary The 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 The New Mutants Annual to follow events in both series. The 1985 annual was solicited as The New Mutants Annual #2, but published as The New Mutants Special Edition #1 because it exceeded the maximum page count for an annual.
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. Simonson was intended to be only a fill-in writer for the six months Claremont needed to get the two new series launched, but Claremont ultimately remained with his new projects, and Simonson ended up writing the series for over three years. During her run, due to his unpopularity with readers and artists, Cypher is killed off in The New Mutants #60. 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."
The most controversial issue of Simonson's run was The 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.
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. A new mentor for the group, the mysterious mercenary Cable, was introduced, 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." 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 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 the ongoing series New Mutants, written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir. The series followed Mirage, Karma, and Wolfsbane as they taught a new generation of students, and featured appearances from other original New Mutants members. The series would continue for 13 issues, until June 2004, before being relaunched as New X-Men: Academy X in July 2004, with a greater focus on the newer and younger characters.2009 series
In May 2009, a third volume of New Mutants was launched. The series was initially written by Zeb Wells and pencilled by Diógenes 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 story is spun from events from the limited series X-Infernus, and revisited many of the stories from the first volume of the series, including a lingering plot thread from the X-Men event Inferno. The series also intersected with the greater X-Men line during crossover events Necrosha, Second Coming and Age of X.
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning took over writing duties with issue #25, with the series ultimately finishing at issue #50. During the run, Abnett and Lanning introduced Nate Grey and Blink to the team.
2019 series
New Mutants was relaunched in November 2019 as part of Dawn of X. The series was at first written by Jonathan Hickman and Ed Brisson, doing rotating issues, and was drawn by Rod Reis. Hickman's story saw the original New Mutants cast head off on a space adventure after reuniting on the island of Krakoa, before coming back to merge with Brisson's group of other younger mutants, as they faced down challenges from both Krakoa and afar.Vita Ayala took over the title with issue #14 in December 2020. Their run saw the New Mutants characters position themselves as teachers to the younger mutants on the island.
After issue #30, an anniversary issue that celebrated 40 years of the New Mutants, writing duties were handed to Charlie Jane Anders, whose run centered on the mutant Escapade. The series lasted until issue #33, before being wrapped up in the five-issue mini-series New Mutants Lethal Legion by Anders and Enid Balam in 2023.
Volume 4 issues
| Issue | Publication Date | Writer | Artist | Colorist | Comic Book Roundup rating | Estimated sales to North American retailers |
| #1 | March 8, 2023 | Charlie Jane Anders | Enid Balam, Elisabetta D'Amico | Matt Milla | 7.3 by 5 professional critics | rowspan="5" |
| #2 | April 19, 2023 | Charlie Jane Anders | Enid Balam, Elisabetta D'Amico | Matt Milla | 5.0 by 1 professional critic | - |
| #3 | May 24, 2023 | Charlie Jane Anders | Enid Balam, Elisabetta D'Amico | Matt Milla | 6.0 by 1 professional critic | - |
| #4 | June 21, 2023 | Charlie Jane Anders | Enid Balam, Elisabetta D'Amico | Matt Milla | 5.3 by 2 professional critics | - |
| #5 | July 19, 2023 | Charlie Jane Anders | Enid Balam, Elisabetta D'Amico | Matt Milla | 6.0 by 2 professional critics | - |
Collected editions
Volume 1
The New Mutants has been reprinted in several trade paperbacks, some containing specific story arcs, 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.| 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, #149; Uncanny X-Men #160, #167, #180, #189, #192; Magik #1-4 | December 2020 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 55-61; Uncanny X-Men 220-227; X-Factor 18-26; Captain America 339; Daredevil 252; Fantastic Four 312; Incredible Hulk 336-337, 340; Power Pack 35 | May 2022 | |
| X-Men Inferno Prologue Omnibus | New Mutants 62-70, X-Factor 27-32, X-Factor Annual 3, Uncanny X-Men 228-238, New Mutants Annual 4, X-Men Annual 12; material from Marvel Age Annual 4, Marvel Fanfare 40 | December 2021 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| New Mutants Epic Collection, Vol. 2: The Demon Bear Saga | The New Mutants #13–31, Annual #1 | July 2019 | |
| New Mutants Epic Collection Vol 3: Asgardian Wars | The New Mutants #32-44, Annual #2, Special Edition #1, X-Men Annual #9 | June 2023 | |
| 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 | |
| New Mutants Epic Collection, Vol. 6: Curse of the Valkyries | X-Terminators #1–4;The New Mutants #71–85 | February 2018 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| New Mutants Classic, Volume 2 | The New Mutants #8–17 | January 2007 | |
| New Mutants Classic, Volume 3 | The New Mutants #18–25, Annual #1 | May 2008 | |
| New Mutants: The Demon Bear Saga | The New Mutants #18–21 | December 1990 | |
| New Mutants Classic, Volume 4 | The New Mutants #26–34 | March 2009 | |
| New Mutants Classic, Volume 5 | The New Mutants #35–40; New Mutants Special Edition; Uncanny X-Men Annual #9 | March 2010 | |
| New Mutants Classic, Volume 6 | The New Mutants #41–47; Annual #2; Uncanny X-Men Annual #10 | August 2011 | |
| 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 | |
| New Mutants Classic, Volume 7 | The New Mutants #48–54; Annual #3 | May 2012 | |
| New Mutants Forever | The New Mutants #53–54; New Mutants Forever #1–5 | February 2011 | |
| X-Men: Fall of the Mutants Vol. 1 | The New Mutants #55–61; Uncanny X-Men #220–227; Incredible Hulk #340 | February 2013 | |
| X-Men: Fall of the Mutants | The New Mutants #59–61; Uncanny X-Men #225–227; X-Factor #24–26 | February 2002 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| X-Men: Inferno | The New Mutants #71–73; Uncanny X-Men #239–243; X-Factor #36–39 | December 1996 | |
| X-Men: Inferno | New Mutants #71–73; Uncanny X-Men #239–243; X-Factor #33–40; X-Terminators #1–4; X-Factor Annual #4 | June 2009 | |
| Cable and the New Mutants | The New Mutants #86–94, New Mutants Annual #5 | January 2011 | |
| Cable Classic, Volume 1 | The New Mutants #87; Cable: Blood and Metal #1–2; Cable #1–4 | March 2008 | |
| X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda | The New Mutants #95–97; Uncanny X-Men #270–272; X-Factor #60–62 | November 1991 | |
| X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda | New Mutants #95–97; Uncanny X-Men #235–238 & #270–272; X-Factor #60–62 | August 2011 | |
| Deadpool Classic, Volume 1 | The New Mutants #98; Deadpool #1–4; Deadpool, vol. 2 #1–4; Deadpool, vol. 3 #1 | May 2008 | |
| X-Force: Shatterstar | The New Mutants #99–100; X-Force: Shatterstar #1–4 | August 2005 | |
| X-Force: A Force to be Reckoned With | The New Mutants #98–100, X-Force #1–4, Spider-Man #16 | January 2011 |