Liefeld's rise in the Marvel's X-office started in earnest when he took over New Mutants as its regular artist/penciller. It started with issue 86 and most of the issues until the bestselling 100, which was also the last issue.
In a nutshell, this collection has an uneven start, but a very strong finish. This momentum carries over to X-Force: A Force to Be Reckoned With, which collects some of Marvel's bestselling comics, with at least two issues selling at least a million copies each.
New Mutants #86 - Liefeld's first issue was an editorially mandated "Acts of Vengeance" tie-in. Though competently illustrated, it suffers the same malaise as the recent Aaron Taylor-Johnson Kraven movie. Having a member of Spider-Man's rogues gallery as the main villain, in this case, the Vulture, only works if it's actually Spidey as the main protagonist. The main New Mutants were nowhere in Earth, literally since they were marooned in Asgard, does it no favors. Rusty Collins who?
New Mutants #87 - First Cable, with Stryfe and the Mutant Liberation Front, Liefeld was starting to cook here.
New Mutants Annual #5 - The Liefeld illustrated story was more stand-alone and didn't connect to the main story.
New Mutants #88 - New character Cable, in pro wrestling terminology, is going through jobbers to build a rep. The jobbers in question here is Freedom Force. An apt description for a team featuring Pyro and the Blob.
New Mutants #89 - It was kind of unbelievable seeing the ease Cable earned the trust of the New Mutants, but he has some history with Moira MacTaggert, who easily vouched for his bonafides.
New Mutants #90 - Cable's New Mutants take over the ruins of the X-Mansion, which still had its subterranean complex and the Danger Room intact. I think this during the X-Men's Australian period.
New Mutants #91 - The cover teased a Cable and Sabretooth confrontation, but the former was really just a bystander. Caliban had a bigger axe to grind with the Marauder after all.
New Mutants #92 - A fill-in issue, but with a character driven subplot with Cable and Rahne serving as bookends.
New Mutants #93 - The New Mutants in Madripor! Cable versus Wolverine. This was when the series was starting to get really good. Years later, Liefeld revealed on his podcast that Wolverine was a favorite character. It was apparent in how he drew the clawed Canadian.
New Mutants #94 - To continue the pro wrestling analogy, Cable, as a new character, needed someone to put him "over". Wolverine was perfect for it. Though their tussle ended in a draw, it was enough to establish that Cable could go toe-to-toe in toughness and grit with the popular X-Man.
Together with X-Force: A Force to Be Reckoned With, these books would collect the entirety of Liefeld's New Mutants save for three issues that were part of X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda. Liefeld barely drew those issues and would contribute mostly layouts. As revealed years later in his podcast, Liefeld took the time to prepare issue 98 and the double sized 100....more
Magik guest stars and she has surprising chemistry with Psylocke. If they weren't in a team book already, they have promise as the lead stars of buddyMagik guest stars and she has surprising chemistry with Psylocke. If they weren't in a team book already, they have promise as the lead stars of buddy team-up book....more
This issue actually had the chance to give Psylocke "The Anatomy Lesson" treatment like Alan Moore did for Swamp Thing with the seminal Swamp Thing #2This issue actually had the chance to give Psylocke "The Anatomy Lesson" treatment like Alan Moore did for Swamp Thing with the seminal Swamp Thing #21. Sadly, this writer isn't Moore.
When will the reader be getting the payoff to the ninja backstory flashbacks? Pacing is sluggish and this two-part arc could have been done in one....more
If this story arc is going to be an iteration of the Ragnarok story, I hope it adds something original. Walter Simonson did it twice with his legendarIf this story arc is going to be an iteration of the Ragnarok story, I hope it adds something original. Walter Simonson did it twice with his legendary Thor run, and found a way to continue the monthly title with the main character. Michael Avon Oeming actually ended the entire Asgardian pantheon, and it was Thor was basically sidelined for a few years.
All I want is that it better be good because comics are not exactly cheap entertainment anymore....more
No sense in using the spoiler tag when Marvel has already issued the press release that The Immortal Thor is ending soon. Having the AsgardiIt begins!
No sense in using the spoiler tag when Marvel has already issued the press release that The Immortal Thor is ending soon. Having the Asgardian Executioner only leans toward a grim future.
In the classic Thor (1966-1996) #362, Skurge took Thor's death for himself with a valiant last stand on the Gjallerbru. Now that Skurge gas returned to flesh, would he give that death back to Thor with his axe?
The Thor-Freya interaction is golden. Especially when the Odinson struggled to explain to his foster mother how he has a son and why the child's motheThe Thor-Freya interaction is golden. Especially when the Odinson struggled to explain to his foster mother how he has a son and why the child's mother was the Enchantress....more