What's interesting about The New Mutants is that when I first read the series, the team were my contemporaries. Now, not so much.
An important break in the action as the X-Men return to the mansion, the wounded and dying in tow. I'd forgotten that the events of this crossover are really where the roots of Excalibur are sown, and I can't help but wonder if Chris Claremont had it in mind at the time. The younger team, capricious youth that they are, manage to make the crisis about themselves (well, Roberto does, for sure), and much of the action is spent with the team dealing with their own shit rather than the tragedy unfolding beneath their feet. They actually came across as a bit bratty in this issue. Let your stuff go for a moment and go help the people who are dying. But teenagers often, not always but often, can't see that perspective. It's simply the stage in their brain and ego development, so we can't really blame them, but, gods, it's irritating sometimes. I'm a little worried about reading this series again now.
That aside, I was, I must admit, overcome with some nostalgia for the characters. I love Warlock and Cypher's relationship (which, as I type this, I realize it's because it's clearly a queer relationship, though what becomes of it is a bit troubling), and despite his "aw shucks" dialogue, I love Cannonball too. And, of course, I crushed hard on Rhane back in the day. Didn't she die recently?
But how does this play into the crossover? Do we need it or not? We definitely do. It tells an intrinsic part of the story, the return and regroup of the team, dropping off their wounded and then planning their return. Or, more likely, their defense. Despite this fact, the New Mutants head out on their own to check on Karma's siblings, and are suddenly confronted by Magus, Warlock's Dad. He's nuts.
We'll have to leave the resolution of that story til I re-read this series. We'll see. I've had it on my radar for a little while now, especially the Bill Sienkiwicz stuff. But do I have the patience to jump back into not only the teen angst, but the 80s?
"I know they're not your style, but they're the best that I can do."
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