1982: New Mutants Year One part II: I Came In Like A Cannonball!

By Jef Willemsen (clarmindcontrol.blogspot.com)

In the second part of our lookback at the New Mutants' early days, professor Xavier has just overcome his hesitation at training mutant teens again. In the opening pages of Marvel Graphic Novel I#4, he'd already gathered Wolfsbane and Karma. Now we'll see how Xavier adds three more to the roster and forges them together... courtesy of a little hellfire.

                                                                           "It is time."

As we covered in our initial entry, the notion of a second team of X-Men originated with John Byrne in late 1978... Though, as he explained in 2006's Comics Creators on the X-Men, it was influenced by then newly minted editor in chief Jim Shooter who decided what Uncanny X-Men should be about. Shooter felt the true core of the book wasn't mutants protecting a world that feared and hated them, it should rather be about Xavier training mutants in a school setting... According to Byrne, Shooter wanted Xavier to become the stern and strict taskmaster of old, handing out demerits, complete with putting all the members back in a variation of the classic X-Men school uniforms.

Byrne tried to prevent this by pointing out that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby themselves had abandoned the school approach by issue # 9 in which Xavier had all the X-Men "graduate", which marked the appearance of their individual costumes. But Shooter wouldn't budge and the Claremont & Byrne team tried to accommodate their boss with scenes like this, from January 1979's Uncanny X-Men I#129.

                          "Notify Wolverine that his childish outburst will cost him ten demerits"

In a fairly obvious tongue-in-cheek approach to Shooter's edict, Byrne & Claremont proved why the classic school approach wouldn't work with this new team of X-Men. They weren't impressionable teenagers desperate for training and guidance, heck... In retrospect Wolverine was older than the entire team and Xavier put together. That's why Byrne presented Jim Shooter with the idea of introducing a secondary team of "X-Men-in-training" for Xavier to guide and mentor.

Working from this notion, John dreamed up characters like Kitty Pryde and Caliban, as well as some other characters who according to Byrne ended up as members of the Beta and Gamma training squads during his Alpha Flight run. Shooter turned down the idea of this "Legion of Substitute X-Men" in the late 70s, only to warm up to it by 1982 when Spider-Man proved able to sustain more than two monthly titles.

In other words, the almighty dollar greenlighted the New Mutants. And because John Byrne had long since left the X-verse by then, Chris Claremont was left to his own devices when it came to dreaming up this new team. Along with artist Bob McLeod he determined the initial membership. Back in 2000, a few pages of McLeod's New Mutants character designs were published and they make for fascinating reading.

Karma didn't take too much creativity: she'd already appeared back in Marvel Team-Up I#100 even though she'd lose the yin/yang jacket before too long. It might have been a bit on the nose. But this new Sam Guthrie character was still up for grabs. Claremont and McLeod toyed around with codenames like "Inferno" and "Holocaust" before settling on the far less ominious sounding Cannonball. Watching Sam's facial features evolve in these sketches is also intriguing to behold. Before they settled on his sorta goofy, scrawny and big-eared look, Sam was a dead ringer for Douglas Ramsey, a mutant they'd introduce early in the regular New Mutants title.

Speaking of new mutants, it also took some doing to settle on Sunspot and Wolfsbane's looks and names. Sunspot's final appearance was a matter of some debat among the two creatives and as for Rahne Sinclair... At one point, the 13 year old ginger lass was scheduled to be named Mirazhi Shabandar.

So, by the time Marvel Graphic Novel I#4 came out, the look of all the dramatis personae had been agreed on. Time to tell the story... While Xavier and Moira MacTaggert had gathered Rahne Sinclair and Xi'an Coy Manh, there were others hunting for young mutants... Like disgraced, former Hellfire Club member Donald Pierce who had kidnapped the Inner Circle's mentat Tessa and was actively trying to hunt down and kill mutant teens, wherever they might appear.

                                               "Father... Juliana... Someone... HELP ME!!" 

Meet Roberto Da Costa, the fourteen year old son of wealthy Brazilian business tycoon Emmanuel DaCosta. During a soccer match, his powers suddenly flared up and caused an understandable commotion. Pierce monitored the incident via remote control and vowed to slaughter the abberation. Little did Donald know though that Roberto was the offspring of the man who who would eventually succeed him among the Hellfire Club's Lords Cardinal.

Pierce was too busy checking in on another possible mutant, teenage coal miner Samuel Guthrie who had manifested his powers to free himself and a co-worker following a cave in.

    "A power such as his could be useful to me and then, when he has served his purpose...
He can follow young daCosta into the grave."

Figuring the young, poorly educated Guthrie was easily recruitable, Pierce approached the teen mutant who accepted the job, eager to make a living and support his widowed mother and his many, many siblings. With a young mutant in his employ, Pierce continued scanning for possible targets. That's when he encountered the young Cheyenne girl Danielle Moonstar, living with her grandfather Black Eagle and barely in control of her mutant power. This caused her to manifest a person's deepest fears or desires in giant, lifelike 3d images for all the world to see. 

Black Eagle happened to be an old friend of Xavier's, who he felt was the only one capable of helping his granddaughter cope with these strange and frightening abilities. When he told her, Moonstar she didn't react well and even accidentally manifested Black Eagle's greatest fear, which turned out to be getting clobbered to death by Hellfire Club operatives. 

                                         "A white?! You would send me to an ANGLO ?!?"

It's interesting to note that apparently Black Eagle was already aware of the Hellfire Club and the threat they posed. After all, Dani couldn't project the future, only a person's most intensly felt emotions. It would also be a few years before she could see when and how a mortal would perish as a member of Hela's Death Maidens. 

Yet, before Moonstar or Black Eagle could take comfort in the notion it was only a dream, Pierce made his move. And, faster than you can cite Puck's monologue from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream... "If we shadows have offended/think but this and all is mended/You have but slumbered here/While these visions did appear"... They came true.

                                                              "I will have vengeance!"

A laudible and understandable sentiment, Danielle Moonstar... Unfortunately, that happens to be exactly what Donald Pierce is counting on. Y'see, killing your grandfather was all part of his big ol' master plan and you're playing right into it. Black Eagle had already invited Charles to visit with him so he'll come either way, especially now that there's been death in the family.

"When Xavier reaches the Rockies... Alone, without his precious X-Men to protect him... I'll strike!"

So far so devious, Pierce... Only problem is, gee whiz, Charles won't be coming by himself. He was accompanied by Wolfsbane and Karma on his trip and the two girls proved exceptionally useful during Black Eagle's funeral ceremonies which were interrupted by Pierce's forces chasing down Dani Moonstar in the nearby jungle.

And even though the young Cheyenne had matters well in hand, Karma and Xavier decided to involve themselves just to make sure she'd be alright.

                          "I am Charles Xavier. Like you, I am a mutant. I have come to help you."

Even though she was slightly stunned and impressed by Xavier's power, Dani decided she wanted no part of Charles' promises and demanded he left "her hills" even as Black Eagle's funeral pyre burned in the distance. Xavier tried to reason with Moonstar and finally calmed her down long enough too probe the minds of her would-be assassins, only to discover some disturbing facts... And not just about the pink armored troops...

                                           "If you've no more need of this butcher...
                                Let Black Eagle's war-knife be buried in his craven heart!"

Yeah, headstrong Dani "Murder On Mah Mind" Moonstar will be quite the handful. But for now, let's focus on what Xavier learned from the Pierce's flunkies: they're about to move on two mutants, one in Brazil and one in Kentucky. Xavier decides to split up the team, taking Wolfsbane with him to Kentucky while Moira MacTaggert was tasked to accompany Xi'an and Dani to Rio de Janeiro where they had quite the adventure trying to get to Roberto DaCosta.

Moira allowed herself to be captured by the local, corrupt, police, which gave Karma and Moonstar the opportunity to locate Roberto. When they ran into him, he and his girlfriend Juliana were already under attack from Pierce's forces.

                  "I have possessed a body, Dani. But I do not know how to use it properly."

And, to add insult to injury, Dani ended up kicking the crud out of Karma's host. Their lack teamwork inevitably led to Juliana getting shot, dying in the inconsolable Roberto's arms. Watching the love of his young life die was enough for him to join with Shan and Dani to have his revenge on Pierce.

"Whatever the cost, however long it takes... I will find him... And make him pay!"

Meanwhile, Rahne and Charles were in Kentucky where the paralyzed Xavierw was driving a jeep using hand operated steering pedals. Having a cripple driving an off road vehicle at night through unfamiliar territory. Now, what could possibly go wrong?

Ow, you hadda ask...

"I keep forgetting these are children...
As far as being X-Men as they could possibly...
WHAT!?!"

That's right, Charles... the mutant you'd come to Kentucky to find already found you... and the first thng you do is send away a 13 year old she-wolf into the woods. Another solid command decision on the part of ye ol' professor X. Rahne watches from a distance as Cannonball helps the unconscious Charles out of the burning, wrecked vehicle just as Pierce's forces arrive to take Xavier in.

                                         "Who is he, Chase? Why'd you send me to attack him?" 

Cannonball complied and went along with Pierce's men to the cyborg's base where Charles was quickly locked up along with Tessa. Wolfsbane, after gathering enough courage, decided to track their scent, breach the base's security and locate Charles. And, as soon as she did, help arrived.

                           "Oh, hurry, all of you! Professor Xavier's in terrible danger...
                                              If we dinna' act now, it'll be too late!"

Ow, calm down Rahne... this is Charles "I fought off two alien invasions with wheels on my can" Xavier we're talking about here. He can handle a two-bit cybernetic bully like Pierce, if only Donald wasn't using a mind-tap device to both inhibit Xavier's psi-abilities and drain his memories. However, the young mutants teamed up, even convincing Cannonball to help them. Pierce tried to fight them all off, but Wolfsbane disabled the mindtap and well, we all know what that means...

"One man's brain, and strength of will is pitted in mortal combat against a man-machine bionic construct. For a time, the outcome is in doubt."

After Xavier defeated Pierce, Karma stepped in and took control of him until Tessa was freed and offered to take care of the Hellfire Club's former White Bishop. Charles took his students home, except for Cannonball who was turned down by the others because of his role as Pierce's, albeit unwilling, flunky. Two weeks went by after that, a fortnight during which Charles trained his newest mutant recruits before assembling them. Turns out they weren't exactly the obedient, 

                                  "Danielle, you're out of uniform... please explain yourself."

In a sign of the changing times, Claremont has Moonstar openly rebel against Xavier's dresscode, perhaps in a way to signal to Jim Shooter and all the other traditionalists out there these wouldn't be your father's X-Men-in-training.

For one thing, they were all international students, as opposed to Xavier's initial all American recruits. And, unlike the international team of X-Men that Charles had recruited to fight Krakoa, this one included no less than three women as opposed to Storm, who was the only female "new" X-Man. Add to that the fact Rahne, Xi'an, Roberto and Dani were already strong, determined young people with their own opinions... With Danielle being the most determined to assert herself.

Still, there were some similarities to Marvel Graphic Novel I#4 ended the same way the classic X-Men I#1 began... Charles Xavier called his pupils into his study for an inspection... And, to introduce their newest member. Way back in 1963 it was Jean Grey, but in this case it's their former enemy Samuel "Cannonball" Guthrie. After some initial misgivings,

Xavier couldn't help but smile as he watched how the group accepted the lanky Kentucky coal miner.

                                                              "The dream is still good."

And with that, the New Mutants were off to the races... Not to mention their own, monthly title. More on that next time when something's stirring deep inside Charles other than pride and joy. Plus, we meet the team's dance instructor in part III of New Mutants Year One: I'm Gonna Wash That Xi'an Right Outta My Hair! 

1982: New Mutants Year One: Yes! Charlie Will Have No New Mutants...

By Jef Willemsen (clarmindcontrol.blogspot.com)

It's the early 80s and Marvel's editor in chief Jim Shooter just had an idea: the X-Men were getting more and more popular, so why not capitalize on that success by adding another title? Lo and behold, the New Mutants were born, though the neophyte X-Men in training would not have the easiest of first years, as we'll cover in this retrospective.

First thing's first, the idea to have a second team of, preferably younger, mutants at Xavier's was hardly Jim Shooter's idea. John Byrne confirmed that he proposed the idea during his Uncanny X-Men run, even drawing up a few character sketches for possible members. Byrne figured that with most of the current X-Men already in their early twenties and quite skilled in the use of their powers, there was no real need for Xavier, let alone his school for gifted youngsters.

Ever a fan of going back to basics, Byrne reasoned that the book should be about teaching young mutants how to master their abilities and came up with the notion of adding a second team of "trainee" X-Men... new mutants, as it were. He even drew up some sketches of possible members, the first of which should be rather familiar.

The notes to Claremont at the bottom make for fascinating reading in retrospect... Even if you don't take into account ByrneNot to mention the fact that John apparently all but came up with Kitty Pryde. He coined her name (based on a girl he used to know) and two of the codenames she'd use before settling on "Shadowcat", he even pretty much defined her powerset. Byrne also spearheaded the "updated" original X-Men school uniform that the New Mutants would eventually wear. Perhaps the most interesting thing of all: judging from John Byrne's signature this sketch is from late 1978.

Another candidate for membership was Willie Evans Jr. a nine year old mutant who had just premiered in February 1979's Fantastic Four I#203 (in the late 70s issues were cover dated three months ahead, which still made it possible for the Byrne sketches to be from 78).

Rounding out the trio of possible new mutants was Caliban. Nope, not the chalk white, homo superior detecting Morlock that'd eventually pop up in Uncanny X-Men I#148, Byrne's take on him was quite different... Well, except for the whole "anything but human looking freak of nature who hides from everyone else" thing, of course.

But so much for the What If...version of the New Mutants. When the proposal hit the desk of Jim Shooter, the newly minted editor in chief shot it down, for exactly the same reason Byrne brought up in his Kitty Pryde sketch; he didn't want a "Legion of Substitute X-Men" hanging around. But, keep in mind that no one even brought up the idea of adding a second X-Men title.

That came in 1982, when Tom DeFalco and Jim Shooter were going over the increased sales figures of  the Spider-Man titles. As DeFalco told it in 2006's Comics Creators on X-Men, Shooter felt this warranted the launch of a third Spider-Man title, while Tom wondered why they didn't expand the X-Men franchise... After all, the mutants were Marvel's biggest seller at the time. Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont and his editor Louise Jones (the future Mrs. Walt Simonson) were approached to create this new book, in cooperation with artist Bob McLeod. That collaboration resulted in Marvel Graphic Novel I#4. 

Which, incidentally, was not at all how Claremont and McLeod had intended to launch the series. The team's origin story that appeared in the graphic novel was originally supposed to be told in the double sized first issue... But, because Marvel's newly founded graphic novel line was suffering from creators who failed to meet their deadlines, forcing the New Mutants to make their debut in a graphic novel... Claremont admitted he didn't care for it and, had he known this, he would have changed the story to fit the medium... But in all fairness, there are worse ways to launch a series than in a prestige oneshot printed on luxurious, glossy paper. 

We'll cover the full story told in the graphic novel next time, first let's set the scene. What was the X-Universe like in 1982? For one thing, the X-Men were nowhere to be found... On Earth, at least. By September of that year, they were stuck in space on an extended "adventure" after being kidnapped by the Brood. We covered that particular storyline a while ago, Professor Xavier was left alone, with no clue about where his students might be. After a few weeks, he thought they were all dead and went into a deep funk. Instead of focussing on what he did best: training new mutants, he was so depressed he simply refused to take care of young mutants who happened to be living under his very roof...

Like, when he had lunch with Colossus' little sister Illyana who used to be about four years old until she fell into a transtemporal sinkhole and returned as a teen. Ya'd think that'd warrant some further investigation or at least a little curiosity, but as this scene from Uncanny X-Men I#164 shows: Nope, not so much...

"I ought to investigate... but I no longer care enough to make the attempt. Let Moira deal with her. All I want is to be left alone..." 

Speaking of Moira MacTaggert, she was dividing her attention between her Muir Island research facility and Xavier's in those days. Moira tried her best to get her old lover out of his rut, but by that point Charles had turned into a human sinkhole of misery... on wheels! Still, she gave it the ol' college try in Uncanny X-Men I#165 when she presented him with a letter she'd received from Reed Richards. The Fantastic Four and Spider-Man had recently (well, twas back in 1980) fought a young Vietnamese boat refugee known as Xi'an Coy Manh who could control minds. Hey, it was a story written by Chris Claremont, what else'd ya expect?

Reed Richards reached out to Xavier to request Charles's assistance in getting Xi'an, or Karma as she prefered to be called, some proper training. But he still wasn't feeling up to it.

"No." 

As anyone who's ever gone through a break up can attest: the dynamic between ex-lovers can be tricky. More often than not, you don't leave well enough alone and try to persuade the other through whatever means possible. In this case, Moira went the passive agressive route and openly agreed with Charles' decision. Hey, if he didn't want to take care of Xi'an, maybe Magneto or Emma Frost would. This still didn't give the paralyzed professor the kick in his complacency that he needed.

To add insult to injury, Charles lamented that Moira had no idea what it was like to care for young mutants like they were her children, only to lose them in the end. A crass statement, to be sure... After all, Moira had only recently lost her own son Kevin, the reality warping mutant called Proteus. And to make things even worse, in 2006's X-Men: Deadly Genesis mini it was retroactively established that Moira was training a handful of mutant teens like Petra, Sway and Kid Vulcan that Xavier pressed into service after the original X-Men went missing on Krakoa. When those barely trained teenagers died trying to fulfill their mission, Charles quietly mindwiped Moira to make her forget all about them.

Ouch.

Still, perhaps in part, some of that lingering guilt moved him to reconsider...

"A decision is made... A Rubicon is crossed..." 

... Rubi-con? Surely, you don't mean?

No, no... Great Ceasar's ghost, no... An entirely different Rubicon.

Xavier made arrangements to meet Karma, inviting her to his school for further testing. But, that's something we wouldn't see until the opening pages of Marvel Graphic Novel I#4. While out in the highlands, MacTaggert was surprised by the sudden appearance of what initially looked like a wolf.

"Good lord, I know her, too! I delivered her years ago.
It's Rahne Sinclair!"

So, apparently being a world renowned geneticist also makes you a capable midwife? God bless Marvel's take on scientists. In the same vein of entymologist Hank Pym creating the cybernetic intelligence that would become Ultron... Apparently Moira's also perfectly capable of delivering babies just because she studied how DNA works.

Momentarily leaving science for superstition... Moira was caring for the barey 14 year old redhead when they found themselves hounded by an angry mob, led by the reverend Craig. He happened to be Rahne's foster parent and guess what.... he didn't care too much for were-children and other demons.

"There's one place I can take her...
One person who can truly help her...
Charles Xavier." 

Well, Moira... If you say so. I guess you built that whole mutant research facility on Muir Island for nothing then. But then again, Xavier did make you forget about how you succesfully helped young teens cope with their mutant powers. No wonder MacTaggert insisted an insecure, deeply religious young Scottish girl was dragged away from all she knew to go and stay with a bald American creepy guy in a wheelchair.

A bald American creepy guy in a wheelchair ready to conduct even creepier experiments...

"Don't be nervous, Shan... the examination is nearly over." 

It's not explained just what the emerald energy shooting scanner does, but do note that only Moira wears safety goggles while being the only one not looking directly at the energy barrage. It almost makes you think Dr. MacTaggert knew something...

Still, even after examining Xi'an, Charles wasn't too eager to take up the responsibilities of training her or Rahne...

"I am tired Moira... There's too much blood on my hands already.
I want no more."

Ah, same old, same old Charlie... Nothing one of Moira MacTaggert's psychic talking to's couldn't resolve...

"All right, young ladies. I'll do what I can.
And let's all pray we've made the right decision."

Talk about a vote of confidence. "Alrite, let's give it a go... Try not to die, okay?". And that's even before any of them knew Charles was carrying a Brood queen embryo inside his belly that may or may not have been manipulating him to gather a new group of mutants together so he could infect them as soon as she hatched.

More on the the new team's origin next time in part two of New Mutants Year One: I Came In Like A Cannonball!