4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old stuff, but good, June 6, 2009
This review is from: X-Men: New Mutants Classic, Vol. 4 (Paperback)
These New Mutants tpb's collect those good ol' new mutants comic book stories that weren't particularly complex or filled with cross-cross-overs between a zillion different galaxies and timelines. You could just sit down and read the story and that was that. Unfortunately the son of Xavier story line is not one of my favourites. However, the return of Karma-storyline is, and both are included. So, still 5 stars for quality, content and bringing these trades on the market!
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5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A somewhat middling chapter in the team's history., April 18, 2009
This review is from: X-Men: New Mutants Classic, Vol. 4 (Paperback)
Chris Claremont's run on "New Mutants" hits its fourth volume here, finishing up the storied issues done in collaboration with artist Bill Sienkiewicz. Sienkiewicz's time on the title is often remarked-upon as the golden age for the title, but on the whole, this second trade is a rather middling effort. There are a number of causes of this; I've never been as big a fan of Sienkiewicz's art as some, but, even that aside, the storyline suffers from extensive referencing to other stories running around the same time that aren't referenced here, and at times from featuring too little of the title characters. Spoilers follow, so be warned.
The collection is divided into roughly three stories, the latter two rather closely linked. The first of these is easily the strongest of the lot, as Professor X and a couple of his students (Dani Moonstar/Mirage, Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane, Douglas Ramsey (eventually to be called Cypher) jet to Scotland to help with the case of David Haller, aka, Legion. Legion, actually Professor X's son, has Pops' powerful psychic capabilities, but, because of a childhood accident, is autistic, and a serious problem for those around him. The group journeys inside Legion's mind, a story choice that Sienkiewicz's art style is most used to. Surreal dreamscapes are his thing (though the effect is somewhat lessened by the fact that it isn't noticeably weirder than his regular world). If there's a real flaw to this story, it's that it's not really a New Mutants story; it's a story about Professor X, Moira MacTaggert, and the Hallers; Dani and co. are just along for the ride.
After that, the problems really start; the next arc, first off, involves one of the plots Claremont is most maligned for repeating: some members of the team get captured and are forced to face off against each on in gladiatorial combat. Claremont has, over the years, driven that plot device into the ground, and, even taking into account this is one of the earlier iterations, there's nothing at all creative about it. Claremont also here starts throwing in characters who have no establishment in the "New Mutants", relying on readers being familiar with contemporary issues of "Uncanny X-Men" and other projects. Dazzler's entire motivation in this story depends on a miniseries not included (and, frankly, it's not particularly well-written). The plot also threads in and out of "Secret Wars II".
This arc leads into the only bona fide team story arc here, building on the revelation of the antagonist of the previous arc. This being, in one of the most infamously bizarre story decisions in Claremont's tenure at Marvel, "fat Karma". Yes, after some 20+ issues, Claremont returns to the MIA original leader of the New Mutants, Shan Coy Mahn, aka, Karma, who is now grotesquely obese and malevolent. Anyone familiar with Sienkiewicz's "Daredevil: Love and War" will know who he draws fat people, and Karma is nothing short of Jabba the Hut. This story actually ends up introducing a fairly major X-Men villain in his primary form, but as a standalone it's rather lacking.
For fans of the "New Mutants", probably worth a purchase (I know others rate this period higher than I do); for those looking to test out the X-mythos, earlier volumes of this series are probably a better bet.
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6 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
I couldn't get past Bill Sienkiewicz's art..., May 7, 2009
This review is from: X-Men: New Mutants Classic, Vol. 4 (Paperback)
I know nothing about art; I only know what I like. I don't like Bill Sienkiewicz's art. It is highly stylized and it makes it very difficult to tell what is going on or who is who. I know people who love Sienkiewicz's art. It's just not my cup of tea. I'm sure Sienkiewicz is a very talented man; to my untrained eye his art looks like it belongs on the family refrigerator.
More seriously this particular book in the New Mutants Classic series uses the tired plot device of heroes being mind controlled in some fashion by the villian. I *hate* mind control stories. Your mileage again may vary.
These stories were first published when that bane of modern comics was just beginning to rear its ugly head - the company wide crossover. Secret Wars II was going on and the Beyonder pops up in a few issues confusing the ongoing plot. Very annoying but bearable.
If you're new to the New Mutants series it is very important to read the volumes in order. References to earlier stories are rife and will overwhelm the neophyte. References to mini series like "The Dazzler" and "Kitty Pryde and Wolverine" are not too confusing.
The book does have good points. Claremont was still at the top of his game as a writer. You really care about these people. And the annoying mutant angst about a fearful and distrusting world (which seems to have excellent reasons to be fearful and distrustful of powerful beings acting as a law unto themselves) is minimal in this volume.
All in all the weakest volume thus far to my tastes but I'll be buying the next one.
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