New Mutants #17 – Review

by, Zeb Wells (writer) Leonard Kirk (penciller)

The Story: Just as Cannonball and Moonstar share an intimate moment, Magik shows up with a call to arms, dragging the team to Limbo to rescue kidnapped X-Man, Pixie.  Then they get their asses kicked.

What’s Good: Wells has done a superb job keeping this title engaging and entertaining, and the reason he’s so successful is because he puts character first.  Not only do each of the cast members make realistic and believable decisions, but their personalities completely jibe with what has come before in previous stories by other creators.  Any other title would suffer from starring not one but three ‘back from the dead’ characters (Warlock, Magik & Cypher, in case you’re lacking a scorecard), mainly in the likelihood of annoying long-time fans with their presence.  But just as the likes of Ed Brubaker or Joss Whedon have done with characters like Bucky and Colossus, Wells has silenced most if not all of those naysayers by writing them with respect for who they are and how they’ve acted in the past.  As a result, this series feels like a natural extension of the New Mutants’ lives and not just a retread of older stories (or an affront to them).  This issue continues with that feeling, especially concerning the scene with Dani and Sam kissing.  Some might disagree, but this feels like an organic direction that their relationship would travel in, and I’m curious where it might take them and how it will affect the team dynamic.  There are plenty of other great moments in this issue that reiterate the strength of the script, from Warlock’s continued self-doubt to Illyana’s no-nonsense demeanor to the confrontation with the grown-up Inferno babies at the climax.  Wells is delivering solid issue after solid issue and is quietly making this the most dependable X-Title on the stands every month.