Review: New Mutants #6

The greatest feat of the new X-Men Universe is the larger potential for new conflicts and original story-telling the premise allows. In New Mutants 6, Ed Brisson uses the world’s knowledge of Krakoan medication as a launching point for complex conflict for a group of mutants. In the process he reminds us of why we love these characters so much.

Brisson has a simple skill which is too often under-estimated in modern comics. He has the ability to make us care for characters and conflicts beyond what we expect flipping the cover. The issue opens with a simple conflict. A branch of a drug cartel target the Mutants hoping to gain Krakoan medicine the team is using to revive Beak’s ailing father. Beak and his wife Angel Salvadore are characters we have known for decades. Seeing these characters and those they love, including their children and Beak’s parents, in mortal danger adds a deep emotional intensity to the story.

The art by Flaviano, colors by Carlos Lopez and Lettering by Travis Lanham are clear, active and help to drive home the conflicts and story-telling. Flaviano has incredible skill in setting up a scene and showing character movement from panel to panel. The writing, art and colors work in concert to convey powerful emotions and superb action sequences throughout the issue. This is a story and conflict well removed from the larger world of the X-Men and Krakoa, but the story-telling shows us why even smaller characters and events matter.

The issue takes time to spotlight each character in the midst of active conflict with the Tumulo and his gunmen. They carry power-dampening bombs which quickly render Boom-Boom’s mutant power moot. Brisson uses this as an opportunity to remind us that Boom-Boom is a battle-hardened warrior, trained by the best, and can handle conflict with or without her powers. Glob uses the conflict to highlight the importance of empathy for enemies within the midst of battle for his younger charges Maxime and Manon.

The heart and soul of the issue lies within Beak and Angel who are one of the most unique couples in comics. Seeing the panic and horror of having their family threatened and harmed could seem cheap in lesser hands. Brisson carries the conflict home and gives Angel center stage in refusing to back down in the face of the threat.

The final conflict is the most unexpected. Maxime and Manon use their abilities to cause Beak and Angel to rewrite the history of their recent trauma to reduce their emotional toll. Armor, who serves almost exclusively for expositions and transitions for the first part of the issue has strong development here as she must choose between allowing her friends to remain unaware of their loss or forcing them to remember and revisit their pain. In many ways this is reminiscent of Superman taking on Batman’s pain at the end of Emperor Joker. In every way the loss of family here is even more horrifying than the Promethean punishment Batman suffered at the Joker’s hands.

In one issue, Ed Brisson and Flaviano introduce us to a full range of conflicts and ends with multiple tragedies. This series feels like classic X-Men. While using the premise and larger conflicts Hickman established, it still fits perfectly with the proud tradition established by Chris Claremont.

Writing — 5 Stars
Art — 4 Stars
Colors — 5 Stars

Overall — 5 Stars

Written By:Â Ed Brisson
Art By:Â Flaviano
Colors By:Â Carlos Lopez
Letters By:Â Travis Lanham
Published By:Â Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.