New Mutants #10: Go Towards The Light Comedy

Ed Brisson again gets to the heart of what a good New Mutants book is about. The messy and all too chaotic way in which the teen X-Men have always taken life by the scruff of the neck and ignored their training and the rules in order to deliver their own brand of action. From the moment Wildside rips into the New Mutants with sly digs and Mirage compares Doug to Cable it was clear we were in for some self effacing humor. Then when the Poltergeist reference was made in terms of Dani’s plan I knew things were going to go ‘hinky’ as Wildside notes. I must confess to being a little confused as to what Wildside can bring to the table in this mash up team. Even going over the plan it was a bit vague as to what he could do to ‘disrupt her nightmares and induce more pleasant dreams’ that Rahne can’t handle. I mean he’s basically a bargain basement Wolverine as the others said. But it did allow for the deeper question of heroes now rubbing shoulders with former villains against a common enemy, as Doug addresses the fact they all have to work alongside old enemies, which had me agreeing with him.
I also think it’s kind of the first time I’ve seen anyone really comment so pointedly on the matter, outside situations involving the big hitters like Sabretooth, Sinister and Apocalypse. The added fun of Dani arguing with Boom Boom over how to deal with the threat, as well as Doug ‘Dougsplaining’ to her makes me love Tabitha more and more and love her inclusion. Even if just for the comedy value. But there was more going on than the comedy. Rahne sniffing out the bad medicine was a nice touch that proves she still goes on her senses more than emotions. And added props to Carlos Lopes for the colors, especially the nightmare zone in all it’s technicolor splendor. Nice also to also see Glob and the chickens again for some lighthearted imagery of the banal and humdrum going on in Krakoa. With Flaviano making the art pop and draw the eye, in what could have been an otherwise nondescript image. And the snark as Illyana lets him know she has zero interest in the lives and habits of poultry is reminding me why I lover her.
From the first page I wondered if the New Mutants managed to pull off the mission, would Carnelia look more kindly on Krakoa and be more accepting of mutants once the kids defuse a potential disaster for them? Then I remembered how rare that scenario actually is. And it’s a shame, as that would be a more refreshing and enlightened take, that has been in short supply since the time the X-Men once made San Francisco their home. And of course that all too familiar blame game became the main viewpoint of the Prime Minister, and we also see Dox sticking their brand of poison propaganda out there again as they did with the Perdito incident from what seems like a year ago now. The Dox page didn’t interest me half as much as Glob’s Laksa recipe though…who else is going to try that? And even though the final panel didn’t give any resolution, but instead heightened the threat a little predictably, I for one am stoked to see it looks like Magik will have to come and save the day. All once again topped off with a truly eyepopping cover from Rod Reis that not only draws you into the image, but also informs the story perfectly.