New Mutants

The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, subsequent stories have depicted the characters as adult superheroes (in their eponymous series as well as in related titles such as X-Force and The Avengers) or as teachers and mentors to younger mutants.

New Mutants
Cover of New Mutants vol. 3 #1 (April 2009) by Diogenes Neves. Clockwise from top left: Warlock, Sunspot, Cannonball, Danielle Moonstar, Magma, Karma, Magik, Cypher, and Legion
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe New Mutants (September 1982)
Created byChris Claremont
Bob McLeod
In-story information
Base(s)Former:
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Ship
Current:
Akademos Habitat
Member(s)Original:
Mirage
Cannonball
Karma
Sunspot
Wolfsbane
Other:
See List

The team first appeared in The New Mutants (September 1982) by Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod, part of the Marvel Graphic Novel line, followed by the ongoing series The New Mutants which ran from 1983 until 1991. Like the X-Men parent title, also written by Claremont, The New Mutants featured an ensemble cast, with stories often focused on interpersonal relationships and coming-of-age arcs, blending teen drama with action and adventure. The title was later taken over by writer Louise Simonson, ultimately taking a more action-oriented focus under artist Rob Liefeld, who relaunched the characters as X-Force following the series' end.

Since their inception, several New Mutants series have been published, either focusing on the continuing adventures of the original lineup, new groups of young mutants, or some combination of both. Individual characters have appeared in various film, television, and other media adaptations of the X-Men franchise, while most of the original lineup of the New Mutants was featured in the 2020 20th Century Studios horror film of the same name.[1]

Original run

By the early 1980s, Uncanny X-Men (under the authorship of Chris Claremont) had become one of the comic book industry's most successful titles, prompting Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter to launch The New Mutants, the first of several X-Men spin-offs. X-Men editor Louise Simonson recalled "Neither Chris [Claremont] or I really wanted to do it. We wanted X-Men to be special and by itself, but Shooter told us that if we didn't come up with a new 'mutant' book, someone else would."[2] The name was a modification of Stan Lee's original name for the X-Men, "The Mutants".[2]

The New Mutants were teenaged students of Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and wore matching uniforms, much like the original X-Men, who had since grown into adulthood.[3] These students resembled the "all-new, all-different X-Men" of their era in terms of ethnic diversity.

The original team consisted of:

  • Cannonball (Samuel Guthrie), a 16-year-old boy from Kentucky, United States and eventual co-leader, with the ability to generate thermo-chemical energy and propel himself through the air.
  • Karma (Mạnh Cao Xuân), a 19-year-old girl from Vietnam and the team's original leader, who could mentally possess other people's bodies.
  • Mirage (Danielle Moonstar, originally codenamed Psyche), a girl who is a Cheyenne Native American and eventual co-leader after Karma's apparent death, who could create visual empathic three-dimensional illusions.
  • Sunspot (Roberto da Costa), a 14-year-old boy from Brazil who had superhuman strength fueled by sunlight and could store solar energy in his body to use his super strength.
  • Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair), a 13-year-old religious girl from Scotland, United Kingdom who could transform into a wolf and a werewolf-like creature.

The team was intended to debut in their own series. As the first issue was nearing completion, Shooter ordered it to be reworked into a graphic novel so that Marvel Graphic Novel could make its deadline for the next issue. Thus, the New Mutants debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (December 1982), which continued a plotline from Uncanny X-Men.[2]

In addition to very serious depictions of teenage angst and growing pains, the series featured themes of mysticism. The stories also relied on wilder, more far-fetched premises than were typical of X-Men at the time, shaping into more of a science fiction and fantasy series than the superhero coming-of-age comic it had been touted as in its early days.[3] Locales included demonic dimensions, alternate futures, and an ancient Roman civilization hidden within the Amazon rainforest. The New Mutants also encountered a secret society called the Hellfire Club, and began a rivalry with their young apprentices, the Hellions.

After the apparent death of Karma, Cannonball and Dani Moonstar act as co-leaders.[4] New recruits included:

  • Cypher (Douglas Ramsey), an otherwise ordinary young man who could learn to read or speak any language rapidly, whether it was human, alien, or machine, making him an unmatched computer expert.
  • Magik (Illyana Rasputin), sister of the Russian X-Man Colossus and long-time resident of the X-Mansion, an accomplished mystic who could open "teleportation discs" allowing travel to Limbo and from there, any point on Earth.
  • Magma (Amara Juliana Olivians Aquilla), a fiercely tempered native of a secret Roman society in the Amazon who can control lava.[3]
  • Warlock, an extraterrestrial of the techno-organic race known as the Technarchy. Considered a pariah due to the uncommon trait of empathy.

A supplementary New Mutants Annual series began in 1984.

In 1986, Professor X was written out of the series. Before he left, he made the X-Men's one-time nemesis, Magneto, headmaster of his school.[5] Magneto would be the team's longest-running headmaster, holding the position from New Mutants #35 through to #75. Fiercely overprotective of his students, particularly after the events of the "Mutant Massacre" and "Fall of the Mutants", he was increasingly used as an uptight foil for the adventurous New Mutants, setting rules that they would inevitably break in the interests of helping their friends.

During Simonson's run, Magma is written out of the book,[6] and Magik is de-aged back to childhood.[7] Due to his unpopularity with New Mutants readers and artists, Cypher is killed off in The New Mutants #60 (February 1988). Simonson also folded the X-Terminators, a group of young wards from X-Factor, into the New Mutants.[8]

The X-Terminators added to the team were:

In 1989, Simonson crafted a saga in which the team journeyed to Asgard, the home of the gods of Norse mythology. The storyline wrote Dani Moonstar out of the series, as she joined the Norse pantheon as one of the Valkyrior.[9] Titled "Instant Replay!", the story in New Mutants #64 deals with the New Mutants' mourning for Cypher, and includes a scene in which Warlock attempts to resurrect Cypher by taking his corpse out of its coffin and showing it to Cypher's loved ones.

A new mentor for the group, the mysterious mercenary Cable, was introduced.[9] Over the next year, several longtime team members were written out or killed off. When Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza took over as writers of the final three issues of the series, they included several harder-edged characters:

  • "Domino" (Vanessa Geraldine Carlysle), Cable's pale-skinned, black-garbed mercenary lover. Actually Copycat, impersonating Domino.
  • Feral (Maria Callasantos), who possessed a bestial temperament and appearance.
  • Shatterstar (Gaveedra Seven), a swashbuckling warrior from another dimension.
  • Warpath (James Proudstar), the younger brother of slain X-Man Thunderbird and a former Hellion, an Apache who possessed super strength and speed.

The New Mutants was cancelled in 1991 with issue #100, but the new platoon-like team formed by Cable continued in X-Force, and feature a variety of the former New Mutants cast.

New X-Men: Academy X

New Mutants (Training Squad)
The New Mutants from New X-Men: Academy X #2 by Randy Green. From left to right: Danielle Moonstar, Surge, Prodigy, Wind Dancer, Elixir, Wallflower.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceNew X-Men: Academy X #2 (August 2004)
Created byNunzio DeFilippis
Christina Weir
Keron Grant
Randy Green
In-story information
Base(s)Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
Member(s)Danielle Moonstar (advisor)
Elixir
Icarus
Prodigy
Surge
Wallflower
Wind Dancer
Wither

The second incarnation of the New Mutants debuted in 2003 with an ongoing series of the same name, written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir. The series would continue for 13 issues, until June 2004, before being relaunched as New X-Men: Academy X in July 2004, with a new #1.

The series featured a handful of the dozens of mutant teenagers attending the Xavier Institute, as well as their instructors, which included various X-Men as well as former members of the original New Mutants (Karma, Magma, Dani Moonstar, and Wolfsbane).

The featured group of students never refer to themselves as "the New Mutants" before the series relaunch as New X-Men: Academy X in 2004, and the reorganization of the Xavier Institute student body into various training squads. The New Mutants, advised by Dani Moonstar, were:

  • Elixir (Josh Foley) – Josh is an Omega-Level mutant who can manipulate his or others' biologies to heal or harm. In addition, Elixir possesses gold skin which converts to black when he uses his powers offensively. He was one of the 27 students at the Xavier Institute to retain his powers after "M-Day". He was seemingly killed by the Dark Riders before returning with vastly enhanced abilities.
  • Icarus (Joshua "Jay" Guthrie) – Jay possesses red angelic wings on his back that allow him to fly and which grant him an accelerated healing process. Furthermore, he possesses the ability to manipulate his own voice. He was one of the 27 students at the Xavier Institute to retain his powers after "M-Day". Jay's wings are amputated by Stryker,[10] who later kills him.[11]
  • Prodigy (David Alleyne) – David was the team's co-leader who could temporarily gain the knowledge and skills of those near him. Although he was de-powered after "M-Day", he has retained all the knowledge he had acquired prior to the "Decimation".[12].
  • Surge (Noriko Ashida) – Noriko is Japanese. She absorbs electricity from her environment which she can discharge as powerful electric blasts or utilize as superhuman speed. She requires mechanical gauntlets to prevent overcharge. Surge was one of the 27 students at the Xavier Institute to retain her powers after "M-Day".
  • Wallflower (Laurie Collins) – Laurie is a shy girl who generates highly potent pheromones that influence people's emotions. She was one of the 27 students at the Xavier Institute to retain her powers after "M-Day". Laurie was later killed by one of Stryker's men.[13]
  • Wind Dancer (Sofia Mantega) – Sofia was the other co-leader and was a temperamental aerokinetic who was particularly adept at using this power to manipulate sound. She was depowered after "M-Day" and joined a group of fellow ex-mutants as part of the New Warriors. Donning a variety of mechanical gear, she took up the codename Renascence before the group disbanded.
  • Wither (Kevin Ford) – Kevin could cause organic material to decay with his touch. He eventually switches to the Hellions squad.[14] He is later killed by Elixir.[15]

Another such group, advised by Emma Frost, was known as the Hellions and, like their predecessor, was the arch-rival of the New Mutants. Whereas the original New Mutants series revolved around battles with world-threatening menaces, New Mutants volume 2 focused on the characters' personal relationships and struggles with controlling their powers.

After "M-Day", the cataclysmic event that decimated the world's mutant population, only 27 of the 182 students enrolled at the Xavier Institute retained their powers. The New Mutants and the other training squads were disbanded, and the remaining students were folded into a single junior team, the New X-Men.[16]

    Original team reunion

    New Mutants
    Variant cover to New Mutants, vol. 3 #1 by Bob McLeod.
    Publication information
    PublisherMarvel Comics
    First appearanceNew Mutants #1 (2009)
    Created byZeb Wells (writer)
    Diogenes Neves (artist)
    In-story information
    Base(s)Utopia
    1128 Mission Street, San Francisco

    In May 2009, a third volume of New Mutants was launched. The team is a reunion of the cast from the first volume, consisting of Cannonball, Karma, Magik, Magma, Dani Moonstar and Sunspot.

    The reunion is spun from events from the limited series X-Infernus. Magik shows up at the X-Men headquarters in San Francisco, claiming to be from the future and warning that Dani Moonstar and Karma are in danger. Once tests show that Illyanna is not an imposter, Cannonball leads a rescue mission with her. They are joined by Magma and Sunspot.[17] They end up taking on Legion.

    In later issue, Warlock returns to Earth[18] and Cypher reappears alive, under the control of Selene. After Warlock frees him from Selene's control, Cypher joins the team.[19][20]

    During "Siege", Hela empowers Dani (now going by the codename Mirage[21]) as a Valkyrie to bring the souls of the fallen Asgardians to her. During "X-Men: Second Coming", Karma loses her leg after being repeatedly stabbed by Cameron Hodge.[22] It is replaced with a bionic one.

    Magik leads the team to Limbo, as part of her plan for revenge against the Elder Gods. Cyclops has her imprisoned for her actions.[23] In the same issue, Cannonball and Karma also leave the team.

    After they successfully rescue him from Sugar Man, Nate Grey joins the team.[24]

    When the X-Men split in X-Men: Schism, the team sides with Cyclops and stays on Utopia.[25] Their next mission is to find Blink. After locating her and helping her defeat a mutant rock band (Diskhord), Blink returns with them but decides to join the X-Men at the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning.[26] She does join them during the last issues of the series.[27]

    Krakoan era

    New Mutants was relaunched in November 2019 as part of Dawn of X. The initial team consisted of Chamber, Cypher, Karma, Magik, Mirage, Mondo, Sunspot and Wolfsbane.[28] A second team comprising Armor, Boom Boom, Glob, Maxime and Manon debuted in issue #3 (December 2019).[29]

    Later issues were featuring older New Mutants Karma, Magik, Mirage, Warlock, Warpath, and Wolfsbane acting as teachers and mentors to a new group of younger students known as the Lost Club.[30] This new group of students (which includes Anole, Scout, Rain Boy, Cosmar, and No-Girl) falls under the influence of, and later into conflict with the Shadow King, culminating in an adventure through the astral plane.[31]

    New Mutants members

    In 1982, the original New Mutants team debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4.[32] Originally led by Professor X, and later by Magneto, the lineup gradually expanded to include additional recruits, with subsequent volumes and titles have features a variety of team members and associated characters.

    Original members
    Character Real name Joined in Notes
    Professor X Charles Francis Xavier Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (1982) Team founder
    Karma Mạnh Cao Xuân Original team leader
    Wolfsbane Rahne Sinclair
    Psyche / Mirage Danielle Moonstar Eventual co-leader
    Cannonball Samuel Zachary Guthrie Eventual co-leader
    Sunspot Roberto Da Costa
    Later recruits
    Character Real name Joined in Notes
    Shadowcat Katherine Anne Pryde Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1 #167 (1983) Leaves to rejoin X-Men team in Uncanny X-Men #168
    Magma Amara Juliana Olivians Aquilla New Mutants, Vol. 1 #13 (1984)
    Magik Illyana Nikolievna Rasputina New Mutants, Vol. 1 #14 (1984)
    Warlock New Mutants, Vol. 1 #21 (1984)
    Cypher Douglas Aaron Ramsey
    Magneto Max "Magnus" Eisenhardt Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1 #200 (1985) Headmaster (replacing Xavier)
    Bird-Brain Bird Boy New Mutants, Vol. 1 #55 (1987)
    Firefist Russell "Rusty" Collins New Mutants, Vol. 1 #77 (1989)
    Skids Sally Blevins
    Rictor Julio Esteban Richter
    Boom-Boom Tabitha "Tabby" Smith
    Cable Nathan Christopher Charles Summers New Mutants, Vol. 1 #89 (1990) Leader (replacing Magneto)
    Warpath James Proudstar New Mutants, Vol. 1 #99 (1991)
    X-Man Nate Grey New Mutants, Vol. 3 #28 (2011)
    Blink Clarice Ferguson New Mutants, Vol. 3 #45 (2012)
    Shatterstar Gaveedra Seven/Benjamin Russell Cable #150 (2017)
    Longshot
    X-23 Laura Kinney
    Armor Hisako Ichiki
    Doop
    Strong Guy Guido Carosella Phoenix Resurrection #2 (2018)
    Chamber Jonothon Evan "Jono" Starsmore New Mutants, Vol. 4 #1 (2019)[33]
    Mondo
    Escapade Shela Sexton New Mutants, Vol. 4 #31 (2022)[34]
    Cerebella Martha Johansson New Mutants Lethal Legion, Vol. 1 #1 (2023) Formerly known as No-Girl
    Scout Gabrielle Kinney Formerly known as Honey Badger
    New Mutants Squad (New X-Men)
    Character Real name Joined in Notes
    Psyche / Mirage Danielle Moonstar New X-Men, Vol. 2 #2 Team Advisor
    Wind Dancer Sofia Elizabeth Mantega
    Wallflower Laurie Collins
    Prodigy David Alleyne
    Surge Noriko Ashida
    Elixir Josh Foley
    Wither Kevin Ford
    Icarus Joshua Guthrie
    Lost Club (Students of New Mutants on Krakoa)
    Character Real name Joined in Notes
    Anole Victor Borkowski New Mutants, Vol. 4 #14 (2020)
    Scout Gabrielle Kinney Formerly known as Honey Badger
    Rain Boy Carl Aalston
    Cosmar Natashia Repina
    Cerebella Martha Johansson Formerly known as No-Girl
    Escapade Shela Sexton New Mutants, Vol. 4 #31 (2022)
    Leo Leo Eng
    Notable Allies, Honorary, and Reserve
    Character Real name Active in Notes
    Brightwind / Darkwind New Mutants Special Edition #1 (1985) Danielle Moonstar's Steed
    Gosamyr New Mutants, Vol. 1 #67 (1988)
    Artie Arthur Maddicks New Mutants, Vol. 1 #77 (1989)
    Leech
    Copycat Vanessa Carlysle New Mutants, Vol. 1 #98 (1991)
    Feral Maria Callasantos New Mutants, Vol. 1 #100
    Glob Glob Herman New Mutants, Vol. 4 #3 (2020)
    Maxime
    Manon
    Galura Gabrielle Diwa New Mutants, Vol. 4 #21 (2021)

    Other versions

    Rahne of Terra

    The graphic novel Rahne of Terra, by Peter David, is set in a heroic fantasy universe in which Wolfsbane's counterpart is Princess Rain of Geshem. Other denizens of Terra include Rain's lady-in-waiting Tabby (Boom-Boom), the knights Richard (Rictor), Robert (Sunspot), and Samuel (Cannonball) and the peasant boy Douglas (Cypher). The Terrans all duplicate the powers of their counterparts in one way or another.[35]

    New Mutants: Truth or Death

    In 1997, a three-issue reunion series written by Ben Raab and illustrated by Bernard Chang, New Mutants: Truth or Death, featured the young New Mutants traveling forward in time to meet their older, jaded selves in X-Force.

    Worst X-Man Ever

    Here the New Mutants consist of X-Ceptional, who can explode permanently, Riches, who turns whatever he touches to gold, Minerva, who can manipulate reality, and Riches' sister Rags. Riches kills Professor X and takes over the world. Rags begins a relationship with Gambit, and Minerva goes to pure idea. X-Ceptional grabs Riches and explodes, killing them both.[36]

    Ultimate Marvel

    In Ultimate X-Men, the Academy of Tomorrow (previously called New Mutants) is founded by Emma Frost. It is loosely linked to the X-Men via Emma Frost's professional relationship with her former lover and teacher Charles Xavier. This Academy accepts any talented students, regardless of their genetic status. The team is headed by a non-telepathic and more pacifistic version of Emma Frost and headed by field leader Havok. During Ultimatum, the Academy of Tomorrow is destroyed in a terrorist attack by Multiple Man.[37] Former members include Angel, Beast, Cannonball, Dazzler, Karma, Northstar, Polaris, Sunspot and non-mutant Cypher. [38]

    In other media

    References

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    2. Grant, Paul J. (August 1993). "Poor Dead Doug, and Other Mutant Memories". Wizard: X-Men Turn Thirty. pp. 66–69.
    3. Buchanan, Bruce (August 2008). "The New Mutants: From Superhero Spin-Off to Sci-Fi/Fantasy". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (29): 62–68.
    4. The New Mutants #7 (September 1983)
    5. Uncanny X-Men #200 (December 1985)
    6. The New Mutants #57 (November 1987). Marvel Comics.
    7. The New Mutants #73 (March 1989). Marvel Comics.
    8. The New Mutants #76 (June 1989)
    9. The New Mutants #87 (March 1990)
    10. New X-Men vol. 2, #23 (April 2006)
    11. New X-Men vol. 2, #27 (August 2006)
    12. New X-Men vol. 2, #43 (December 2007)
    13. New X-Men vol. 2, #25 (June 2006)
    14. New X-Men: Academy X #6 (December 2004)
    15. X-Force vol. 3, #25 (Released March 2010, Published May 2010)
    16. New X-Men vol 2, #23 (April 2006)
    17. New Mutants vol. 3, #1 (July 2009)
    18. New Mutants vol. 3, #5 (Released September 2009, Published November 2009)
    19. New Mutants vol. 3, #6 (Released October 2009, Published December 2009)
    20. New Mutants vol. 3, #8 (Released December 2009, Published February 2010)
    21. New Mutants vol. 3, #10 (Released February 2010, Published April 2010)
    22. New Mutants vol. 3, #13 (Released May 2010, Published July 2010)
    23. New Mutants vol. 3, #25 (Released May 2011, Published July 2011)
    24. New Mutants vol. 3, #28 (Published July 2011, Released September 2011)
    25. New Mutants vol. 3, #33 (Published November 2011, Released January 2012)
    26. New Mutants vol. 3, #36 (Published January 2012, Released March 2012)
    27. New Mutants vol. 3, #45 (Published July 2012, Released September 2012)
    28. New Mutants (2019) #1
    29. New Mutants (2019) #3
    30. "Vita Ayala and Rod Reis Take the New Mutants on a Wild Ride in the Aftermath of X of Swords". previewsworld.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
    31. New Mutants (2019) #23]
    32. Beard, Jim (September 1, 2020). "Didja Know... New Mutants Are in the News". Retrieved October 19, 2020.
    33. "New Mutants (2019 - 2020)". Retrieved October 19, 2020.
    34. "New Mutants #31". Retrieved July 21, 2022.
    35. Wolverine: Rahne of Terra (Aug. 1991)
    36. X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever #1–5
    37. Ultimatum #3 (May 2009)
    38. Ultimate X-Men #20
    39. "Instagram photo by Josh Boone • May 3, 2016 at 5:40pm UTC". instagram.com.
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    44. McWeeny, Drew (March 31, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Are These Josh Boone's First Three 'New Mutants'?". HitFix.
    45. Evry, Max (January 5, 2017). "New Mutants Movie Exclusive: Anya Taylor-Joy Says James McAvoy Will Star". Superhero Hype.
    46. Chitwood, Adam (May 10, 2016). "'New Mutants': Simon Kinberg Says Professor X Will Appear; Filming Could Begin Early 2017". Collider. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
    47. That Hashtag Show (7 July 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Simon Kinberg and Olivia Munn Talk X-Men, New Mutants, and Gambit – Saturn Awards 2016". Archived from the original on 2021-12-12 via YouTube.
    48. Perry, Spencer (November 23, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: An Animatic from the New Mutants Movie Lands Online!". ComingSoon.net.
    49. McKittrick, Christopher (December 15, 2016). "From All We Had to X-Men: Josh Boone, a Busy Man". Creative Screenwriting.
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