Cypher has a tough time ahead of him and has to learn how to fight in New Mutants #13, by writer Ed Brisson, artist Rod Reis, and letter Travis Lanham. Part seven of X Of Swords focuses on Cypher and his place in the tournament and is an excellent character study.

Magik calls Cyclops and Cable and tells them about the tournament, asking Cable to come back as soon as possible with the sword he found so he can participate. The rest of the issue focuses on Cypher, who is rightly doubting himself and his place in the tournament. Krakoa doesn’t want him to go, Magik tries to train him to fight, and Exodus says he can just kill him and since resurrection is off the table for the duration of the conflict, take his place. Cypher remains firm in his stance to be a part of things, and while he gets better at fighting, Magik still tells him he has no chance.

Cypher has always been among the most useless X-Men in a fight, and this issue shows him dealing with that. No one really wants him in the tournament because there’s only one outcome- he’ll die. He knows it, Krakoa knows it, Warlock knows it. However, Cypher has decided that he’s going to go through with it no matter what. Knowing that the chances he will die are close to a hundred percent, but he doesn’t want to put anyone else in his place; he doesn’t want anyone to die for him. He’s very noble and very foolish, which is the hallmark of a good hero.

Everyone has a reason for him not to fight; everyone has an answer to the problem. He doesn’t want their solutions; he just wants to spare someone else. Brisson does a fantastic job in this issue of taking a look at Cypher and who he is. X Of Swords has put many things on hold, but in this case, it gives Brisson the perfect opportunity to take a look at Cypher. It’s not something that might have otherwise happened, and it makes for a great story. This is how the best crossover issues can be used- to take a look at a character in a new situation and how they deal with it.

Rod Reis is back on interiors for the first time in a while, and it works well. One of the best parts of the issue is how he uses color- Krakoa has a lushness to it in his art that it doesn’t have when other people draw it. Overlaying the training scenes with red, underscoring just how important they are; while it’s just training, it will be a matter of life and death. The way he uses color throughout does a lot for the tone of the issue.

New Mutants #13 is almost like a pause button on X Of Swords. It focuses on the characters and how they’re reacting to the overarching plot, making it an especially good crossover issue. Character gets left out of these kinds of things a lot, and Brisson does a superb job in this issue, making this issue about Cypher and his struggles. Rod Reis’ art is excellent, especially the way he uses color. All in all, this is a great comic.

Grade: A+