New Mutants #8
Armor, Magma, and Boom Boom go to Nova Roma in New Mutants #8, by writer Ed Brisson, artist Marco Failla, colorist Carlos Lopez, and letterer Travis Lanham. This issue deals with some of the fallout of the last issue of the Earthbound team’s story and sets up a new foe.
Maxime and Manon report to Sebastian Shaw on what happened at Beak’s parents' house and he prepares a response. In the Amazon, a mutant is chased away from the Krakoan gate by a monster but is saved by spear-wielding people. Later, Magma takes Armor and Boom Boom to Nova Roma, her home. Her father’s forces saved the young mutant and have also had sightings of the beasts that attacked him near the gate. The three of them hike to the gate and are attacked by the beasts, but are able to kill them. Meanwhile, Sebastian Shaw meets with the Bohen Cartel. He reveals to them that they made a mistake targeting mutants, one which he rectifies by making a contract with another cartel to sell Krakoan drugs, who will use the money and power they gain to destroy the Bohem Cartel. At the gate, a woman finds the remains of the monsters and swears revenge.
This issue is basically a one and done, but Brisson uses it in such a way that a new reader can pick it up and get a complete story, while a returning reader gets some closure for plots from previous issues. He even takes a second to describe Nova Roma using one of the patented infographics that have helped the Dawn Of X so much. It’s very rare in today’s comic industry to get a story like this. First off, while it helps to read the issues before it, this one does a great job of laying out why things are the way they are for the characters. It has just enough exposition. Too much and it wouldn’t feel natural, but Brisson toes the line nicely. Secondly, it gives readers a complete story and a good one. There’s enough going on here to intrigue new readers. Third, it sets things up for what comes next, which will serve to keep those new readers coming back.
This may seem like a weird thing to praise, but the fact that this issue can be enjoyed on its own without having read every issue before it is a huge deal. Comics have become about writing for the trade. Every book has to do a five to a six-issue story arc that can be collected and sold as a single volume. This mentality has killed single-issue stories and while no one will come out and say it, that’s what has killed new readership. A kid walking into a comic store can’t just pick up an issue of something, because they are probably going to pick up the third or fourth issue of a story arc. That works for people with pulls, but for new readers? It’s death. Either they have to go back and buy a bunch of stuff or wait for the trade, meaning they won’t buy new issues when they come out since they’re behind and that means fewer people at comic stores, which means fewer sales. It’s a terrible cycle and probably not something you expected to read about in a comic review. However, it’s important to praise a comic that can be this friendly to new readers while also educating on why single issue stories are important to the industry, a lesson they seemed to have forgotten.
The art by Marco Failla is pretty good. The monsters have a very interesting look to them. There’s something gelatinous about them that makes them look extra monstrous. His character acting is pretty good, as well. His art isn’t perfect, but it does what it needs to do.
New Mutants #8 is a great single issue. Brisson shows that he hasn’t forgotten how to write a compelling single-issue story that is both new reader-friendly and a treat for returning readers. More comics need to be like this. He fits so much into this issue. The art Marco Failla does a great job with his script. There need to be more comics like this one.
Grade: A
