New Mutants #20
A new mutant manifests as members of the team deal with their own problems on Krakoa in New Mutants #20, by writer Vita Ayala, artist Alex Lins, colorist Matt Milla, and letterer Travis Lanham. Things are coming to a head in this chapter as Shadow King’s machinations get clearer and Warpath does something unexpected.
Cosmar, Rain, No-Girl, and Anole decide that only they can deal with Scout’s death and work independently to resurrect her, with No-Girl taking over Scout’s body. Karma sees Rahne talking to Shadow King and tries to warn her about his manipulations, but it doesn’t go well at all. Warpath, Magik, and some of their students find a new mutant, helping to clean up after the disaster of her powers manifesting. When they try to take her to Krakoa, the townspeople fight back, and Warpath decides to let her stay, giving her the option of coming to Krakoa for training. Daken confronts the kids on their way to Arbor Magna, but No-Girl tells him off for not really caring about Scout. They make it to the Hatchery, using their powers to knock out Tempus, but they’re confronted by Wolfsbane, just as Karma and Mirage start to talk about what’s going on with their teammate.
Ayala’s really made a lot of improvements to this book in their time on it. There’s really so much to love about this comic, but there are two standout parts. The first is the mission to get the new mutant. Magik and Warpath’s students work to help the humans, and no one hates on them or tries to stop them. These people don’t hate the mutant child for the destruction- they fight to keep her. It’s an entirely unexpected moment for the New Mutants, and Warpath decides to let her stay with her family. It’s been rare, especially since the establishment of Krakoa, to encounter humans who didn’t hate the mutant among them, but the people of the island the girl lives on are a community and love her no matter what. Ayala is making an important statement about acceptance and community.
The next best part of the comic is when Rain, Cosmar, Anole, and No-Girl talk about what Scout meant to them, the things she did for them, and how she made them feel. It plays into the earlier scene because it’s also about community. The young mutants feel like outsiders in a place where they shouldn’t feel that way. They’re in their own community, and yet the other people in that community make them feel like they don’t belong. Scout, though, wasn’t like the others. She listened and made them feel like people. She made them feel accepted. Throughout the issue, Ayala plays with the theme of acceptance in different ways, and it works wonderfully.
Lins’s art is excellent throughout the book. His character acting is top-notch, and while there aren’t any colossal action scenes, he makes the whole issue work. Each scene looks excellent, his style making everything work so well. He captures the emotion of every character so very well. His style has been a breath of fresh air on this book.
New Mutants #20 is all Ayala talking about acceptance in different ways. It works wonderfully; it all plays into the plots they’ve been building throughout their run, and the ending builds such anticipation for the next issue. Lins’s art delivers as well. This is a beautiful installment throughout, and it’s a joy to read.
