New Mutants #24
The team figures out where to go next in New Mutants #24, by writer Vita Ayala, artist Danilo Beyruth, colorist Dan Brown, and letterer Travis Lanham. Ayala proves yet again in this issue that they are one of the best writers on the X-Men books right now.
This issue moves between the cast in the aftermath of the battle against Shadow King. Magik and Rictor talk about how to make Krakoa a closer-knit society, with Magik's solution being magic. Moonstar and Rahne reconnect, reaffirming their bond to each other. The team takes Cosmar to Masque to help her look like she wants. Warpath is reunited with his brother Thunderbird and the Krakoan authorities finally do right by No-Girl, giving her a new body, where she takes a new name- Cerebella. As Magik and Rictor continue discussing magic, the team goes to see Amahl Farouk off on the next phase of his absolution. Magik talks to Madelyne Pryor, offering her everything she's ever wanted.
Ayala has proven themself to be a singular talent on New Mutants, and this issue is no exception. Their run on the book has used its superheroes' trappings to talk about communication, society, and identity. Superheroes are at their best when they turn their eyes to the real world, and Ayala realizes this. This issue gets pretty deep, using superhero concepts to talk about things that affect everyone- self-image, interpersonal relationships, and so much more. On top of that, they still manage to build an engaging plot, using all these elements to start a new story arc.
The moment between Warpath and Thunderbird is breathtaking. It's a simple reunion between brothers, but Ayala invests it with so much emotion. Most current readers have never read a story with Thunderbird in it, but Ayala is able to sell the moment using an info page right before the reunion. It's a great piece of writing, much like the moment later in the comic with the debut of Cerebella. No-Girl finally getting a body and being what she should be after years stuck in a body she hated is a powerful moment, made all the better because of Ayala's place in the trans community. It makes the whole scene that much more authentic.
Beyruth takes over as artist on this issue. Beyruth has a nice style, but their figure work isn't consistent throughout the book. However, he is able to capture the sheer emotion of the scene between Warpath and Thunderbird, as well as perfectly selling the scene with Cerebella. In fact, his work getting across the emotion Ayala invests onto every page is his greatest asset. Even when the art isn't exactly perfect, it's still doing exactly what it needs to do.
New Mutants #24 is yet another example of Ayala putting the other X-writers on notice that they are the best. This issue is exactly what the X-Men books should be. Beyruth's linework isn't perfect, but he has a skill at getting emotion across that is second to none. This book has set a high bar, and this issue vaults over it effortlessly.
