Era #4, Part 06: New Mutants Classic, Vol 7

My Grade: C+

This run, collected in New Mutants Classics, Vol 7, is Chris Claremont's last with Xavier's youngest students. For me, it typifies his entire time at the helm of the title. He presented some very off-the-wall tales that I just couldn't get into, but he also wrote some fantastic stories that really explored the characters. It made for a memorable ride.

Here we have some off-beat time travel (ugh), the climactic battle against the Magus and in my humble opinion, one of the best Hellion match-ups. It also sets the stage for the events that close Era #4, Inferno!

[2-Stars] 48 - "Ashes of the Heart" Karma, Magma, Sunspot and Wolfsbane are transported into a future very similar to the Days of Future Past story (or is this that future?). Sentinels rule with the sole purpose of eliminating mutants. The New Mutants find familiar allies in the future versions of Cannonball and Mirage, both of whom are jaded and exhausted at the cost of war that has taken so many of their friends.

[2-Stars] 49 - "Ashes of the Soul" Cannonball, Cypher, Mirage and Warlock find themselves in a future where mutants rule. Humans live in squalor with their children at risk of abduction by the state if they are identified as mutants. The New Mutants team-up with an older Katie Powers to find the surprising source of this dystopian future.

[3-Stars] 50 - "Father's Day!" This is a double-stuffed issue with all kinds of goodies. Professor X and the Starjammers find Magik! She explains that Limbo is at war, but with her mentor's help, Illyana is able return to her war-torn home and reunite the the rest of the New Mutants. They must finally face one of their biggest foes who has been chasing them relentlessly -- the Magus!

[3-Stars] 51 - "Teachers' Choice" Professor X learns about the recent activities of the the New Mutants, the X-Men and X-Factor. He must decide between returning home with his students or repay his debt with the Starjammers.

[3-Stars] 52 - "Grounded Forever" Magneto deals with his returned students.

Annual 3 - "Anything You Can Do--!" The Impossible Man is back and it is up to Warlock ... *sigh* ... I can't even finish this. It is a cute story in which two socially inept shape-shifters try to out do each other. Amusing, but not fulfilling.

[4-Stars] 53 - "Seduced & Abandoned" Magneto gives his students a break from their grounding to attend a Hellfire Club gala. The New Mutants are already uncomfortable in the den of one of the X-Men's greatest foes, but they may not be able to contain their tempers when they run into the Hellions.

[4-Stars] 54 - "Ratrace!" Karma's search for her missing siblings comes to a head while the rest of team races against the Hellions to find a missing artifact. It is a winner take all competition with team pride at stake.