Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
On May 6, old becomes new again, when the New Mutants return in an ongoing series written by Zeb Wells with art by Diogenes Neves.
To celebrate this second renaissance for Charles Xavier's second class, the Secret Cabal pored over the Muties' history and selected their 10 all-time favorite members of the team. And beginning next Tuesday, get ready for New Mutants Week right here on Marvel.Com!
For each character you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy!
10. KARMA
First Appearance: MARVEL TEAM-UP v1 #100 (1980)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "Karma definitely had a harder edge to her than the other original New Mutants when the team first formed, making her an awkward fit, but also providing for tension that added to the excitement of those early stories. As time has passed, Shan has grown into a young woman far more capable of compassion and friendship, but no less dangerous with her potent powers of possession. Now that she's hanging around the X-Men on a more regular basis in San Francisco, we look forward to Karma's time to shine, both on the main team and reunited with her old friends." – Secret Cabal member Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: NEW MUTANTS v1 #5—Karma leads the New Mutants against Viper and the Silver Samurai in one of the team's very first missions!
9. CYPHER
First Appearance: NEW MUTANTS v1 #13 (1984)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "I love this character 100%. Call him helpless, dead weight, whatever, but he is honestly a character that was before his time. His ability to speak any language was visionary at the dawn of the personal computer age. Had he been introduced today, he would have been one of the most powerful characters around. He is my selfriend." – Secret Cabal member RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN ANNUAL #10—Cypher and the rest of the New Mutants must grow up fast to content with…the X-Babies!
8. RICTOR
First Appearance: X-FACTOR v1 #17 (1987)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "By the time Rictor made his way into the New Mutants, they were a tight-knit family just waiting for a fiery Latino bad boy to—excuse the pun—shake things up. With his rebellious streak and freaky Mohawk, Ric did just that, but he also proved a loyal friend and good teammate to have. Through his 'angry young man' phase as part of X-Force and current powerless reinvention within X-Factor, Rictor has never stopped causing welcome upheaval in the lives of our favorite mutants." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-FACTOR v2 #1—After losing his mutant powers, Rictor searches for purpose—on the ledge of a rooftop!
7. SUNSPOT
First Appearance: MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #4 (1982)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "Roberto Dacosta was unique among his fellow founding New Mutants in that whereas they all came off as massively insecure almost immediately, his cocky, flirtatious attitude seemed to indicate a carefree and sophisticated young man with nary a care in the world. Essentially, he seemed like that one guy we all knew growing up—you know the one. But scratch Sunspot's charcoal surface and you found a complex personality forged from guilt and an extremely flawed family dynamic. These foibles didn't curb 'berto's pick-up lines, but it was nice to know he was also still human—well, mutant." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: NEW MUTANTS v1 #7—Sunspot battles Axe with his mother's life at stake!
6. DANI MOONSTAR
First Appearance: MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #4 (1982)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "Wanna know my deep dark secret? I hated now-classic NEW MUTANTS artist Bill Sienkiewicz's stuff at first. I didn't understand it. It was
such a departure from the classic, clean style of Bob McLeod. And then I re-read the Demon Bear saga, and I realized this was brilliant art for a complex glimpse into the psyche of a character once called Psyche. Dani's powers have always been cool, but it was her personal turmoil, first revealed in the Demon Bear saga, that always made me love her. Co-leader of the team, haunted by her past, and a freaking Valkyrie with her own flying horse—plus, she's an archer of sorts. Come on! What's not to love?!" – RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: NEW MUTANTS v1 #3—Dani Moonstar confronts her inner demons!
5. CABLE
First Appearance: UNCANNY X-MEN #201 (1986)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "While Cable didn't spend nearly as much time as a New Mutant as most of the others on this list, he took a rag-tag group of students and turned them into a major mutant fighting force at a point when they needed guidance and strength most. Yes, he splintered the group. Yes, Warlock died under his watch. Yes, he officially destroyed any remaining innocence and adolescent normalcy the kids may have had left, but he brought awesome guns, lots of pouches and tons of 'tude." – Secret Cabal member Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: NEW MUTANTS v1 #87—The first appearance of Cable!
4. MAGIK
First Appearance: GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (1975)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "The addition of the Darkchylde to the New Mutants shook up the team like no other. Struggling with inner and outer demons—literally—Illyana Rasputin took the team to hell and back...well, to Limbo, but that was close enough. The team was able to start to strike out on their own with a teleporter on their side, leaving the safety of the mansion for the big bad world, though thanks to her powers, never knowing for sure where they would end up. Just like in real life!" – RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: NEW X-MEN v2 #38—When Belasco drags the New X-Men to Limbo, Magik makes her return!
3. WARLOCK
First Appearance: NEW MUTANTS v1 #18 (1984)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "Straight up, Warlock was a techno-organic being, not a mutant—or even remotely human. He looked different, he sounded different and he acted different. But, really, isn't that whole 'being different' thing part of what makes mutants who they are? Quirky to the Nth degree, Warlock's weirdness and cool powers helped make him not only one of the most visually interesting New Mutants, but also one of the funniest and, strangely, most relatable. He, like readers, was devastated when Doug Ramsey died. And Warlock's death on Genosha remains one of the most memorable, and heartbreaking demises in mutant lore." – Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL #3—Warlock faces off with the Impossible Man!
2. WOLFSBANE
First Appearance: MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #4 (1982)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "Perhaps the New Mutant who has experienced the most growth since her first appearance, this blushing lass with a rigid Catholic upbringing and the guilt associated was a case study in the complexity of inner struggles with the power that resided within her. Raised to believe she was spawn of the devil, she represented the self-hatred that so many teens and youths go through, but has managed to deal with those issues, rising above them. She is a great example of the power of the mutant metaphor." – RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: X-FACTOR v1 #76—Wolfsbane clashes with Polaris for the love of Havok!
1. CANNONBALL
First Appearance: MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #4 (1982)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "The first New Mutant to 'graduate' to X-Men status, Sam Guthrie stands not only as one of the Muties' great success stories, but one of the most stalwart and true heroes among the Children of the Atom. Taking the best lessons learned from a diverse array of teacher that included Professor X, Magneto and Cable, and combining them with a resolute heart and commitment to doing the right thing forged in his days as a Kentucky coalminer, Cannonball stands out even amongst his celebrated peers. His awkward early days with the New Mutants made him relatable and his eventual ascension to big leagues provided plenty of feel-good moments for the fans who stuck with him." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-TREME X-MEN #24—In the wake of disaster, Sam Guthrie re-evaluates the path his life has taken!
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