The New Mutants (1983)

The New Mutants find themselves in the middle of two fights: Sabretooth and Caliban and Sabretooth and the Morlocks. Cable commands and the team follows and everyone makes it out alive. Well, maybe not Sabretooth.

Synopsis

Sabretooth and Caliban fight viciously in the Morlock Tunnels, but Rictor is unable to escape because of his wounds. Sabretooth seems to have the upper hand when he crashes a huge block of concrete on Caliban's head, but Rictor ruins Sabretooth's next attack back by using his own powers against the Marauder. This gives Caliban enough time to recover and spar with Sabretooth again, instead of letting him kill Rictor.

Cable and the New Mutants charge through the tunnels but soon encountere Morlocks who had all been maddened and deformed by Masque. Although they are surrounded, Cable's show of arms scares the Morlocks off enough for them to let the New Mutants pass. Wolfsbane quickly picks up Rictor's scent and the New Mutants come upon the fight between Sabretooth and Caliban.

Caliban warns them to stay away, but when Wolfsbane sees that Rictor has been injured she leaps into the fight. Caliban easily slashes upwards as she flies through the air, while Cannonball attacks, crushing Sabretooth against the tunnel wall. Despite Cable's warning, Sunspot enters into combat against Caliban. Cable has misgivings about how the New Mutants no longer operate well as a team and orders Boom-Boom to destroy the tunnel ceiling. She makes the concrete collapse above Caliban's head, burying him. Cable is impressed and Boom-Boom relishes in her moment of victory. However, they've lost sight of Rictor.

Sabretooth flees through the tunnels with Rictor over his shoulder. Once they are far enough away, he throws Rictor down and moves in to kill him. He taunts Rictor about how he shouldn't have come between a hunter and his prey. Rictor's fear subsides as his strength returns. He begins to vibrate so much that the tunnel collapses.

Feeling the earth shaking, the New Mutants decide to abandon Caliban and run to Rictor's aid. By the time they find him, Sabretooth has fled to a safe distance. However, he returns after Rictor has calmed down. With the rest of the New Mutants around him, Rictor is able to exchange banter with Sabretooth. Cable raises his gun claiming that when Sabretooth hurts one of the New Mutants then he hurts them all and would therefore have to pay. However, Masque intervenes, demanding that the Morlocks have more right to punish Sabretooth. While Sunspot begins to debate about how they needed to defend Rictor's honor, Cannonball suggests that they should leave while they still can. Cable agrees, which frustrates Sunspot.

Sabretooth threatens the remaining Morlocks, but Caliban bursts through the rubble. Masque is shocked to see Caliban's transformation and he quickly bows out of the way letting Caliban continue his fight against Sabretooth. Cable makes the team wait a moment, and they are repulsed when Caliban snaps Sabretooth's spine and leave him for dead.

Back in the school's underground complex, Rictor lies recuperating in the medical quarters. The others tease him, and he angers Wolfsbane when he says he hasn't changed his opinion of Cable. Wolfsbane points out how much Cable had already done for them and demands that he give Cable another chance before storming out.

Later, Rictor recognizes that he's been playing it too soft in the medical quarters and heads to the Danger Room to practice. However, he finds Cable in there training. Amazed to see a man of Cable's age continue fighting, even though he was outnumbered, Rictor is forced to admit to himself that he is starting to respect Cable.

Note: This issue is followed by the Annual cross-over event, Days Of Future Present which begins in Fantastic Four Annual #23.

Some point before heading to Madripoor, Cable tests Rahne in the Danger Room and finds that she has a fear that stems from a previous circus incident. Rahne tells a story of a New Mutants visit to Kentucky and what befell them at a circus ran by Skrulls.

Additional: After the story is a pin-up of the New Mutants by Rob Liefeld from 1989. The roster includes Rusty and Skids (who had gone missing before Cable joined the team).

Note: Although it is not essential to continuity, the events of the New Mutants Summer Special #1 follow this issue, being sometime before the New Mutants reach Madripoor.

Synopsis

Cable and Rahne complete a session in the training room. Cable is impressed with how well Rahne stayed on-pace the whole time. As one final test for the day, Cable programs the Danger Room to simulate a large clown that threatens to squish Rahne under its shoe. Rahne unhinges and asks Cable to abandon the program. He explains that he's read each file for the New Mutants and knows about their psychological tendencies, as well as their physical capabilities. Rahne explains that this fear is the result of a day in Kentucky at the circus.

Rahne's Story: Cannonball's mom drops he, Rictor, Sunspot, Rahne, and Boom-Boom off at the local circus. As Mrs. Guthrie waxes parental, a lion comes up behind Boom-Boom. The teens are startled, but the animal tamer assures the New Mutants that ever animal is perfectly tame and safe. They are so much so that Rictor gets a back-scratch from a rhino. As the animal tamer leads the animals away, the teens can't help but feel that the experience was a little creepy.

Away from the New Mutants, the animal tamer alerts a clown that the new arrivals seem to be mutants. The clown simply states that they will soon be tested. That test comes by way of a carny and his stuffed bear prize. Some scent permeates from the doll and Rahne is simply spellbound by it. She must have it. Sunspot steps up and, with much bravado, succeeds at throwing all three balls short of their target, even in Sunspot mode. Cannonball steps up and is able to throw far enough, but his aim is poor. Boom-Boom's turn, and she adds a little unseen time bomb to succeed in knocking the pins over. Rahne gets her bear, and the circus clown retrieves his analysis ball from among the fallen bottles. He is pleased with what this one circus game has shown him.

As the New Mutants walk around the circus, Rahne swoons and is taken to a medical tent. The old nurse says that Rahne just needs some fluids and that the others should leave her. Rictor stays. After the others leave, the nurse gives Rahne a medicine that completely knocks her out. Rictor attempts to confront the old nurse, but the clown shows up with a spray that knocks Rictor out, as well. Rahne and Rictor awaken to find that they are concealed in some type of glass enclosure with others. Even worse, it seems that they've been shrunk and are on display in the circus!

The other three enter a fun house that looks like it has a spooky twist. Once inside, Cannonball gets creeped out by what appears to be a real human skeleton. Sunspot can't believe how real a caged alien looks. All three are grossed out by chained, intelligent broccoli. At this point, an alien in a cap appears from a panel in the wall and tries to grab Boom-Boom. She loves the effect. Her attention is then focused on a case of real looking tiny people. As if on cue, Rictor unleashes a blast against the glass, shaking the display. The New Mutants wonder how Rictor's power could be duplicated in such a manner when Boom-Boom ends up getting grabbed by the same alien from before. She tries to pull off the mask, but she finds that the alien is really an alien. As the teens realize they are in trouble, Rictor unleashes a blast that shatters the display, knocking the alien holding Boom-Boom unconscious. Tiny people escape the display; Rahne and Rictor find their friends and all begin running. As they do so, Rahne and Rictor seem to grow back to normal size.

Upon escaping the Fun House, the New Mutants run into the circus folk. They inform the kids that the circus people are Skrull Slavers and the mutants will be sold into intergalactic slavery. (As an aside, the clown mentions that they had a disaster that prevents the Skrulls from changing their forms any more.) The clown shoots a net over the teens and Sunspot uses his sun-strength to tear the net apart. Unfortunately, the strain of that one act was enough to drain him of his powers. Boom-Boom attempts to stampede all the animals, but she finds that the animals are Skrulls, too. Rictor does his best to shake things up, but it's Cannonball who's able to scramble the Skrulls by blasting through everyone. The police are heard approaching and the Skrulls escape. The New Mutants watch as the circus collapses onto itself and forms a space ship, rocketing back into the cosmos. One of the circus animals, a mouse, laments that he got left behind.

Finishing her story, Rahne accepts that danger can lurk in the most innocent of places. As she and Cable walk away, a mouse watches from the shadows.

This issue takes place after the events of Days of Future Present.

The New Mutants are to meet someone in Madripoor. Their arrival, however, seems to have been known beforehand because a trap is in place. The fight is almost overwhelming but Sunfire comes to the rescue. As their contact, he informs them that Stryfe has a biological weapon and must be stopped. The New Mutants split up in hopes of finding the Mutant Liberation Front's hide out. The airborne group is confronted by members of the MLF while Cable's group runs into Wolverine. Neither encounter ends well.

Synopsis

Cable and the New Mutants arrive in Low Town, Madripoor to a welcoming committee of mercenaries. The team was supposed to meet a contact from the Japanese government, so a fire fight was a little unexpected. Fortunately, their contact arrives and helps the New Mutants take out the opposition. Cable welcomes Sunfire and the two agree that someone is watching them closely. Having no need for further secrecy, the men take the New Mutants to High Town. Elsewhere, General Coy, the chief among Madripoor's crime lords, is notified by Stryfe that the operations in Madripoor will be overseen by his personal cronies: Sumo, Kamikaze, and the Dragoness.

In High Town, Sunfire alerts the New Mutants to his problem: someone is using a drug called Sleet to poison water in Japan. He had tracked the operations to Madripoor. Likely, Cable had tracked the Mutant Liberation Front to Madripoor. Teaming up was an obvious solution. Cable hands out mini-Cerebro sets so that the New Mutants can split up. Cable keeps Sunspot, Rictor, and Wolfsbane on the ground and sends Sunfire, Warlock, Cannonball, and Boom-Boom on aerial reconnaissance. (Boom-Boom rides Warlock.)

On the ground, Sunspot tries to talk to Rictor about the inferred problems with Cable. Rictor tells Sunspot to mind his own business. When Sunspot tries to talk to Wolfsbane about it, she tells him the same thing. Back in the air, the recon team meets with the Madripoor MLF team. The battle is fierce. Sunfire notices that the Dragoness has a similar intensity to her solar powers. Cannonball and Warlock discover how to contain Kamikaze's power. In the end, however, Stryfe arrives and hits the New Mutants with a paralysis ray. He then tells them that he's going to release Sleet in multiple locations and that he will hold the mutants powerless until they decide to help him. Stryfe breaks the mini-Cerebro unit so that Cable can't find his charges.

Cable's squad notices that the other team no longer registers on the mini-Cerebro. While the young mutants worry, Cable assures them that their friends are resourceful and should be able to handle any situation. He notes another problem. Wolfsbane switches to her wolf form and Sunspot powers up, but it's Cable who takes the charge. Sunspot watches in horror as he realizes that Cable is engaging Wolverine in a fight. He also realizes that there is nothing that he can do to stop his two mentors as they tear at each other. His worst realization, though, comes as he realizes that the men recognize each other and that knowledge only seems to fuel their fight.

Despite appearances, Cable and Wolverine end up fighting alongside each other as they try to take down Stryfe's operations in Madripoor. Elsewhere, Cable's New Mutants find the lessons they've been taught are valuable. Everyone ends up meeting in Stryfe's warehouse, a locale that has explosive results.

Note: This issue is immediately followed by the X-Tinction Agenda. See Uncanny X-Men #270 for the first chapter. New Mutants #95 is Chapter 2 and should be read after Uncanny X-Men. Also, for the supposed background to Cable and Wolverine's fight, see Wolverine and Cable: Guts and Glory.

Synopsis

Cable and Wolverine continue their fight.

At the MLF headquarters in Madripoor, Sunfire, Warlock, Boom-Boom, and Cannonball are rendered useless by a stasis beam. They are strung up by their arms and the Dragoness gloats about how the presence of the New Mutants has only served to accelerate the plans of the MLF to release the drug Sleet on the world's capitals that very evening. As a parting gift, the Dragoness plants a big kiss on Cannonball. Boom-Boom, enraged at Cannonball's supposed swooning, retaliates by also kissing him. The two are surprised at their chemistry. Cannonball states that Boom-Boom's jealousy is unnecessary. He filched the key to their shackles from the Dragoness while she was focusing on kissing Cannonball. Sunfire is impressed by Cable's tutelage.

Outside, Cable and Wolverine continue their battle. Knowing that something needs to be done before someone gets killed, Rictor vibes a water tower's contents onto the men, very effectually ending the fight. Wolverine explains that the fight wasn't too serious, although the reasons why the men sparred were serious enough. One day, he and Cable will get to finish their fight. For now, they must figure out what Stryfe is up to.

Currently, Stryfe has learned that Dragoness has allowed the New Mutants to escape by some foolishness. He sends the dispensable, human guards to take care of the New Mutants while he takes his mutant team to disperse the Sleet. Cannonball's squad sees the human guards and has to suppress Sunfire's urge to flay them in a blaze of death. Boom-Boom seconds Cannonball's plan and states that they need subtly if they want to find the Sleet. Sunfire relents and the guards get taken out by surprise. Sunfire keeps one guard conscious and has the man lead the mutants to the drug. They enter the warehouse where the Sleet is stored as Wolverine and Cable bust in through a skylight.

As the New Mutants regroup, Stryfe and his forces enter. A battle ensues. Warlock and Sunspot take out Sumo with a trampoline/slingshot approach. Cannonball knocks Kamikaze out of commission. Rictor notices Sunfire being cautious with the Dragoness so he vibes her from flight. Too late does he realize that Sunfire was being cautious because not only does the warehouse hold the Sleet but because it also houses tons of explosives. The New Mutants flee as the whole warehouse goes up in a glorious explosion that destroys all the Sleet, as well as the supposed MLF members. Cable doesn't think the fight is over, but it will have to be resumed after the X-Tinction Agenda.

Continued from Uncanny X-Men #270. Storm, Rictor, Rahne, Boom-Boom, and Warlock are prisoners of Genosha, a country waging war on the X-Men. It seems, however, that Cameron Hodge is the one pulling the strings. Nasty things are prepared for the mutants and even worse things are planned for Warlock. X-Factor is called in as Genosha draws first blood.

Story continues in X-Factor #60.

Synopsis

In Genosha, the Citadel flashes with the arrival of new, potential mutates. Two current mutates notice the arrival but hurry back to work. Inside the Citadel, Boom-Boom, Rictor, Wolfsbane, and Storm arrive naked. They watch as Warlock is teleported in, though his transition was a bit more difficult. Everyone is welcomed by Cameron Hodge, a being with a human head and large mechanical, spider-like body. Despite their nudity, the young mutants put up a fight. It is short lived, however, due to Wipeout negating their powers. The young mutants are then taken into custody.

At Xavier's, the rest of the X-Men and New Mutants try to figure out what happened to their comrades. Gambit is a little calloused, only caring for Storm. Forge finds out that whoever attacked was well off, having the best weapons money can buy. Stevie announces that X-Factor has been called and will join the teams shortly.

In the cell of the young mutants, they have been clothed as mutates and have been given numbers. They care little for their predicament, only that Warlock seems to be dying. During transport, Warlock hadn't been put back together properly. His life-force was depleted. Instead of letting him die, the young mutants offer their own life-force to sustain him. Warlock is moved but warns the teens about contracting the transmode virus that potentially had killed Doug Ramsey. Before the transfer can take place, Cameron Hodge phases through the walls and announces that he will be the one infected by the transmode virus. Being immortal, his head is stuck to the hideous body his bioengineers constructed for him. The transmode virus will allow Hodge to alter his form as he sees fit. The young mutants attempt to protect each other, but Hodge leaves with Warlock.

In the lab of Genosha's Genegineer, a young man is about to be assimilated into a mutate. Hodge barges in and demands that the young mutants be made mutates. The Genegineer does not understand the use of Warlock. Hodge lays Warlock aside and begins telling of the uses Warlock will be. While they are engaged, Warlock attempts to slither away.

In their cell, Boom-Boom and Storm quarrel as to the effect of Storm's actions back at Xavier's. Across the cell, Rictor recalls for Wolfsbane how Hodge had captured and tortured him once before. Just then, Warlock arrives and alerts the young mutants of Hodge's plan to turn them into mutates. Using the last of his energy, Warlock shorts out the cell door and the mutants escape. Warlock can't move and he can't be carried, so the young mutants leave him in hopes of finding help in time. Within seconds, however, Hodge is alerted by Havok that the mutants have escaped. The Genoshans go in pursuit.

In New York, X-Factor arrives and Cable vents his anger at Storm for having fused the hatch shut. Cyclops views the hatch an thinks the fusion looks like his brother's signature, but Havok has been missing for a while. Cannonball announces that Valerie Cooper has called about the execution of the captured mutants.

Under the Citadel in Genosha, Wolfsbane and Rictor flee from the Hodge. Wolfsbane convinces Rictor that they need to split up. He questions her motives, afraid she'll simply go back for Warlock. She convinces him otherwise, yet still goes back for Warlock. Once again in the Citadel, she hears the screams of Warlock. She attacks. She manages to somehow disrupt the transfer of Warlock's transmode virus to Hodge. This slight disruption is enough to doom Hodge to his hideous body, but also enough to kill Warlock. His body turns to dust.

At the X-Mansion, news reaches the assembled teams of Warlock's death. It's said to be the result of an escape attempt. Genosha recommits to punishing the mutants for their crimes. The phone rings and Forge alerts everyone that the President has called and wants to meet with them. Is it to help or hinder in getting the young mutants back?

Continued from Uncanny X-Men #271. Cable and Co. are finally in a position to make their attack on the citadel. Breaking into two groups, the assault begins as the de-powered Boom-Boom and Rictor make their way back into the center of the action. Cameron Hodge, however, seems to be one step ahead of everything and the younger mutants can only watch as their friends are confronted with the latest mutate to enter the Genoshan fold.

Story continues in X-Factor # 61.

Synopsis

A tele-mutate announces to Genoshan citizens that Wolverine and Psylocke have been captured. Shortly thereafter, magistrates and a mutate tracker continue their hunt for the escaped young mutants, Boom-Boom and Rictor. Unbeknownst to the magistrates, however, is that Jubilee is also a part of the party and she still has her powers. Jubilee tries to use her firecrackers to lead the magistrates away from Boom-Boom and Rictor, but they instead meet her and jump the guards by using a little learned martial arts. Having felled the magistrates, the mutate cowers, unsure of that the mutants will do to him. The mutants take the mutate under their wings and flee at the sound of back-up.

Cable and the rest of the X-Teams agree on a plan to attack the Citadel. Those with silent powers are to go and set bombs around the facilities and locate the prisoners. Those with louder powers will be a distraction. Cyclops can't help but shake the feeling that the actions of Genosha are more than just political posturing; it must personal. Jean telekinetically transports the quiet team to the Citadel while Archangel explains to Cannonball the corruptness of the Genoshan government and how it's not unlikely that they would have manipulated Havok into becoming a magistrate.

In the Citadel, Havok and Chief Magistrate Anderson explain to Hodge that the X-Teams are difficult to find. There must be an inhibitor in place made by Forge. Hodge is upset, but he quickly turns to Wolfsbane, as she is next to be changed into a mutate. Hodge wants the Genegineer to make it so that in some dark recess of Wolfsbane's mind that she'll know that all her pain was caused by Hodge. The Genegineer states that this is a dangerous request, but Hodge insists. Havok secretly contemplates how his confrontation with Cyclops rattled him.

Realizing their hunger, the young, on-the-run mutants have the mutate find an empty apartment that they can forage through. After only a few minutes, a magistrate barges in. It's his apartment, but that doesn't stop Rictor from subduing the man. At that moment, an announcement is broadcast on television from Wolfsbane. She states that she has offered her services to Genosha and begs her comrades to do the same. Rictor is enraged and wants to charge the Citadel on his own. Boom-Boom stops him the the young mutants decide to go together with the mutate as their guide (he noticing his programming growing weaker with prolonged contact to the young mutants).

At the Citadel, Jean and the "quiet" mutants land and begin setting charges. A magistrate comes upon the group but gets taken out by one of Gambit's hurled bomb casings. The magistrate falls and makes an incredible commotion. He lands right in front of the young mutants, having arrived in the Citadel via the sewers that Rictor had fled through earlier. Being in the Citadel, the mutate can no longer deny his programming and he darts away. Because of the noise of the fallen magistrate, Hodge and troops arrive to attack the "quiet" mutants. Jubilee wants to rush out and help, but she is held back by Rictor. Despite the mutants performing well against the magistrates, Hodge orders Wipeout to steal the powers of everyone in the fight. Hodge thinks he hears whispering, but the mutate simply reappears and lies about his own noises. (This marks the first instance in which a mutate lies to a superior and shows any modicum of will.) Boom-Boom and Rictor are pleased at having held Jubilee back, as she still has her powers. However, they see Wolfsbane come from the shadows. She reaffirms her commitment to Genosha and Rictor commits to saving her and destroying the Citadel.

Continued from Uncanny X-Men #272. Hodge now has two problems: Storm has restored her teammates' powers and the Genegineer is helping lay waste the power and communications systems. He also has an advantage: he's nigh invulnerable. With all the cards on the table, the X-Teams begin tearing the citadel apart in hopes of stopping Hodge once and for all.

Story concludes in X-Factor # 62.

Synopsis

Hodge confronts the X-Teams to find that Storm and Cyclops have their powers back. Storm quickly gives Jean Grey her powers back and the three try to hold Hodge back from the other mutants. Hodge proves to powerful, however, and advances on the three powerful mutants. Yet, before he can fully attack the three, an explosion rocks the Citadel and Hodge quickly departs. Cyclops tells the others that Forge had released a secret search bomb that was to find Hodge's main source of information and power and then detonate.

Outside, Boom-Boom, Rictor, and Jubilee also witness the explosion, as it takes out the Genegineer and his mutate. The two had the misfortune of trying to tunnel into Hodge's office, which had just been rocked by Forge's bomb. The young mutants pull the still-living Genegineer into the office. They quickly hide when Hodge comes to investigate. Fortunately for Hodge, the most important stuff is still in tact. He departs. Boom-Boom finds the remains of Warlock and Rictor, in a rage, threatens the Genegineer.

Topside, Cyclops speaks cue words to Forge and he wakes up. He sees Storm and the two embrace. Storm then gives everyone their powers back. The teams split up and Storm's group heads to the Hodge's quarters to see the damage. They find the young mutants who are about to rip the Genegineer apart upon finding out that Wipeout is dead and their powers may never be restored. Storm allays their fears by restoring their powers. Sadly, when Wolfsbane is touched she is only able to escape the mutate process in her lycanthropic states.

Hodge prowls the halls of the Citadel and attacks a team of mutants. He is victorious and is about to finish off the particular team when he feels his power draining. Down in his lab, Rictor, Boom-Boom, and Sunspot are tearing everything apart. Hodge appears and attacks. He takes a licking, but it isn't until the Genegineer shoots a very large gun that Hodge takes a life. He grabs the Genegineer and snaps the man's neck. Being weakened, Hodge phases through the floor of the lab and escapes. The mutants follow.

New writer Fabian Nicieza shows how the New Mutants are being pulled in different directions. Rictor wants to save Rahne, Cable wants to raise troops for war, and the remaining members just want to be a family. But, with the death of Roberto's father and the appearance of an old acquaintance, the New Mutants look ready for some big changes.

Synopsis

In his Colorado estate, Gideon prepares for the day with his morning's exercise. He breaks through some of the best programs Shaw Industries has to offer, then towels off while listening to the day's schedule. Regarding the DaCosta stock inquiry, Gideon makes sure that his operative, Eve, is in place and ready to proceed with their plan. Gideon is assured that all will go well.

In the Danger Room, Cannonball infringes upon Cable's practice session with the excuse that he needs practice too. Cable uses the opportunity to see if Cannonball is able to concentrate enough in a battle situation to limit the noise of his combustion. Surprising Cannonball with an arm blast, Cable learns that Cannonball still needs some work. In fact, everyone does; there just isn't much of an "everyone" anymore.

In Brazil, two days later, Eve delivers Emmanuel DaCosta his coffee. It's poisoned and he falls over dead.

In the X-Mansion, Rictor has lost his head. He's upset that Wolfsbane is still in Genosha and that the New Mutants have done nothing about it. He tries to get Boom-Boom to join him in a rescue, but Boom-Boom just shrugs him off and he storms away. Shortly thereafter, Cable gets quite the surprise in the library. It seems there is a bounty on Cable's head and Domino is there to collect. Deadpool says a man named Tolliver is none-too-pleased with how Cable ended things and so Deadpool is there to eliminate Cable. After some fighting, Cannonball succeeds in sneaking up on Deadpool with his blast. The victory is short lived, however, when Deadpool wraps Cannonball up in a neural net. Fortunately, Boom-Boom, Rictor, and Sunspot enter the library as back up. Deadpool takes out Rictor, but before he can test his mettle against everyone else he is himself taken out. Domino, a mysterious lady, stands behind him, having just place three knives in Deadpool's back. The New Mutants see the chemistry that Cable and Domino seem to have.

Later, Cable updates Domino on the team. Several key members have left the team, but Cable has some plans in store for new recruits. He also mentions he mailed Deadpool back to Tolliver.

That night, Rictor sneaks out of the mansion. He leaves a note for Boom-Boom expressing his desire to help Wolfsbane in Genosha. A bit later, Sunspot is awakened by Gideon. Gideon informs Sunspot of his father's death by a heart attack.

Notes:

• This issue marks the first appearance of Deadpool and Gideon. It does not, however, mark Domino's first appearance. The 'Domino' in this issue is actually Copycat, a shape-shifter. The real Domino is introduced in a flashback appearance in X-Force Vol.1 issue 8 and in present-time in X-Force Vol.1 issue 11.
• Art Thibert inked page 8 and Joe Rubinstein inked page 9, per Rob Liefeld's blog entry on 2/7/13.

Everything is changing. With another New Mutant down, Cable begins his search for the soldiers needed for war. Warpath seeks revenge, Feral needs protection, and a mysterious man lies on the Danger Room floor. Will they be able to answer Cable's call? With Cannonball and Boom-Boom all that's left of the team, Cable hopes so.

Synopsis

In the Morlock Tunnels, Masque and his cronies track a young mutant named Feral in hopes of getting her to join them. Feral, though looking like a furry animal, refuses to join. She escapes the tunnels and Masque intimates that she's gone to a place in which the Morlocks have some prior beef.

Cable sits down with Warpath in a cafe and offers him a spot on the new New Mutants team. Warpath is reluctant. The two part ways with an understanding the Warpath knows where to find Cable if his mind is changed.

Back at the mansion, Gideon tells Sunspot that the DaCosta business now belongs to Sunspot. All the boy needs to do is leave the New Mutants. Gideon leans heavily on the point that things are changing. Sunspot agrees. Gideon secretly smiles at the prospect of taking Sunspot from the school.

Boom-Boom and Cannonball alert Cable to Rictor's absence. They want to go after him but Cable states that Rictor is on his own. He chose to leave. Enraged, the young mutants demand to know Cable's angle. He simply states that nobody owes Rictor anything. Cannonball storms out, followed thereafter by Boom-Boom.

In Arizona, Warpath arrives at his home in Camp Verde to find it completely destroyed. A Hellfire mask lies on the ground. Warpath promises revenge on Emma Frost.

Sunspot finds Cable in the library and informs him that his father has died. Cable understands; his father died when he was young, too. Cable grants some leave but Sunspot states that he may not be coming back. Cable is unaffected and Sunspot storms out. Cannonball can't believe how ambivalent Cable appears. The two have a glorious yelling match in which Cable maintains his position that he's trying to get the young mutants to fight in a war and he can't worry about people who can't commit to the cause. Cannonball rests his position by stating that he'd hoped Cable had found some consolation from the pain of his past with the charges of the present.

Meanwhile, Domino and Boom-Boom work out together. Domino tries a little bonding but Boom-Boom is a little hesitant. Domino explains that Cable is trying to give the young mutants a reality check so as to be prepared for the battles to come. Boom-Boom can appreciate that angle, though she doesn't like it.

Later, the team bids Sunspot goodbye. He's gone too quickly. Inside, Warpath shows up and pledges himself to Cable's cause as long as Cable will help get revenge on the Hellfire Club. Cable agrees. In the shadows above, Feral wonders if she can make that deal against the Morlocks.

In the Danger Room, a mysterious man lies on the floor.

Notes:

• The cover is a homage of the cover of The X-Men #138.

In this final issue, Shatterstar appears and fights for his life; not only against the New Mutants, but also against warriors from his home world. Feral sees an opportunity to join this team and hopefully find some protection against the Morlocks. And with Warpath and Domino already on his side, Cable sees a group worthy of fighting for the cause of humanity in the upcoming war.

This is the final issue. The team changes its name and can be read in the pages of X-Force.

Synopsis

An alarm sounds and Cable, Warpath, and Domino head to the Danger Room in response. Cannonball sneaks from behind, having quieted the sound of his blast field. The four enter the Danger Room to see a stranger fighting with some expensive robots. Cable gives Warpath the go-ahead to take out the newcomer. Warpath attacks the guy from behind, but the stranger is too quick. He kicks Cable and throws Warpath. Domino then confronts him and finds some success, but the stranger has a lot left in his tank and neutralizes her for the moment. Then, as Cannonball zooms towards him, the stranger blasts him out of the air with some laser from his sword. Having had enough, Cable steps in and beats the crap out of the new guy. He takes the sword and cold cocks the stranger, knocking him unconscious. As the team heads towards the medilab, Feral watches from the rafters. She's impressed by their teamwork. As she slinks away, the Danger Room glows. Three mysterious figures have teleported in and begin looking for the stranger. Just then, Masque and two of his goons enter the mansion in search of Feral.

In the Medilab, the stranger wakes up. His name is Shatterstar. He is from the Mojoverse and is on a mission to find the X-Men to aid in the Cadre Alliance rebellion against Mojo V and Spiral. Shatterstar chose to come to Earth to find this help, but he ran into the New Mutants in a fatigued condition. Cable states that his team is probably better than the X-Men. Leaving the men to talk, Boom-Boom heads to the kitchen to find Shatterstar some food. What she finds, however, is Feral. Not wanting to be caught by anybody, Feral attacks. Boom-Boom busts out a quick mini time bomb, which is enough to alert Cable and Cannonball. They head to the kitchen to find Feral asking for asylum from Masque and the Morlocks.

Back in the recovery room, Shatterstar, Warpath, and Domino are discovered by the soldiers from Shatterstars home world. Shatterstar states that these guys are like ten of him packed into one. With those facts, the group begins the fight. Warpath and Shatterstar have an inter-fight conversation about both of their people having the drive to fight until the death, only Warpath's actually ended up completely dead. In the kitchen, Cable's crew is alerted to the scuffle in the recovery room. As they head towards the fight, Masque and his goons follow behind. As Cable and Co. enter the fray, Feral meets a soldier and guts him. The fight with the aliens is quickly over, but the final blow is had by Shatterstar. He's grabbed from behind with little way of escape. Shatterstar takes his sword and runs it through himself, effectively killing the soldier behind him. Cable asks Shatterstar if he is crazy. Shatterstar simply states that he'll do whatever it takes to win.

At that moment, Masque makes his presence known. His demands are simple: give Feral back to the Morlocks. To show how serious he is, he sends Brute and Hump to muscle the New Mutants around. Cable, to show he's serious, shoots Brute in the head without further question. Masque and Hump quickly exit the mansion.

Later, the New Mutants meet together to see where everyone stands. Warpath, Shatterstar, and Feral are welcomed to the team. Then Cable states that too many of their enemies know where the New Mutants are. They've got to move. Boom-Boom has reservations, but Cable tells them all that they've learned how to use their powers, they just need to start properly using them. As they prepare to leave, Cannonball and Boom-Boom express their desires to make the world a better place. They embrace and then load into a ship that carts them off to their future.

Prologue

Stryfe ascends to a joint session of his Mutant Liberation Front. His first order of business is to dispatch Forearm, Reaper, Zero, and Skids off to Genosha to teach them a lesson. He is displeased that their plans have taken so long, but he assures his team that all will work out. He then removes his helmet to show a face that looks remarkably like Cable's.

List of covers and their creators:

Rob Liefeld