Comics: New Mutants #71

NEW MUTANTS #71
January 1989
"Limbo"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Bret Blevins
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The fantastical side of the X-Men universe has never really grabbed me, so spending all this time reading about Limbo and demons and spells is getting kinda tedious. Luckily all the great characters make it tolerable and somewhat entertaining. In this issue, the New Mutants try teleporting back to Earth by way of Limbo, but get stuck there due to the spell N'astirh's casting over in X-Terminators.

This issue mostly goes over stuff that was covered in Uncanny X-Men a hundred issues prior, but it's necessary since apparently Magik's teammates didn't even know her origin. These parts are well done, with Magik going just crazy enough and the rest of her teammates acting justifiably horrified.

And while I don't really care for all the demon stuff, it is still terrifying to see the transformed objects of Manhattan wreak havoc on tourists. The binoculars stealing a man's eyeballs for its own personal use and the elevator filled with blood and bones are illustrated with a manic glee by Blevins. Good work.

The stakes are set up well by Simonson, who ends the issue with a gateway to Limbo being left open over Times Square, raining demons all on it. This is essentially Magik's last story and it feels like it. There's a sense of dread and urgency, and the character feels like she's coming to a climax. It's well done. So, of course, she was resurrected earlier this year. Thanks, Marvel. Whooooah brother.

MY SCORE: 8/10