New Mutants Annual #1

[iamrman]

Writer: Chris Claremont

Pencils: Bob McLeod

Inks: Bob McLeod and Tom Palmer

---

The New Mutants meet Lila Cheney, the galaxy's biggest rock star.

---

Lila whisks Sam away into space and the New Mutants get dragged along as well, right into a plot with some traitorous band members.

Of course, the New Mutant aren’t going to get away that easily.

Lila transports the kids back to her home on Earth.

Comments

[beyondthefringe]

Warlock's human disguise is such a trip. It's easy to forget he can apparently go full camouflage when he wants to, given how most of the time he's entirely surreal.

Lila Cheney is such a Claremontian character. She's an intergalactic rock star/thief who can (only) teleport across galaxies, she's got her own Dyson Sphere, and she's got a mostly unexplained backstory.

(Seriously, given how big Dyson Spheres -are-, who's to say it's entirely deserted, that's a lot of territory to cover. So much room for further exploration.)

And how old IS she supposed to be? The art doesn't do her any favors here. I know Sam's like, 17-18 range, but I'd have her pegged as 25 to accommodate backstory and other references dropped along the way.

Also: I think it's obligatory to share this video any time we discuss this issue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNcl3NMEXPo&ab_channel=GreasyPigStudios

[iamrman]

I knew what the video would be even before I clicked the link. :D

[beyondthefringe]

You are wise and knowledgeable in the Deep Lore.

[cainofdreaming]

I've always found this as somewhat unbelievable. I mean, Dazzler as a back-up singer?

[beyondthefringe]

Believe it or not, but this has precedence. After her solo series ended, and before she was permanently folded into the X-Men, Dazzler did a stint incognito as part of Lila's band... briefly possessed by Malice during the Mutant Massacre era.

So yeah, even though Ali's always wanted to be a star and a headliner, there've been times when she was desperate enough to fade into the background while still performing.

[cainofdreaming]

Well, that just feels like it would make Eternity twist and turn in his sleep.

[mastermahan]

Yeah, what we see here of Lila Cheney is that she's a sexually aggressive woman in a black vinyl leotard who doesn't mind skirting age of consent laws. And she's got dommy vibes, of course. And she ends up in bondage, of course. All we need is some mind control and some implied lesbianism and I win Claremont Bingo.

[beyondthefringe]

I award you 10 points for the spot-on snark. :)

[mastermahan]

Thanks!

[metadronos]

That story was seriously rocking (pun intended, not sorry)! I like it.

Getting a Joan Jett vibe from Lila. And as embarassed as poor Sam was about it, I think he makes a fine Billy Idol. All he needs is to practice his snarl.

[cainofdreaming]

Some, well at least one, panels also give me Spike and Dru vibes.

[beyondthefringe]

I've heard that Lila was inspired by either Joan Jett and/or Siouxsie depending on who you ask.

[full_metal_ox]

Am I the only one who thought Vera Gemini’s human aspect should’ve looked like Patti Smith?

[mastermahan]

Sam's a serious chick magnet. Rahne and Amara clearly liked him. He went off with Firestar at a dance one time. He's made out with Dani. He's dated Lila Cheney and Boom-boom. He married Smasher. Marrow tried to get with him. Serafina simulated a marriage with him. Gosamyr is not to be discussed. Etc.

[cygnia]

Anyone else first read 'Berto's bemoaning as Sam picking Lila over him instead?

[scorntx]

Bloody English, goin' over there, stealin' your planet...

So in addition to the usual accents, we also got Vrakanin, for any bizarre syntax Warlock wasn't providing.

There's a bit early on where the Prof says the New Mutants look to Sam for leadership, but when Sam gets zapped away it's Dani who immediately says she's the leader.
Check your biases, Chuck.

Sam turns out to be a huge sci-fi nerd, capable of explaining exactly what a Dyson Sphere is and how it works, and a more than passing familiarity with the works of Larry Niven.
Not saying nowt, but it might not be a coincidence that it's after this Lila has her people upgrade him to leather.
(She clearly already wanted to do the nasty with him as was, but evidently him being a total nerd is not remotely a deal-breaker.)

... still can't figure out what Rahne's meaning by "ick".
Exasperation? Annoyance?

[mastermahan]

Points to Sam, he's pretty chill about getting those piercings.

... still can't figure out what Rahne's meaning by "ick".

I'm going to guess it means "Damn it, Amara, would you please not casually remind us of New Roma's gladiator combat? Sam and Bobby were forced to fight to the death, and I was mind controlled into cheering them on."

[beyondthefringe]

Also mild jealousy. Rahne was wrestling with her extremely conservative upbringing vs natural teen hormones and, I believe, a crush on Roberto. Amara was rich, blond, sophisticated (sort of) and in the way. Also, there was that whole thing where Rahne told Amara (then in brown face) all her secrets, not knowing Amara understood English.

In other words… girls had issues with each other.

[cainofdreaming]

Sam, she had a crush on Sam.

[mastermahan]

Yep. Cannonball, Havok, Elixir - Rahne likes blonds. And werewolf princes.

[iamrman]

To be fair, crushing on Alex wasn't entirely consentual on her part.

[mastermahan]

True.

Cap-Wolf: non-canon, but still a blond.