#newmutants85

[gaknar]

Hey I used to draw pictures like this in fourth grade, but instead of armies fighting in Asgard, it was gangs fighting in the New York subway, Warriors style. Let me see if I can find one.

Public education tax dollars hard at work. (New Mutants #85 – Jan 1989)

[gaknar]

While an Asgardian war rages outside Odin’s castle, the New Mutants offer a last line of defense against a possessed Dani Moonstar as she attempts to slay Odin with the sword forged for her by Eitri at the behest of Hela. This was a pretty brutal and desperate battle here, as the muties throw a wall of bodies in Dani’s way and she drops each one of them, horrifically asphyxiating them and burning them with Hel fire. These kids have a very high pain tolerance. (New Mutants #85 – Jan 1989)

[gaknar]

Whew, guys, we finally made it to the end of this New Mutant’s Asgardian adventure, which has been going on for nearly 10 issues now. Unbeknownst to Hela, when Eitri created the sword which she gave to Dani to slay Odin, he baked a weakness into its foundation which he exploits here to fracture its structure. And though he’s not able to destroy the sword completely, he does damage it enough to give Cannonball a chance to finish the job just before Dani uses it on Odin.

This causes all of Hela’s plans to go up in smoke as she loses control over everyone she possessed, which doesn’t really make sense since she possessed them all before the sword was even created by Eitri.

Well whatever. The armies rally against her causing Hela to retreat, Dani also breaks free of her possession, and Odin lives to saw another log.

Whew, this was a long and mostly boring story. And our reward for surviving it is… Rob Liefeld. Argh. It’s starting to feel very much like we’ve passed the high point within the golden age of X-Men comics. (New Mutants #85 – Jan 1989)

[gaknar]

Not gonna lie. I like this cover by Rob Liefeld. It’s pretty bad assed. Liefeld doesn’t draw this issue, but this cover is his first contribution to the New Mutants, and from the next issue on he draws the rest of the series continuing into the creation of X-Force. Get ready for some flipper feet. (New Mutants #85 – Jan 1989)

[gaknar]

As a battle over the existence of the universe rages outside Odin’s castle on Asgard, there’s also this Acts of Vengeance related B-story that’s been going on for about 3 issues where Rusty Collins is holding on to the Vulture’s leg while the Vulture flies around. The only plot development here is both Rusty and Skids are now broken out of jail. And just why is Skids still wearing her costume? And just why is she in the same prison as Rusty and the Vulture anyway? None of this makes sense. (New Mutants #85 – Jan 1989)