COMIC DETAILS
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Comic Description:
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New Mutants 20
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Grade:
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9.8
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Page Quality:
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WHITE
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Certification #:
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0219753003
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Owner:
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bagofleas
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SET DETAILS
Owner's Description
I dub Thee Sir Chop-a-lot!
NO, WAIT!!
Published: 10/84
Chris Claremont story
Bill Sienkiewicz cover and art
Signed by Claremont & Sienkiewicz at the 2013 NYCC!
Story Title: Badlands
Summary:
The kids have been transported by the Demon Bear to a desolate wasteland somewhere in time and space along with officer Tom Corsi and nurse Sharon Friedlander and a bubble that shows the surgery room where doctors are feverishly trying to save Dani's life.
The bear corrupts the souls of Tom and Sharon, turning them into demonically possesed indians, and pits them against the mutants. Sam blasts straight into the beast with all he has. Illyana tries to magically hold the possessed Tom but the bear's shadow falls on him and boosts both his and Sharon's power!
While the kids are distracted, the bear attacks the sphere to try and get to Dani but for the moment, Magik's wards are holding. She can't fully attack the bear without lessening power to the wards but doesn't know if their mutant powers will be enough to stop all three of their foes.
Berto is nearly killed by Sharon but Rahne attacks her and delays her. Then Magma is possessed by the Bear and Illyana summons her Soulsword, which is the only thing she can do without lowering power to her wards, and cuts off one of the bear's clawed hands. Then she stabs the possessed Amara straight through the heart!
Sam, thinking Magik has just killed Amara, blasts her away. Only more of the strange armor appearing on Illyana's body saves her from the blow. Amara comes to and calls Sam a fool for acting before thinking. Magik's Soulsword had just freed her from the possession.
The bear continues to extend it's shadow across the land growing stronger every second. The kids regroup but they're pretty tired.
Magik convinces a very reluctant Rahne to mind link with Dani one more time to learn why the bear fears her for it's destruction. The bear attacks the wards, hurting Illyana. Magma, Cannonball and Sunspot keep the demon officer and nurse busy.
Then just as Wolfsbane gets the answer, she is knocked a hard blow to the head by Tom. Illyana strikes her sword through his heart and he reverts to normal. Rahne comes to long enough to explain.
Magik's Soulsword is the key. Dani's was the knowledge. The Mutant's was the power, working as a team. The bear must be struck to it's very heart and soul by the sword!
Magma sets the beast ablaze and it flees momentarily. Sam blasts Magik up to the face of the monster and with all her strength, she splits the bear in two with her sword!
The bear collapses in on itself and vanishes. Tom and Sharon regain their souls and all of them are transported back to the hospital.
Tom and Sharon are safe but are still Indians. Two more Indians appear and explain that they were the bear until freed by Illyana's sword. They turn out to be William Lonestar and Peg, Dani's parents!!
The doctor comes out and says Dani will live but will be totally paralyzed! Professor X gets Storm to have the Morlock healer do his thing on Dani and reverses the paralyzation, but she will have a long, tough rehabilitation.
Dani is reunited with her parents who explain that some evil force turned them into the bear. Her grandfather's spells kept them at bay until his death. Then she was gone from the desert, forcing them to hunt her down. They were completely controlled but don't know by who or what.
The prof decides to get Doctor Strange to help with both Tom and Sharon and the discovery of who is behind all this. He also congratulates the New Mutants on a job well done!
Personal Comments:
This was one heck of a climactic issue to the Demon Bear Saga! The pitting of demonic magic against demonic "Magik" was fascinating. Seeing more armor on Illyana was interesting and watching her pull enough sorcerous strength to defeat the monster was astonishing!
For a moment, I was mortified about Dani's condition, then from one page to the next she was gonna be ok. I wasn't sure what the deal was with these morlocks and Storm. I wasn't reading X-Men yet at the time.
But whatever the deal was, I was glad for Dani. I wondered how long it would take her to rehabilitate.
And learning the truth about her parents was very satisfying as was her being reunited with them.
Who was ultimately behind all this though? I couldn't wait to find out!!!
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