New Mutants #22: The never ending cycle

[ZephyrSurf]

This issue is split into two parts, so I'll cover them both in their own section. One is a lot easier to sum up than the other.


Section 1 (The Kids): This is very straightforward, the young mutants apologize to Gabby for what has happened thus far. This section is less about what's happening and more about character moments and kinda fleshing out the viewpoints. It basically ends with Gabby forgiving the other younger mutants and them deciding to go follow the New Mutants to confront Farouk for what he's done to Gabby


Section 2 (The new Mutants): This is where the majority of the narrative takes place. As shown in the preview, the New Mutants are tossed into an unwinnable scenario and we watch as they fight to the last man, before the events fade away and they're in the presence of the Shadow King. Obviously on edge and disgusted by his actions, they tell him he won't get away with what he intends to do, however farouk has no nefarious scheme, the shadow king parasite isn't there, trying to take bodies or unravel krakoa. In a sit down, we learn that Farouk is not manipulating the mutants fears to try and break them, he's manipulating his own fears to show them what the future may very well have in store.

Farouk has lived a long time, and seen countries and people fall both at the hands of time and at the hands of the Shadow King. With his mind clear and the Shadow King gone, he's come to the realization that krakoa can not and will not last, but Mutantdom can, if they are tempered in fire. he saw how Arrako had managed to last Millenia and seeks to ensure that the Mutants of earth do the same. And unlike Apocalypse, hypocrite that he is, Farouk does not intend to abandon his people.

The new Mutants bite back, stating that Farouk's goal to temper mutantdom and crush all other races and societies underfoot is just further perpetuation of a cycle, war for war's sake. That by separating them into predator and prey, they don't just ideologically justify the fear and hatred of Mutants, they make it a literal fact, as they are no longer a difference, but an active and real threat to the continued existence of others. One could not blame the sheep if they seek to kill the wolf after all. The New mutants just can't accept Farouk's desires, stating that his ideology and methods are harmful and only perpetuate violence that they've all seen far too much of for needless reason.

Farouk laments the new Mutants are far too much the Students of Xavier, a hapless hopeless optimist and decides that if he can not talk them into his side, he will make them bend to his reality. The new mutants are then forced to fight at least 23 iterations of doomsday scenarios until every one of them is dead, only to repeat and the scenarios change. Farouk's intention to make them both stronger and sway them to his way of thinking.


Issue ends with the young mutants discovering the new mutants in the shadow king's thrall

Personal opinions: I gotta say I adore the revelation of what Farouk is doing and why Farouk is doing what he's doing. It's a logical conclusion for a mutant who has seen so much and been the pawn of a nonmutant in the collapse of so much life and so many societies and dimensions. Also really love the back and forth between the new Mutants and Farouk on the future of krakoa

[loke13]

Got to say the dialouge was on point here. The convo between Farouk and The New Mutants was gold. That being said I can't wait for this whole Wild Hunt thing to be over.

[Dante Milton]

Ayala's writing always has so much depth, I really hope they are around after the relaunch next year. Reis' art is beautiful, so painterly with a great balance between naturalism and the expressive fanastical. My only minor nitpick is that the Shadow King plot has moved a little slowly, but I've enjoyed the stories overall. Still not sure how much of this being is Shadow King and how much is Amahl Farouk, but I suspect that will be revealed soon.

[FFJamie94]

Ayala's writing always has so much depth, I really hope they are around after the relaunch next year. Reis' art is beautiful, so painterly with a great balance between naturalism and the expressive fanastical. My only minor nitpick is that the Shadow King plot has moved a little slowly, but I've enjoyed the stories overall. Still not sure how much of this being is Shadow King and how much is Amahl Farouk, but I suspect that will be revealed soon.

Ayala and Reis make a great team, I’d love to see them on Venom at some point.

[Master of Sound]

I think it is quite clear this is Farouks doing, freed of Shadow King. Said it from the start and seems I was right.

[Kingdom X]

I think this will read much better in trade. Good issue, it’s just a long story arc.

[Havok83]

This SK stuff is dragging. Im gonna need Vita to wrap it up