New Mutants (Vol. 1) #11

"Magma"
Published January 1984
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Tom Mandrake
Cover Artist: Walter Simonson and Tom Mandrake


What's Going On?
As Amara and Dani continue their battle against Selene, it becomes clear that they are outmatched.   Amara's control over her powers is inconsistent at best, and Dani does not have the firepower (or really, much of any power) to overcome Selene.  In a panic, Amara uses her lava powers to burn a way out of Selene's murder cave and up to the surface.  There, the New Mutants find her and join the fray.

Sub-Plots, oh the Sub-Plots!
- Roberto is reunited with his mother, who was feared dead after the events of New Mutants #8.  He finds her in jail, about to be murdered by the same Hellfire Club thug that sabotaged their boat in #8.

After beating her attacker, they join the Nova Roma underground and lead to attack on Senator Gallio's home.  It is interesting to note that Castro explicitly states that he is not acting under the orders of Emmanuel DaCosta, and yet that does not make Roberto or his mother any happier.


- After having their suspicions roused last issue, Sam and Roberto decide that they've backed the wrong power in town.  The more they see of Senator Gallio, the less they like him; that's perfect timing, as it turns out, because the Senator plans to murder them soon.  When Roberto and his mother arrive with anti-Gallio troops, Sam and Rahne join the fight.  Gallio is killed in battle by Amara's father, and Gallio's followers are subdued.


Writing!
After five issues, the New Mutants' Brazilian adventure comes to a close.  That's one issue enjoying Carnivale (and a bad Mr. T impersonator), one avoiding aboriginals, and three in Nova Roma.  That's a lot of time for Claremont to spend on what amounts to a pretty ridiculous story.  It's to his credit that it is not godawful, but this is a pretty bizarre thematic detour for a book that was supposed to be about kids learning to control their mutants powers and not getting involved in dangerous missions. 

Art!
The Buscema/Mandrake pairing is getting more consistent, so that's nice.  It's not the most striking artwork, but it gets the job done.  Amara's Magma form still looks pretty cool.  After an issue or two of trying to find a consistent visual style for Selene, they have settled on what can be recognized as her "classic" look (minus the panty/bustier uniform she will later sport).

Retrospectively Amusing:
- Sunspot ends the fight by throwing Selene in a pit of molten lava and then knocks huge boulders down, sealing the pit.

When Cannonball calls him out for murder, Sunspot shrugs it off by saying A) she deserved it and B) she is probably too powerful to kill that way, so it's not like he really killed her.  Probably.  I'm surprised no one had a problem with Roberto stabbing her in the heart earlier in the issue.

- How many powers does Selene have?  She is an energy vampire, can manipulate inanimate materials, has undefined psychic powers that include a degree of mind control, can "touch souls" (whatever that means), and appears to have super strength. Oh, and she has some sort of energy manipulation abilities that she offers to teach Dani (magic, presumably?), which also seem to tie into her vampirism/long life.

Worth Noting:
- Selene exhibits her ability to manipulate inanimate materials and her vampirism for the first time.

- Amara joins the New Mutants at the end of this issue.

- Continuing the theme of the female New Mutants falling easily in battle, Wolfsbane gets knocked out by a dude with a vase.  Granted, she defeats one attacker beforehand, so it's not too egregious, but you would think a werewolf would be a bit tougher. 

- The New Mutants' contribution to Assistant Editor's Month is this "Letter Page" contest.  It doesn't have anything to do with the characters or title, so it just seems weird.