From: fal20643@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Capt. Frank A. Lauro)
Subject: Re: X-Force and The New Mutants
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 16:19:41 GMT

DPMT@UQEVE.CC.UQ.OZ.AU (Matthew S Trevor) writes:


>I've only just recently managed to complete my New Mutants collection, missing
>a number of pre-#50 issues, so I took the time to sit down and read the first
>~55 again. NM was the comic that started my interest in comics (I've noticed a
>number of people mention this...). However, I have a few questions...

> - Exactly when did Doug enrol at Xavier's? In the issue "Slumber Party" it
> was revealed to him that he was a mutant, yet only Warlock was introduced at
> the end of the issue to Xavier.

I think it's safe to assume that Doug was "enrolled" shortly thereafter.
It's quite probable that Xavier already knows Doug, and the kids wanted to
get the "meet our new alien friend" bit out of the way first.  After Charles
finished his historic handshake with Warlock, Illyana probably thrust Doug
forward and said, "Oh, yeah---Doug's joining, too."

> - When did Danielle change from Psyche to Mirage?

Sometime around "Slumber Party" (#21), I think, although I'd have to look up
the first actual use of her new name.  [Extra trivia question:  Dani, accor-
ding to the Marvel Universe Handbook, went by *another* brief alias between
Psyche and Mirage.  What was it?]

> - Where did Illyana first appear? I noticed in #2(?) that she was with Moira
> at one point...

Well, to be technical, she *first* appeared in GIANT-SIZED X-MEN #1, when
Piotr saved her from the runaway tractor.  She came to join her brother in
>Personally, I would like to see a New Mutants title start up again, with the
>_old_ New Mutants (Sam, Dani and Rhane at least) back again, the first two as
>teachers this time around. The concept has a lot of potential for character
>development, IMO, and I would definately collect it...

Only, *only* if it had a competent writer/artist team.  No Simonsons of any
sort, no Fabian, and no Wolfman.  (I won't even mention Liefield.)

>BTW anyone else miss Claremont's multiple storylines like I do?

Never thought I'd say this, but...yeah, I think I do.

>PS I really hope that Doug & Warlock are brought back, I like the `Douglock'
>concept. And I don't feel it would be another overdone "is-it-man-or-machine"
>story...although the question would exist "Is it Doug? Or is it Warlock tapping
>into Doug's memories?"

I dunno...this would be a tough one to pull off, and I have little faith in
most of Marvel's writers.  As much as I loved Douglas, I'd rather see him
rest soundly than be brought back as a two-bit Vision (who's become rather
two-bit himself, come to think of it).

>I hope to see both characters back; Simonson did her
>damndest to kill them both off, she even answered the requests for Doug's
>resurrection with the tacky storyline in the 4th(?) annual with Doug's "soul"

>finally letting go.

Hey, I *liked* "Tribute the (damn, was it First or Second?)".  PAD does
Doug Ramsey.  Made my day.

>His resurrection _wouldn't_ be another "miraculously back
>from the dead" cliche which happens so often...the potential for his return is
>already in place, just waiting to be used (the transmode virus in his eye, of
>course :)

Which, in the wrong hands, could easily blow dog.  If it's gonna be lame, 
keep him (them) dead.
--------
Captain Frank A. Lauro          Commanding Officer       University of Illinois
fal20643@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu       USS ALEXA NCC 1764-D     Urbana-Champaign
--------
"One thing I always tell law students at orientation, half in jest and half
 seriously, is that if you really want to end a relationship but don't have
 the courage to call it off, you made the right decision in going to law
 school." --- Donn Marshall (Counselor, University of Puget Sound)