Jonathan Hickman and Rod Reis’s New Mutants #5 takes the New Mutants out of the frying pan of a lifelong jail sentence and into the fire of a full-blown assassination attempt. Their latest companion has her fair share of enemies, and one of them is ready to go behind the Shi’ar Majestor’s back to make sure this villainess never gets another chance to wreak havoc.
New Mutants #5 returns to the New Mutant team in space just as everything finally seems to be made the huge decision to install Xandra (Xavier and Lilandra's daughter) as the Majestrix. Because of this, he has sent Sunguardian Smasher (Izzy Kane), Cannonball, and the New Mutants to retrieve the only mind devious enough to prepare Xandra for her new position: Deathbird.
happy as Sunspot to see Deathbird. The first pages reveal that Oracle is so disturbed by Deathbird’s return that she is willing to go behind the Majestor’s back to assemble a group of Death Commandos to make sure Deathbird never makes it to Chandilar. It is easy to see why Oracle would be angry or scared enough to enact her plot given that Majestor Gladiator calls Deathbird “the most savage, duplicitous, and truly violent person” while explaining his need for her to train Xandra. Even worse, Oracle does not care who has to die to keep her betrayal a secret – including the New Mutants escorting Deathbird back to the throneworld.
Initially one of the original the Summer's bizarre family tree having married Vulcan in addition to usurping the Shi'ar throne with him). She is a Shi’ar royal, but through a combination of matricide and continued betrayal has become both hated and feared on her homeworld. Given her long list of double-crosses, Majestor Gladiator’s choice to have her train Xandra is both interesting and risky.
While the assassination attempt seems to be the New Mutant’s most immediate concern, it also could be a hint to the events of the Kree (and Skrulls) given her turbulent history with them.
Despite their best efforts, it seems that the youth of Krakoa – and even some adults - are having a hard time avoiding murderous situations. Oracle's plan to kill Deathbird with a group of Death Commandos just might take the cake this week though.
New Mutants #5 is available at your local comics shop or digitally on January 8, 2020.
