Back in July 2023, I took a look at the first issue of the limited series Fallen Angels. A spinoff of the New Mutants title, it told the tale of Roberto da Costa/Sunspot running away from his fellow New Mutants after accidentally injuring Sam Guthrie. I enjoyed the story, even though I remember thinking Roberto was a bit overdramatic. Will the second issue be as enjoyable as the first? Let's find out in Fallen Angels #2!
The cover is a Kerry Gammill and Tom Palmer piece.
"I'll Take the High Road and I'll Take the Low Road (And I'll Get to Sunspot Before Me)"
Writer: Jo Duffy
Penciller: Kerry Gammill
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Letterer: Jim Novak
Editor: Ann Nocenti
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
The story begins where the previous issue left off: Chance and Roberto da Costa/Sunspot at the mercy of a bunch of knife-wielding thugs. Chance decides if she's going down, she's going down swinging. She engages the men in some brawling, but they manage to beat her down.
As the men turn to hand a beatdown to Roberto, another figure makes herself known.
Meet Ariel. She's an alien with the power to create portals, but she needs something to use as a doorway...like a door frame. Yeah, I think it's a bit complicated, too. Chance and Ariel flee, leaving Roberto to be beaten down. Luckily, he'd get a savior.
Sunspot's New Mutants buddy Warlock has found his, and he uses his shapeshifting power to scare the criminals away. Roberto notices Chance is missing, unaware she fled with Ariel. Back in the Xavier Institute, Magneto has called in Moira MacTaggert to help him help the other New Mutants come to terms with the events of last issue. Remember when Moira was one of the X-Men's human allies?
Jonathan Hickman has a LOT to answer for. Anyway, Moira has brought along Jamie "Multiple Man" Madrox and Theresa "Siryn" Cassidy with her, as they're age-wise, peers of the New Mutants. Magneto asks Theresa and Jamie to help find Roberto and Warlock, making like Q and providing a device to help them find them.
It's a portable Cerebro device. Makes you wonder why this hasn't come into play in future stories? I mean, nowadays, one of the X-Men could have an app for Cerebro on their phones!
Back in the city, Warlock and Roberto are feeling hungry. Feeding Warlock isn't as much of a problem. Being a member of the Technarch race, he needs organic "lifeglow" to survive. Basically, he feeds on organic materials. Garbage can provide that, as it presumably has some "lifeglow" for the alien. Banana peels, eggshells, rotten vegetables, etc. Roberto himself is a bit more complicated. Resigning himself to his destiny as a villain, he uses his strength to rip down a door to steal some food, only to reveal that he's broken into a church.
Roberto is horrified by this. The priest comes out and asks if the two need any help. After all, he's a man of God, and as such, he is duty-bound to help people in need. He asks if they need help, but the two mutants run for it.
The priest is left confused, and with a broken door. A trio of punkers bust in and knock out the priest, wanting to steal what they think may be some gold and valuables in the church. Another citizen is not happy to see this.
You may think that this kid doesn't seem like a crimefighter, right? After all, he's skinny, awkward, and...rather nerdy and dorky, for lack of better terms. No way he could be a superhero, right?
Yeah. Remember, this is the Marvel Universe. It's perfectly plausible this kid could blow these robbers up with a snap of his fingers. Not to mention the lobsters. The robbers laugh the boy off, but the priest wakes up to the sounds of the robbers screaming...and he finds they look like they lost a fight with a prime Mike Tyson.
The boy walks away, talking to the lobsters as he does so. Meanwhile, Theresa and Jamie have arrived in New York City. A lady accidentally bumps in Jamie, causing him to create a clone. The clone helps the lady with her bags. I thought that's a nice little moment. Meanwhile, the prime Jamie creates a small batch of clones to help find Roberto and Warlock. One of the searching Jamies unknowingly passes by the blond boy with the lobsters. This Jamie ends up finding Roberto and Warlock. Several other Jamies gather around, which catches the attention of the blond boy and his lobsters. He rushes in as well, as he has a message for Roberto. We also learn the boy's name is Gomi. There is a reason for that. Jamie tries to get Roberto to come back with him, but Roberto refuses. And Gomi's boss steps in.
Meet Telford Porter, aka the Vanisher. First appearing in X-Men #2 (November 1963), he is the second supervillain the X-Men fought in their own comic. Unlike Magneto, he's become one of the more obscure members of the X-Men's rogues gallery. Roberto powers up, but Vanisher is not here to fight. They're spotted by Siryn and another Jamie, and the two young mutants attack the Vanisher. Chance gets them out of there with the help of a friend of hers named Ariel. Siryn pursues them, and finds herself in a restaurant.
Hey, look at it like this, Theresa. At least you can get a bite to eat.
I enjoyed this issue.
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