Fallen Angels #1 (April 1987)

One maxim that is associated with Marvel Comics is "with great power comes great responsibility". While the maxim is naturally most associated with Spider-Man, it can be associated with just about any of the superheroes of the Marvel Universe. One group that should definitely keep this maxim to heart is the original New Mutants.

The first "new" generation of Xavier's mutant student body (before a bunch of retcons), the New Mutants didn't just have to deal with the transition to adulthood and all the growing pains that entailed, they also had to deal with having superhuman abilities. Thing is, teenagers can be emotional and not always think before they act. And for Roberto da Costa, a moment of temper loss leads him down a new path. It leads him to become a Fallen Angel. This is Fallen Angels #1!

The cover is a Kerry Gammill and Tom Palmer piece. It's pretty good. It depicts an enraged Sunspot standing over what looks like an unconscious or possibly dead Cannonball. 

"Runaway"
Writer: Jo Duffy
Penciler: Kerry Gammill
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Letterer: Jim Novak
Editor: Ann Nocenti

The story begins at the Xavier Institute, with a soccer game. The narration is being provided by founding New Mutant Roberto "Sunspot" da Costa. We first met him back in the New Mutants graphic novel. The group of teenage superhumans are having a ton of fun playing the game. Not all of them are participating in the game, however. The alien known as Warlock and Rahne "Wolfsbane" Sinclair are sitting it out. Rahne (pronounced "Rain") has no interest in sports, and prefers siting peacefully with the alien. 

We then check in on the new headmaster of the Institute: Magneto.

"This office is so blasted stuffy."

Yeah, that Magneto.

I imagine your confusion. Don't worry, I'll explain. At that time, Charles Xavier was left in a bad state, and asked Magneto to take over the Institute for him. He joined the X-Men and used the name "Michael Xavier" as an alias. Magnus admits to himself that as much as he tries, he doesn't really have a knack for guiding young mutants like his old friend does. After all, he tended to work with mutants that were already adults. So, he decides to place a call to someone he believes can help him: one Moira MacTaggert. 

I hate what the Krakoa Era did to her. But this is before that bit of utter character assassination. Moira is working with a young mutant herself: Theresa Rourke-Cassidy, aka the Siryn.

"🎵 I WANNA LOVE YA, ALL NIGHT LONG! 🎵"

Moira and James "Jamie" Madrox, aka Multiple Man, are testing her powers out. She's able to now hold herself in the air for five minutes on one note. Great job, Terry!

Magneto tells her about his troubles, and he also adds on that the New Mutants are still dealing with some trauma thanks to their encounter with the Beyonder in Secret Wars II. Meanwhile, the New Mutants are still enjoying their game of soccer.

Roberto is able to block Sam's goal attempt, but the Kentuckian accidentally collides into the Brazilian rich kid. Roberto loses his temper, and actives his mutant power. He angrily knocks Sam off of him.

"Augh, my first vertebrae! Doc says I'm not supposed to be hit there!"

Yeah, that's gonna hurt.

The other New Mutants are understandably angry. Sam could have gotten killed, and Roberto takes it very hard. Thankfully, Sam is only dazed.

"Captain America, is that you?"

Magneto goes to get Sam to a doctor to make sure that the group's resident bluegrass redneck doesn't have any complications. In his room, Roberto stews in his regrets, how he feels that he is not a hero. He comes down the stairs to talk to Magneto. He finds the office empty, but there is a file folder that Magneto accidentally left on the desk. He looks through it and finds this document.

He doesn't take it well. Meanwhile, Sam Guthrie gets examined by a doctor. Turns out he has a concussion, and just needs some rest. And at Muir Island, Siryn expresses excitement over getting to visit America. For her, seeing the United States, especially New York, will be an adventure in itself.

The New Mutants return to the Xavier Institute, only to find the place darker than the bottom of a pit at night. Rahne notices a note...from Roberto.

Yup, the boy's flown the coop. Warlock intends to go find him. We look in on Roberto in the city. It turns out he didn't put a lot of thought into his plan to run away, and now he's starving and also has no money. He's watched by what appears to be a Korean-American boy. Another youth approaches the boy, asking if he'd like to buy a calendar. The boy is enraged by this, he tears up the calendars and gets in the youth's face, accusing him of being part of Reverend Yune Kim Park's Glorification Church. Let me explain this.

You see, Reverend Yune Kim Park and the Glorification Church are references to the real-life Unification Church and its founder Sun Yeung Moon. Moon considered himself a messiah, and the Church became famous for its Blessing ceremonies, which were mass weddings. This would not be the first time that Marvel had referenced the group. Steve Gerber and Gene Colan parodied the Church and its Moonie members in the form of Reverend Joon Moon Yuc in Howard the Duck #6 (November 1976). In fact, I think the creators here should have just said the kid was a Yucchie. 

Anyway, the boy has a hatred for the church as he grew up in it. He grew up doing the exact same things this kid is doing now. It was in exchange for the Church bringing his family to the United States from South Korea. The boy then snatches away the other youth's merchandise...and the money he made from selling the calendars. The youth realizes the boy is what the Church calls the "renegade"...and is actually a girl known only as Chance. Chance leaves, impressed with the money she got. Two men offer to hold on to the money for her, but Chance isn't interested in their idea of banking services. 

Not really much of a fight, though. Chance runs like heck, the two wannabe-thieves after her. However, it looks like her namesake is against her, as she finds herself at a dead end.

Chance's luck appears to have run out. However, Roberto da Costa is there, so...maybe not. He powers up into his Sunspot form, and seemingly easily thrashes the two men. However, he runs out of power and changes back to his human form. The story ends with the two teenagers at knife point.  

I personally did enjoy this comic. I know some would kind of find Roberto's decision a bit dramatic for a lack of a better term. But I look at it like this. Roberto at this point is going through some things. His father joined up with an evil organization that has caused tragedy for him, he accidentally injures someone he considers his best friend, and he learns that there are fears that he could turn out like his dad. Combine that with the fact that teenagers can be dramatic, and...yeah. It would make sense he'd run away from home. 

I do like the art as well. It reminds me of the art of the late 80s Avengers book...which does make sense considering the involvement of the late great Tom Palmer. the art's biggest strength is honestly, the facial expressions. There's some fantastic "acting" in this book. 

Fallen Angels is an underrated little miniseries in my opinion. A sequel to it was planned, with Jo Duffy penning and Colleen Doran on art, focusing on the new characters, but it never came to pass. This miniseries would lead to further things down the line. Most notably, Siryn and Multiple Man would work together in X-Factor Investigations. Other members of the group would go on to appear in other books. Sadly, Chance is the only Fallen Angel to never make a comeback in any form. And the title would be revived in 2019, but with an unrelated roster.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2011 trade paperback X-Men: Fallen Angels. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!