The New Mutants #29
New Mutants #29 carries the first appearance of Guido Carosella — the character who would eventually become Strong Guy, a fan-favorite member of Peter David's celebrated X-Factor run — introduced here simply as Lila Cheney's enormous bodyguard. The issue also functions as the opening chapter of Bill Sienkiewicz's final story arc on the title, making it a quiet curtain call for one of the most distinctive artistic collaborations in the book's history. Beyond those firsts, the issue is a genuine narrative pivot point: Professor X deputizes Magneto to lead the X-Men in his absence, laying groundwork for the sweeping leadership change that would reshape the X-corner of the Marvel Universe for years. As the direct prelude to Secret Wars II, it also illustrates how thoroughly Claremont could weave mandatory crossover obligations into ongoing character work without entirely sacrificing his team's momentum.
In "Meanwhile, Back at the Mansion . . .", the New Mutants face a terrifying twist when Sunspot and Magma are taken by Flynn, leading Cannonball and Magik to seek help from Lila Cheney. Dazzler, unexpectedly at Lila’s, discovers the missing mutants are trapped in Flynn’s underground arena—where she once fought—and must confront her past as she watches her former teammates battle for survival. The brutal spectacle is shattered when Magneto arrives, seeking the New Mutants’ help after Xavier warns of the Beyonder’s arrival. Written by Chris Claremont and brought to life with bold, dynamic art by Bill Sienkiewicz, this 1985 issue blends personal stakes with escalating cosmic tension, all on a cover by Sienkiewicz.
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Written by Chris Claremont and illustrated — with covers and interior art — by Bill Sienkiewicz, the issue was edited by Ann Nocenti under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, and went on sale March 5, 1985 with a July 1985 cover date. The story picks up threads from the Beauty and the Beast limited series (itself edited by Nocenti), importing the Gladiators' underground mutant-fighting arena and Dazzler's complicated history with them into the main New Mutants title. Claremont was simultaneously required to position the team as a prelude to the Secret Wars II crossover, a Shooter-driven editorial mandate; fan commentary from the era and later reflects that this external pressure both compressed the Gladiators storyline and, in at least one reading, kept its pacing unusually brisk. The issue was reprinted in the New Mutants Epic Collection Vol. 2 — The Demon Bear Saga (2019) and collected in the New Mutants Omnibus Vol. 1 (2020).
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Guido Carosella (later Strong Guy): Created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, Guido appears as Lila Cheney's bodyguard — unnamed beyond 'Guido' — and would not receive his codename 'Strong Guy' until X-Factor #72 (Peter David's run, early 1990s).
- Bill Sienkiewicz's final arc on the title begins here: Issue #29 opens a three-part Gladiators story (#29–31) that serves as Sienkiewicz's farewell to the series, with his departure formally announced in the letters column of issue #30.
- Direct prelude to Secret Wars II: The issue ends with Magneto interrupting the arena battle to warn the team that the Beyonder has arrived on Earth; the New Mutants, Dazzler, and Magneto all appear next in Secret Wars II #1.
- Professor X asks Magneto to lead the X-Men: Via astral projection, Xavier (weakened and preparing to leave Earth) contacts Magneto in the Bermuda Triangle and requests he assume leadership — a handoff that would be formalized in New Mutants #35 and last through issue #75.
- Magneto debuts a new 'M' costume in this issue, designed visually by Sienkiewicz, representing a fresh look for the character as he transitions toward a hero/anti-hero role.
- The Gladiators storyline continues directly from Beauty and the Beast #4 (1984–85 Marvel limited series), bringing Dazzler's prior entanglement with the underground mutant-fighting arena into the main New Mutants narrative.
- Lila Cheney (first introduced in New Mutants Annual #1, 1984, created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod) appears here as Cannonball's contact; her romantic relationship with Sam Guthrie deepens across this arc.
- The issue was collected in New Mutants Classic Vol. 3 (trade paperback) and later in the New Mutants Epic Collection Vol. 2 — The Demon Bear Saga (2019) and New Mutants Omnibus Vol. 1 (2020).
Cast · 21 characters
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Sunspot and Magma are kidnapped; Cannonball and Magik try to find them and seek the aid of Lila Cheney. Dazzler, who has shown up at Lila's looking for an audition, realizes that the missing New Mutants have been captured by Flynn for his underground mutant arena and gains access to their next bout as she used to be one of them. Dazzler's loyalties are tested as she watches her former friends fighting to the death. The arena battle is interrupted by Magneto who seeks the aid of the New Mutants as Xavier has told him the Beyonder has arrived on earth.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
