Issue(s): Marvel Comics Presents #166, Marvel Comics Presents #167 (Turbo story only)
Cover Date: Oct-Nov 94
Title: "Cutting Class"
Credits:
Evan Skolnick - Writer
Guy Dorian - Penciler
John Stokes - Inker
Michael Kraiger - Assistant Editor
Richard Ashford - Editor

Review/plot:
Even though Turbo's debut in New Warriors #28 was written by Fabian Nicieza, a note on that issue said that Turbo was created by James Brock, Dwight Coye, and Evan Skolnick. Now Evan Skolnick is writing a "solo" Turbo story (there are two of them; Michiko Mushashi and Mike Jeffries share the armor) which delves a bit into the origins of the suit. A very little bit, unfortunately.

The Pantheon try to take the "Torpedo" suit from Michiko.

But Mike busts in wearing the suit.

But he just slams himself into a wall. The Pantheon say that the suit is dangerous because it was made from "alien technology". We learned in ROM #21-22 that Dire Wraiths created the suit in an attempt to replicate Galadorian armor. But we don't get to that level of detail here.

Mike doesn't do so well against the Pantheon, so he grabs Michiko and flees. Michiko then convinces Mike to let her wear the armor, since she's more experienced with it. And she does better against the Pantheon.

She does well enough to convince the Pantheon that the armor is in good hands.

Unfortunately this seems like a missed opportunity. We should have learned why the Pantheon were involved (there doesn't seem to be an active threat here, so it's not like they're responding to a vision from Delphi). And more importantly, it might have been nice for the Pantheon to explain more about why the suit is supposed to be so dangerous. This also could have lead to an explanation of how these two Turbos acquired the Torpedo armor. Instead Skolnick saves that for a future issue of New Warriors, and this story is the usual truncated random fight.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Placing this in the same New Warriors gap as Marvel Comics Presents #159-163, which also places it well before the Fall of the Pantheon.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A