Issue(s): New Mutants #22
Cover Date: Dec 84
Title: "The shadow within"
Credits:
Chris Claremont - Writer
Bill Sienkiewicz - Penciler
Bill Sienkiewicz - Inker

Review/plot:
This issue is mainly a "fairy tale" written by Wolfsbane. It's cute, but it's also pretty clearly (although not explicitly) about Cloak & Dagger, in a continuation of the follow-up from Marvel Team-Up annual #6.

There's also some nice scenes where we see the X-Men training the New Mutants. Nightcrawler teaches Cannonball some acrobatic moves to help him control his flight path...

...and Colossus tries to teach Sunspot some fighting moves, but Sunspot is too arrogant (or probably actually too intimidated) to try to learn.

Something goes haywire with Sunspot's powers during the training. This is again following up with the Cloak & Dagger plot.

Also, Xavier brings in Moira Mactaggert to help examine Warlock. OK, it's not Reed Richards, but at least he's actually following up on Warlock a bit.

Also, we see more of Selene; one of her minions suggests that she join the Hellfire Club.

The training scenes with Nightcrawler and Colossus are a nice touch and something we should be seeing more of in this book. The focus on Woflsbane this issue is also nice. She's an interesting character. She's got a crush on Cannonball...

...and has an irrational hatred of Nightcrawler because of her religious upbringing. She's conflicted and in this issue neither Xavier nor Dani have time for her. So it's a nice character issue. Although i'm never thrilled when so much of a book is devoted to a dream or story.

I wasn't sure how well Sienkiewicz's art would work on the downtime human interest stories, but i think he's great. That little scene with the secret kiss from Rahne to Sam is a great use of his stylized art.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 2

Chronological Placement Considerations: Next issue doesn't continue directly but it does continue the story here, where the weirdness with Wolfsbane and Sunspot is resolved. I do have other New Mutants appearances between this and next issue, though.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A