Issue(s): New Warriors #57
Cover Date: Mar 95
Title: "Breaking points!"
Credits:
Evan Skolnick - Writer
Patrick Zircher - Penciler
Bruce D. Patterson - Inker
Glenn Greenberg - Assistant Editor
Tom Brevoort - Editor

Review/plot:
This issue is basically another epilogue to the last arc (which had its own epilogue at the end of issue #56). It begins by dealing with the fact that Night Thrasher and Rage weren't with the rest of the team, due to events in Night Thrasher's book.

Things begin with a reckoning between Nova and Night Thrasher over Thrasher and Rage not being around for the events of the last arc, where it's suggested that their absence was a factor that contributed to Namorita getting captured. Nova says that either he or Night Thrasher needs to leave the team; everyone except Rage sides with Nova.

The rest of the issue deals with the New Warriors contacting Namor (via Phoebe Marrs) to inform him about his cousin's capture. Namor insults the Warriors by saying that he shold have never let Namorita join the ranks of "unworthy" "children". That results in a big fight between Namor and the Warriors that takes up the majority of the issue. It may be a bit of an unnecessary hero vs. hero fight, but Namor's well known temper certainly makes it in character, and it's a well choreographed fight that properly depicts Namor as the powerhouse that he is while also showing how the Warriors are able to cleverly use their powers to hold their own. Firestar's microwave powers are of particular use.

In the end, the fight allows everyone to blow off steam, venting frustrations about the loss of Namorita, and i guess the Warriors prove themselves "worthy" enough, so they part with Namor amicably.

It's a very straightforward issue with a classic kind of a feel, and simple super-fight is a relief after recent convoluted plots.

The other thing that happens in this issue is a conflict between Alex Power and his siblings.

I'm not sure if that's the intention, but Jack is 100% right here. It feels to me that Evan Skolnick is kind of dissing the Power Pack series, suggesting that it was a kiddie book, but the truth is that they always dealt with real, life-threatening, challenges. But at least Jack calls out Alex's BS.

I wrote in the last issue with a Statement of Ownership that sales were down "significantly from last year", but they've gone down even further there (average from 162,258 to 93,710. I think it's too soon to blame the decline entirely on Fabian Nicieza's departure (although the closest to filing date number is even lower). Even at the end of Nicieza's run, the quality had been declining, and the lack of a consistent solid artist would be another factor. But, of course, the overall state of the market was the real factor. Still, the dilution of the brand with solo Night Thrasher and Nova books is looking really dumb.

Statement of Ownership Total Paid Circulation: Average of Past 12 months = 93,710. Single issue closest to filing date = 71,575.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP have this between Namor #54-55, but see my Considerations for issue #55; i instead have this between Namor #55-56. The footnotes continue to just cite "recent issues of Night Thrasher", but it looks like Night Thrasher #17-19 or so is where we see what Night Thrasher and Rage were up to while away from the team. "Recent issues" are also all that's cited for Namor's current state of mind.

References:

• There are references to Night Thrasher dropping Nova off the roof in New Warriors #1 in their argument at the beginning of this issue.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A