Issue: #1 - November 1994
Title: Third Genesis
Creative Team: Scott Lobdell (writer), Chris Bachalo (art), Mark Buckingham (inks), Richard Starkings & Comicraft (letters), Steve Buccellato & Electric Crayon (colors).

Summary/Review:
This issue introduces the third generation of mutants (obviously), and also some new characters. One of them is Jonothan Starsmore, who is greeted at an airport by the oh-so-friendly Emplate, the team's first major villain. Emplate was just kind of sitting in the background of reality (most likely shifted between dimensions which made him practically not even there, in a sense), watching everyone's aura. Chamber had an extremely strong one, moreover it was he strongest Emplate has ever seen. So Emplate did what he came to do, he began "feeding" off of Jono. Then Jubilee, Synch, and Banshee jumped into the fight. Amazingly, Chamber got loose from Emplate's grasp, something never done before. That's when the rest of the kids showed up and pretty much wooped Emplate. But, as many villains tend to do, Emplate got away and fled to his home (read: unknown location) where we discovered a prisoner of his was gone. The issue ended by Gateway actually saying something, one word: Penance. He was apparently referring to the mysterious girl laying on the lawn.

Quick Thoughts: Overall, this was a good issue. Nice way to kick things off, I think, but I can't help but look at it like it was a little too generic. It just seemed like something I've seen before, starting with the team already together, and introducing the first and main villain by way of a new member. I dunno, maybe I'm crazy. Probably am. But the characterization was there, the twist was also there at the end, and already it offered some of those ever-present Lobdell-plots, which will probably only be tied up a few years from now.

Rating: