"The Next Generation: Part One - Cannonball"
by Bull (Sandkings)

Back in 1982, the graphic novel The New Mutants hit the shelves. Here was the "next" generation of X-Men. Written by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod, this G.N. gave us our first look at the five new students of Xavier. Unlike the first set of students Xavier taught, this young class was never meant to be the replacements for his X-Men (which were believed dead at the time the team was conceived). Charles Xavier and Moira MacTaggert helped to initiate these five young students made up of two boys and three girls. Sam Guthrie (Cannonball), Roberto Da Costa (Sunspot), Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane), Dani Moonstar (Mirage) and Xi'an Coy Mahn (Karma) all joined the ranks and donned the blue and gold outfits. With their first battle being against the cyborg Pierce, The New Mutants were born.

This first article will focus on the longest running member of the team, and perhaps the glue that has held both the New Mutants and X-Force together. That boy is, of course, Sam "Cannonball" Guthrie. Hailing from Cameron County, Kentucky, Sam joined the New Mutants after being their first "enemy" (As Pierce had hired Sam to protect him). At sixteen years of age, Sam left his home and rather large family for the Xavier school. Sam, along with Dani, led the New Mutants for most of their career, even after most of the original members had left the team. Sam witnessed many new members to the New Mutant family come and go. He had a series of teachers that included Xavier, Storm, and even Magneto. During his time on the New Mutants, Sam witnessed three friends die (Doug, Warlock, and Magik). He had a crush on Kitty Pryde and even had a fling with Lila Cheney. He faced Limbo, Asgard, alien planets, and the future. Sam was even rumored to be part of the mysterious Twelve. He developed his powers towards the end of his New Mutant career, but was the only original member of the New Mutants to never leave the team.

Then came the man known as Cable. When Sam was sixteen, his father passed away due to the coal mines, so Cable was the first real experience Sam ever had with a father figure. Nathan Summers' interest in Cannonball was more than a father/son relationship; however, as Cable had Sam on record of being alive in the 24th century. Cable assumed Sam was an External and wanted to help develop Sam's inborn abilities. However, recent history has shown us that Sam may not be an External. Once X-Force was really developed as a team, Sam found his love interest in Tabitha "Boom Boom" Smith who had joined the New Mutants after the X-Terminators mini series. Boom Boom (Boomer or Meltdown) would go through many changes during their time on X-Force, causing the end of the relationship between Sam and herself. His troubles with X-Force continued during the Executioner's Song story line when X-Force was arrested by the X-Men and X-Factor. Sam helped Havok while his team was behind bars. Eventually, X-Force parted ways with Cable, but not before Sam got his once in a lifetime dream shot.

A huge turning point in Sam's life was when he was offered a position on the X-Men. For several years, Sam graced the pages of both Uncanny X-Men and X-Men as a regular member of the team. Here, Sam faced doubts about his relationship on the team. He actually found that his girlfriend (Meltdown) and his best friend (Sunspot) had a relationship behind his back. He started to develop feelings for Marrow. He took on Gladiator and won. He helped face down Onslaught and even bonded with Wolverine. However, just as Sam seemed to be settling into his role as an X-Man, the creative team of the book brought the team down to eight members. Sam was sent off to tend to his sick mother and then rejoined X-Force, which is where he is today.

Sam Guthrie is the first and only member of the original New Mutants to make it to the X-Men thus far, but he is back home with his friends at X-Force today. What makes Sam's character so interesting is his down to earth persona. Coming from a large family, Sam was always the "big brother" of the New Mutants. His country roots earned him the nickname "Hay-seed" by many. While with the X-Men, Sam seemed very much in awe of the team that he grew up in the shadow of. After all, Xavier did form the New Mutants as his new class of students. Sam spent his youth in the confines of the Xavier mansion in New York surrounded by pictures and the real, live X-Men. It was only natural that this awe and respect of the team develop. The greatest challenge for Sam lies ahead as X-Force teams up with Cable to begin the search for their missing member, Caliban. It will be interesting to see how Sam reacts to Cable now that X-Force and Nathan have parted ways. What else lies ahead? Well, the return of Warlock for one thing. Former principal Magneto in Genosha for another. And in a year? Apocalypse! The future looks good for Sam, despite the trials ahead.

(Be sure to check out the other parts of The Next Generation focusing on the other original New Mutants.)