Writer Chris Claremont
Artist Steve Leialoha
Letterer Lois Buhalis and Tom Orzechowski
Colorist Glynis Oliver
Cover Dated November 1985
Issue opens in a nightclub called, Pharaoh, in Cairo. The club belongs to Karma. Karma spies the Sullivans, Phil and Dale. I haven’t known Dale to be a lady’s name. Karma sics Cannonball onto the couple.
All of the New Mutants, minus Magik, Dani and Warlock, are under Karma’s control. Karma takes control of Dale. She turns on her husband. He walks away. Karma lets go of Dale and Sam turns her down. That marriage is over. Interesting, with the captions, that we learn how Karma’s powers work. Those she takes over, are aware of their actions, they just don’t realize they were mind controlled. That’s pretty interesting.
Karma senses Storm in the audience. Storm implies she knows who really is controlling Karma, and Karma treats Storm like an old opponent. It isn’t said in the issue, but Karma, herself, has Shadow King inhabiting her body. Hence, her extra body weight.
Magik and Dani show up to get Storm out of there. Dani, via her psi-link with her, frees Wolfsbane.
Dani shows Karma her biggest fear, which is Xavier. Another cool hint at who the true villain is.
Warlock acts as a magic carpet and flies Dani and Wolfsbane out of the club. They regroup at Storm’s old apartment. I like the idea of how Storm grew up a thief, her mutant powers kicked in and she made her way to Africa.
Warlock cheers up Wolfsbane. Wolfsbane spends her next minutes trying to clean herself. Dani admires the dress Wolfsbane was wearing. Storm notices and Dani leaves the room, ashamed.
Storm goes outside. Dani feels like Karma’s influence is still in her head. The controlled New Mutants attack. Cannonball attacks Magik, Warlock saves her. I like Warlock interacting with members of the team, who are not Doug.
Sunspot tries to attack Dani and Magik but they trip him up. I really like this arc, as those two gals are great together. Magma attacks them next. Magik teleports them away, except she drops Dani off right in front of Karma. Then ditches her there. Karma believes this is a peace offering act.
Magik and S’ym teleport Warlock to Limbo. Once she is gone, that dirty S’ym starts trying to corrupt Warlock. He is off to a great start by showing Warlock a dead Colossus (the only good kind), that is hung on the wall.
Back in RL, Dani got her own pretty dress! Karma speaking via Dani, tells Magik that the two of them are kindred souls and leaves her alone.
We get two awesome pages of Storm fighting off the New Mutants. Is there any better version of Storm than Powerless Storm? I don’t think so. The fight only ends because Magik teleports the two of them straight to Karma. Ditching her there as well.
Issue ends with Magik feeling bad in Limbo, she has a plan but it has to work. What isn’t great is Warlock shouting, Traitor!, at her.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 