The first trailer for X-Men: The New Mutants was released on Friday morning, and it instantly caused quite the stir among fans of the comics.
Based on the Chris Claremont series about a troubled group of young mutants, the movie was always going to be a little different from the other X-Men films. However, by the looks of this trailer, New Mutants is going to be a total departure. The film is more of a horror/thriller than a superhero adventure, and people are worried that it won’t be very true to the comics.
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If you were paying close attention, you probably realized that nothing could be further from the truth.
This trailer was jam-packed with Easter Eggs and references to the New Mutants comics, guaranteeing that it’s roots will be found in the pages of Claremont’s work. Were you able to catch any of the clever nods?
Let’s break it down:
New Mutants #38
One of the most memorable covers in the New Mutants comic series was undoubtedly New Mutants #38.
Early on in the trailer, the camera pans across a graveyard with numbered graves, and it struck an eerie resemblance to the comic cover where the characters are seen getting into their graves.
When you look closer though, you’ll see a very direct reference to that specific issue. The grave in the center of the frame is labeled with the number 138.
New Mutants Vol. 1, issue #38.
Demon Bear References
Fans of the New Mutants comics will know that Demon Bear is one of their biggest villains. The creature is responsible for the death of Mirage’s parents, and it chases her down through her dreams.
Demon Bear has been confirmed as the main antagonist for the movie and, despite the fact that it wasn’t seen in the trailer, there were multiple references to its evil.
The most glaring was the necklace worn by Mirage, which you can clearly see in various shots. The bear pendant around her neck represents the evil creature that she’s constantly battling.
There’s also a shot of Mirage lying in the snow, which alludes to the run of New Mutant comics where Demon Bear was the main antagonist. New Mutants #18-20 was called the “Demon Bear Saga,” and it took place almost entirely in the snow.
Finally, the biggest hint towards Demon Bear could be the scratches down the face of Cecilia Reyes. It’s likely that the bear is the driving force behind the haunted hospital where the movie takes place, and it may have attacked its steward.
However, those scars also could have been referencing another creature from New Mutants.
Wolfsbane
Speaking of Wolfsbane, there was great nod to her in the New Mutants trailer.
Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams plays Rahne Sinclair, a shy mutant with a strict Catholic background. She may look innocent, but the young girl has the ability to transform into a full-on wolf, earning her the nickname, Wolfsbane.
In one shot, Rahne is seen walking to the shower, and you can see a W branded on her back. This represents her being ostracized from her Catholic peers for being a werewolf.
Lockheed?
In one scene of the trailer, a younger version of Magik was seen, cuddling on a bed with a stuffed animal.
When you look closer, it appears that she’s holding a toy version of the lovable X-Men dragon, Lockheed.
Comic fans will recognize Lockheed as the companion of Kitty Pryde. Since Kitty dated Colossus (Magik’s brother) for a number of years, the two women became close over time. This lead to a great friendship between Magik and Lockheed.
Does this doll mean that Lockheed might actually show up in the X-Men films at some point? With four films on the horizon, only time will tell.
X-Men: New Mutants is set to hit theaters on April 13, 2018.
