The New Mutants #73

Published in March 1989, The New Mutants #73 was released during a transitional period for the title as it moved away from its original premise as a school for gifted youngsters toward the darker, militaristic tone established by writer Louise Simonson. This issue features artwork by Rob Liefeld, whose dynamic and hyper-stylized aesthetic began to reshape the visual identity of the X-Men franchise during the late 1980s. The story continues the team's entanglement with the enigmatic and dangerous mutant Cable, marking a significant shift in the series' narrative trajectory.

The issue is noted by collectors as a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the full emergence of Cable, a character who would soon become a cornerstone of 1990s comic book culture. Liefeld's contribution to this era of The New Mutants was met with polarizing reactions; while many long-time readers felt the transition from the series' roots was jarring, the exaggerated action sequences and character redesigns quickly garnered a massive following, ultimately paving the way for the record-breaking sales of X-Force.