It’s a good day to be a fan of Marvel’s New Mutants, now that legendary writer and creator Chris Claremont is returning to the team of upstart X-Men for a brand new, one-shot adventure with artist Bill Sienkiewicz… and we’ve got your first look at New Mutants: War Children #1.

The issue will be coming to comic readers on September 18th, with Sienkiewicz providing both cover art and interiors for the issue. Whether you’re a fan of Magik, Wolfsbane, Cannonball, Cypher, Mirage, Karma, or Sunspot, this new entry in the history of the young mutant team will be a treat for fans of their 1980s run. And there may even be a cameo or two along the way…

It was Claremont who first broke new ground with the New Mutants back in 1982, while also at the helm of the then-gangbusters X-Men franchise. And while co-creator Bob McLeod helped to launch the young, troubled, ’new generation’ of mutant heroes, it was the arrival of Bill Sienkiewicz whose ghostly, unforgettable artwork cemented the legacy the New Mutants would eventually claim. So with a new age of X-Men brewing at Marvel Comics, what better time to revisit a classic? Check out the first artwork and solicitation information for New Mutants: War Children #1 below.

  • NEW MUTANTS: WAR CHILDREN #1 Writer: Chris Claremont Art: Bill Sienkiewicz Cover: Bill Sienkiewicz STRONG AND FREE! Don’t miss this momentous event as legendary creators CHRIS CLAREMONT and BILL SIENKIEWICZ reunite with Magik, Wolfsbane, Cannonball, Cypher, Mirage, Karma, and Sunspot to share this never before told story of the New Mutants’ past! When Warlock experiences a nightmare, he begins going haywire, and it’s up to his friends to save him! But as Warlock grows more frenzied, they should be worrying about being able to save themselves…and doubly so when Magik’s inner demon, Darkchylde, threatens to break free! Also, a special guest appearance by none other than Kitty Pryde!

Worrisome as it may be to see Warlock in such a menacing form on the cover of War Children, fans know they’re in the best possible hands for this trip back down memory lane. It’s impossible to say if the one-shot is purely a chance for Claremont and Sienkiewicz to return to the team, or if it’s part of a larger story or initiative ahead of the X-Men reboot coming in House of X and Powers of X. All we know is that while longtime fans are still counting the days until The New Mutants movie finally releases, there’s no better time to see what made the team such a hit in the first place.

New Mutants: War Children #1 will be available at your local comic book shop on September 18th, 2019.

MORE: X-Men Movie Producer Gives Update on New Mutant Reshoots