This is another really good issue of New Mutants, which is fast becoming the second-best X-book on the market.  (Nothing will unseat X-Factor as long as Peter David is writing it, sorry.) The cover of this issue has Cyclops playing chess.  The bulk of the issue has the team going to stop some Savage Land mutates from wreaking havoc in Japan.  But Cyclops and Emma Frost are watching from afar, as Scott uses the mission to test Sam Guthrie’s leadership skills–for the day when Cyclops steps down and needs a replacement.  During the battle, however, Sam lets his personal history with Sauron distract him from the mission–while Mirage is able to determine the real threat (mind control from one of the mutates) and take care of it.

Cannonball’s rise to the leader role has been pretty quick.  In the end, Guthrie’s performance is slightly lacking and Cyclops says to Emma that he is in fact looking for a new leader…But it might not be Sam.  The implication is that it might be Dani Moonstar.