Love Bill Sienkiewicz, but never liked those kids.

So I'm not sure I had actually read this one all the way through before: from 1984, the New Mutants #20, "Badlands" Written by Chris Claremont, art by Bill Sienkiewicz. 

This was the conclusion to the "Demon Bear" saga, with Dani Moonstar already hospitalized by the titular bear that killed her parents when she was a child. As doctors struggle to save her life, the New Mutants fight to defend their teammate, but get sucked into the bear's realm, an America untouched by the white man. The bear's captives, supporting characters Officer Corsi and Nurse Friedlander, are transformed into demons; and the kids fight hard but have no idea what they're doing. There is also an alarming amount of suspicion and in-fighting: Magma figures they'll probably have to kill Corsi and Friedlander to save themselves, while Roberto thinks maybe they shouldn't go there first thing. Rahne and Sam both seem to have a fair amount of distrust for demon sorceress Illyana, who doesn't trust herself much either. Her Soulsword does the trick, though, eventually killing the bear and freeing them all, including Dani's lost parents for good measure.  (Not 'freed' as in to go to heaven or whatever, as usually happens in this sort of thing, but back to regular life, apparently the same age they were when they disappeared.)

With the help of the Morlock healer Storm brings in, Dani is saved from death and paralysis, although she's probably looking at some painful rehab, and is reunited with her folks. Corsi and Friedlander are alive as well, although they were still "red Indians," as Rahne indelicately puts it, and might probably remain so. (They would: Corsi would make appearances in Uncanny and Generation X, while Friedlander would later be killed by Frenzy. No, not that one.)

This issue is more of Sienkiewicz moving to the next level after his Moon Knight days, and is just incredible. Even not really liking the New Mutants, I have to appreciate this.