Marvel Girl #1 Comic Book Review

Marvel Girl #1Erica gives this comic three stars

Marvel Girl #1 by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Art: Nuno Plati

I felt that this issue was very much a direct response to Stan Lee’s original X-Men comics. I loved how angry Jean was at the guys as they fought over her. Jean in the older comics doesn’t realize that boys (and Professor X…ewww…) have a crush on her. But here, she is no one’s but her own.

However, I do have to say that my least favorite part of Jean’s characterization is that her powers are so strong, and how she must get control over them, which really means she just needs to learn better self-control. While with other powerful characters, especially male ones, this seems, while overplayed, to not deter them in their superhero life calling — (except perhaps with the Sentry) — Jean always seems to be regulated as the crazy lady who’s one day going to explode and kill everyone. And when she becomes the Phoenix, the entire universe becomes her kill zone.

Anyway, I liked this story being about Jean and her life outside the X-Men. Continue reading “Marvel Girl #1 Comic Book Review”

Dazzler (Vol 2) #1 Comic Book Review

Dazzler Vol 2 #1Erica gives this comic three starsDazzler #1 by Jim McCann

Here McCann takes on the task of reconciling who Dazzler is. Which is a rather large task even if the character’s only been around since the ’80s. Dazzler #1 becomes something of a quick reference to everything good — and arguably bad — about Alison Blaire.

Her troubled half-sister Lois London is pissed at her, and she leads Alison into a trap at Arcane’s Murderworld. Here Alison must put on the concert of her life or perhaps for her life, complete with ’80s disco get-up and roller-skates. She fights robots made to look like villains from her history like Doctor Doom and Galactus. (Though technically, she points out she was Galactus’ herald, not a hero, just in case hardcore Dazzler fans wanted to yell at McCann for continuity mistakes.) Continue reading “Dazzler (Vol 2) #1 Comic Book Review”

Reviews Girl Comics #1

Girl Comics #1Erica gives this comic five starsComic book review for Marvel’s anthology, Girl Comics #1.

I really loved this comic. I loved being the audience. I loved that it showcased women writers, artists, and editors. Yes, not every story knocked me out the park with awesome. A few did though. I appreciate the spirit and the ability to discover writers and artists I might not have otherwise read stories by. Also I loved the cover of She-Hulk beating Iron Man in arm-wrestling by Amanda Conner and Laura Martin. And the biographical features on Flo Steinberg and Marie Severin nicely add historical context to women who’ve made a big impact on Marvel’s history. One part I didn’t like so much was Sana Takeda’s pin-up of She-Hulk. Her art style doesn’t seem to flow into drawing She-Hulk.

Onto the stories: Continue reading “Reviews Girl Comics #1”

Six Minor Characters I’d Elevate into Iconic Character Roles in Marvel and DC

I’ve thought a lot about how to bring comics into newer times, and I really think there needs to be some casting changes. Now I’m not saying we have to ditch the ionic characters, but it’s time to see other characters stepping up and becoming icons themselves. Not to mention, this might start attracting a bigger audience.

Six Minor Characters I’d Elevate into Iconic Character Roles

Pepper Potts as Rescue (Iron Man)

Pepper Potts as Iron Man

Continue reading “Six Minor Characters I’d Elevate into Iconic Character Roles in Marvel and DC”

Queer Comic Characters: Anole (Oct 27th)

The United States government did a study on youth suicide, which reported that LGBT youth are two to three times as likely their heterosexual peers to attempt suicide. Such depressing facts often get reflected on the page and become yet another gay stereotype in literature. Victor Borkowski (Anole) almost became a fictional X-Men statistic and bad cliche.

Victor Borkowski (Anole)

Anole

Initially a background character in the relaunch of the New Mutants, Anole’s young, openly gay, and looks like a reptile. He has superhuman speed, agility, and reflexes. His tongue’s sticky; he can crawl walls; and he can camouflage himself. Anole’s 16-years-old when he joins the Xavier Institute. Continue reading “Queer Comic Characters: Anole (Oct 27th)”

Queer Comic Characters: Northstar (Oct 23rd)

Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar) is technically the first openly gay character in the Marvel universe. Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Byrne says he always meant for Northstar to be gay; he just wasn’t allowed to say so due to Marvel editor Jim Shooter seeing an openly gay character as a “political position” and the Comics Code Authority.

Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar)

Northstar

If you’ve never heard of Northstar, that’s probably because you’ve never read Alpha Flight. Alpha Flight’s Canada’s premiere superhero team, government-run like all those socialist programs in Canada. 😉 And Northstar’s their requisite snobby French-Canadian champion skier turned superhero. Okay, you might’ve also heard of Northstar from this little title called X-Men where he also appears. Continue reading “Queer Comic Characters: Northstar (Oct 23rd)”