So I'm back with another batch of comics to review and recommend. I'm going with a theme this time and showing off some more lady heroes. I'll start off with Captain Marvel Volume 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More by Kelly Sue DeConnick, David Lopez, and Lee Loughridge is my first time reading Captain Marvel. I've been interested in reading about her for a while since I heard she'll be the focus of the first Marvel movie with a female lead (currently slated for November 2018 release, which can't come soon enough!). This volume is sort of a restart to her storyline, as she ventures into space whereas her previous exploits were on earth. Carol heads out to prove herself and isn't afraid to work hard along the way. While diplomacy isn't her strong suit she still ends up helping settle interplanetary squabbles while teaming up a bit with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Captain Marvel Volume 2: Stay Fly by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Marcio Takara, and David Lopez continues from the past volume as Carol fights over her cat with Rocket and soon another party. She teams up with a rockstar while rhyming, and then comes home just in time for Christmas after a letter from home reminds her of all she left behind. This volume has lots of humor, and mostly lighthearted storylines to offer while also expanding on her background for newer readers.
Captain Marvel Volume 3: Alis Volat Propriis (She Flies With Her Own Wings) is the work of Kelly Sue DeConnick, Warren Ellis, and David Lopez. With only 4 issues this volume feels a little sparse compared to the previous ones which had 6 & 5 respectively. We have space maneuvers, a bit more rescuing, some more fighting over the cat, introspection as Carol is faced with the prospect of more power, and a touching story of her mentor to wrap things up before Secret Wars picks up with a new storyline. I really love Carol, but I wish some of these stories were a bit meatier and less such short arcs. Still, I heartily recommend it to all who like a tough lady who gets the job done.
Ms. Marvel Volume 2 by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, and Jacob Wyatt sees Kamala growing into her powers and teaming up with another hero for the first time....and taking a selfie to remember it by too! She gets a new pet who just happens to be sent from someone who's got information about her powers. And all the while she's trying to protect her hometown. This volume progresses things so nicely, that it made me really glad to have the third volume ready to read as soon as I finished.
Ms. Marvel Volume 3 by G. Willow Wilson, Takeshi Miyazawa, Elmo Bondoc, and Mark Waid has lots of interesting twists and Kamala has a Valentine's special with another great cameo, and gets to deal with a crush who seems too good to be true! She learns of others like her and a resistance movement, while proving her character. And finally she meets some SHIELD agents who have to contain a nearby issue, but may be helping to shape her future...or not, since that's where this volume ends things.
And my last review was a pick from Fight or Flight Comics' discussion group, Word Balloons, which Bryan and I got to join over the weekend. Batgirl Volume 1: The Batgirl of Burnside by Cameron Stewart, Babs Tarr, and Brenden Fletcher. This, similar to Captain Marvel has a character starting up a new storyline, and in this case moving to a trendy new neighborhood. Barbara has to balance school, her secret identity, a bit of a party girls lifestyle, and some crazy social media hijinks as she tries to get her thesis work back after having her computer stolen. She's got good friends, a photographic memory, and the tech skills to tackle the job, but new kinks keep getting thrown her way, including some identity theft. Batgirl is more mature reading than Ms. Marvel, but equally well written. I really love the feel of the art here, but am simultaneously turned off by how much it seems to be drawn for the male gaze (despite how her costume is perfect, the rest of the clothing is not so true to life). Still, I can't wait to pick up the next volume.
This is a bit of a late post, but it's all done. And since Bryan and I stopped by the comic store over the weekend I have even more fodder for the next comics post. So stay tuned, dear readers, for more!
Love,
Lydia
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