Writers: Kelly Thompson, G. Willow Wilson / Artists: J. Molina, L. Martin / Marvel Comics
There’s goodness in this comic — punching, kicking, magic-ing, dazzling goodness.
Kelly Thompson joins the writing team on this issue as lead writer, with G. Willow Wilson getting the “with” next to her name. Thompson is coming off her success with Jem and the Holograms and Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps. It is hard to tell where she starts and Wilson ends, which is exactly what you want in a collabo of this level. Word is that Thompson will be taking over as sole writer with Issue #5, so that’s something to look forward to, along with Ben Caldwell (Convergence: Infinite Earths Book One) joining on art. For now though, Molina and Martin are still working the pens and the look of the comic remains rich – colorful with plenty of striking faces and icon-laden stills.
The action picks up right where #1 left off, Singularity is caught between Medusa, She-Hulk, and the mysterious giant red energy force, Antimatter. Even as Medusa and She-Hulk have the majority of the lines, it continues to be Singularity’s story, with her almost childlike narration leading the reader along. Together with a little techno trickery, the three are able to ditch Antimatter and head off to find some help, in the form of Nico Minoru:
The issue gets a little talky here in the middle as Nico is introduced and integrated into the impromptu team, but they pull through to more action once Captain Marvel comes calling. Can I say how much I love Captain Marvel’s look these days? Sleek and futuristic, commanding…her blue and red plays well off the colors already claimed by the other heroes, it is all a great feast for the eyes. And then there’s DAZZLER!
No, not like that. Not any more. Dazzler (Alison Blaire), to catch you up, made her first appearance in 1980, as a disco-singer mutant who can convert sound into light. She was often pictured on roller skates, because it was the 80s and that’s how we got around back then. Fast forward to now and she’s introduced again on roller skates: as a jammer for a roller derby team. The road from 80s glamour queen to 10s roller derby queen is a feminist story for the ages. Gone is Dazzler’s flowing blond hair and silver jumpsuit. Now she’s got a sharp mohawk and a brutal right hook, which she hands Singularity in place of a “nice to meet you” hug.
The last page had me cheering as Alison, so often derided as a “fluffy” or “sparkly” mutant embraces that assumption and uses it to lay Antimatter on their ass. There’s an inclusive, subtle feminism at work throughout this comic that slays assumptions about what power looks like and how it is used. These heroes use their power to protect and serve. Teenaged girls can sacrifice and take care of themselves. Pink and sparkly can knock you the f’ out. These aren’t your expected heroines – but they’re the ones you wanted.
A Solid 7 Sparkles out of 10
(And the very real possibility that Dazzler is my favorite mutant of the week.)
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