Thor: Goddess of Thunder (Volume 1)

Marvel NOW!

Thor:  Goddess of Thunder (Volume 1)
Jason Aaron
Russell Dauterman
Jorge Molina
2014

The Summary
"Who is the Goddess of Thunder?

"The secrets of Original Sin have laid low one of Marvel's greatest heroes.  The God of Thunder is unworthy, and Mjolnir lies on the moon, unable to be lifted!  But when Frost Giants invade Earth, a new hand will grasp the hammer--and a mysterious woman will take up the mantle of the mighty Thor!  Her identity is secret to even Odin, but she may be Earth's only hope against the Frost Giants.  Get ready for a Thor like you've never seen before as this all-new heroine takes Midgard by storm!  Plus:  The Odinson clearly doesn't like that someone else is holding his hammer--it's Thor vs. Thor!  And Odin desperate to see Mjolnir returned, will call on some very dangerous, very unexpected allies.  It's a bold new chapter in the storied history of Thor!"

The Good
As my introduction to Thor and his Marvel mythology, Thor:  Goddess of Thunder makes a nice stepping stone into the world of Asgard.  It picks up where Original Sin left off and, while it doesn't go into a lot of detail about previous events, it manages to give readers enough detail that they can continue with the story unimpeded.  Yes, some of the Norse mythology woven into the story can get a bit complex, but, otherwise, I think it's a decent place to start in the series.

I initially picked it up because I was curious to see how a female would be portrayed under a primarily male title, and I can't say I'm disappointed.  It was nice to see how this new goddess stacks up against the other heroes of Asgard and Midgard; more importantly, it was nice to see a positive portrayal of a woman in comic books.

The new Thor is getting used to her new role.  She's much the same as her predecessor:  serious, snappish, and slightly egotistical.  (It's the language, I think.  There's something about the way the gods speak that makes them sound almost...snobbish, like they're somehow greater than all the other realms.  It's weird.)  However, she certainly has more of a sense of humor than the original Thor, which, I found, I could appreciate.

Moreover, I liked that the new Thor had two different voices:  one, her internal voice; two, her speaking voice.  I know that seems a weird thing to mention, but I really liked that Thor had her own unique internal voice that was completely under her control versus her speaking voice which was modified by the magic of Mjolnir.  Her internal narration is more relatable and, more importantly, easier to access.

She speaks as we would speak.  She has that unique quality that marks her apart as a hero and a god, but also a mortal.  (She obviously comes from Earth, since her thoughts don't reflect the inflection or language quirks of the Norse gods.)  She's something special, something vastly different from the other gods and goddesses of Asgard.

And I'm intrigued to see where it will go.

Oh, and did I mention that I love the art?  Yes, I love the art.  It's incredibly detailed and filled with a wide, beautiful array of colors.  I love the tones and hues, the subtle differences that denotes the changes in scenery and changes in characters and, sometimes, changes in mood.  I love all the different panels and I love how beautifully depicted the scenery and characters are.

And although I dislike Malekith on a personal level, I love how he's drawn and I love the striking colors of the magic he invokes.  There's such a supernatural brightness to him that I think appropriately reflects his strange and twisted nature.

The Bad
Although I really enjoyed reading Thor, I'm still not a fan of Thor.  I'm just not quite "sold" on the series yet.  I like the way it plays with Norse mythology and I love the art, but I'm not sure if it will keep me committed.  I'll see it through the second volume, but I can't really make anymore promises after that.

The Ugly
Frost giant violence and gore.

I mean, they're not good guys, so I don't exactly feel sorry for them.  But it's a little gruesome and a bit graphic, so I don't think I'd recommend it to younger readers.  Otherwise, it's not so bad.

Well, there is the macabre incident with Odinson and an axe...but, like I said, not so very bad.

Ms. Marvel: No Normal (Volume 1)

Marvel NOW!

Ms. Marvel:  No Normal (Volume 1)
G. Willow Wilson
Adrian Alphona
2014

The Summary
"Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City--until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts.  But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel?  Teenager?  Muslim?  Inhuman?  Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm!  When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she also unlocks a secret behind them.  Is Kamala ready to wield this immense gifts?  Or will the weight of the legacy before her prove too much to bear?  Kamala has no idea, either.  But she's comin' for you, Jersey!  It's history in the making from acclaimed writer G. Willow Wilson (Air, Cairo) and beloved artist Adrian Alphona (Runaways)!

The Good
I enjoyed reading Ms. Marvel.  I liked the new spin on a favorite character, and I like that Marvel is adding new faces to the lineup.  Yes, it's that element of diversity that's intriguing, but it's also the fact that Kamala offers a glimpse into a different culture that's not often highlighted in modern media or literature.  She's a great character, and she's appealing for all her faults and struggles as a teenager.

Moreover, it's a fun story.  Kamala is just learning how to control her powers.  She faces certain dangers, of course, but she's still learning in the driver's seat as she learns to recognize her own strengths and weaknesses--and, more importantly, recognize herself.  She doesn't just develop as a superhero, she develops as a human being.  She's trying to find herself and balance her teenage secret identity, as well as her parents' culture and religion.

It's a complex dynamic that Wilson and Alphona manage to pull off with surprising grace and dexterity.  They manage to keep the development quick, offering new adventures and dangers, while meshing together the art style and characters.  They do an excellent job of propelling the story forward, keeping it interesting for readers.

Overall, it's an excellent start to a brand-new series--and it's a great place to start if you're a fan of comics or if you'd like to dip your toes into the modern Marvel world.

The Bad
I'm still not a fan of Inhumans.  It seems like an awfully convenient replacement for the X-Men, and it just doesn't feel quite right.  I think it's strange that no one knew about the latent, Inhuman DNA, and I don't care much for the Inhuman story arc in Ms. Marvel.

It just doesn't hold my attention for some reason.

The Ugly
Adolescence.

Puberty is hard enough without having to contend with the dangers of a Terrigen bomb or fledgling superpowers.

Bonus: Lord and Lady Spy

Sourcebook Casablanca

Lord and Lady Spy
Shana Galen
2011

The Summary
"No man can outsmart him...

"Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England's most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it.  But he isn't the only one with secrets...

"She's been outsmarting him for years...

"Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband.  Until she discovers in the dark of night that he's not who she thinks he is after all..."

The Good
It's a fun, silly romance.  Think of it as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, but set in the Regency period--and they're not actually trying to kill each other.  Their names are even similar, now that I stop and think about it.  Although it hits some similar notes, it's an original story that I found pretty entertaining.

I liked that Sophia is a capable, efficient agent.  While she frequently does have to prove herself, she's admired for her tenacity and her unexpected skills with sharp objects.  I found it thoroughly amusing to see men flounder when they realize the small, diminutive woman is more than capable of disarming and charming any enemy.  And Adrian makes a fine contrast to her impetuous ways, offering a thoughtful, calculating balance to her quick, intuitive thinking.

Overall, I found I enjoyed Lord and Lady Spy.  It's another one of those guilty pleasures for me.  It's full of romance, action and intrigue, drama and passion, and it's easy to read in a day or so.  I wasn't committing to a hefty novel, so I was able to enjoy a quick, entertaining story.

The Bad
It feels like a bit of a rip off of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.  I mean, it's Smith and Smythe, it's an accent away from being exactly the same thing.  They're both spies; they're both married to spies and/or assassins; they're both completely unaware of the secret lives of the other.  Except for the fact that Galen's novel is set in the Regency, where technology isn't quite as sophisticated--and Sophia and Adrian aren't actually trying to kill each other--it's pretty similar.

Which is a little weird.

It's not a bad book.  (I mean, I've certainly read worse.  Let me tell you.)  I think it has enough originality and action that I was able to enjoy it, but I was a little tired of the familiar, trite arguments that sometimes stand between couples and it followed in some of the same paths as trod by other books.

It's like most romance novels where couples can never seem to get along with one another.  Granted, Adrian and Sophia are sometimes arguing over the best ways to infiltrate a building, or how to interrogate a suspect, or which ways they've killed a man, but it falls into much the same rut for some reason.  They have the same arguments again and again and again.

Oh, and here's something that bothers me:  their secret identities aren't really all that secret.  Adrian and Sophia are constantly revealing facets of their occupation to others, like interrogating individuals together, throwing around the prime minister's name, chasing people down in a carriage.  It's all rather dramatic and, I think, it's probably pretty obvious what they do for a living since most people don't go haring off through London streets where neighbors can recognize them in pursuit of would-be murderer.

Sure, their code names might not be compromised, but it wouldn't take a genius to connect the dots, especially when female spies are few and far between.  Sophia, who sometimes blatantly flaunts her incredible, obviously-I'm-a-spy skills and rebels against traditional authority, would be an obvious choice for any villain who knows the British empire has a female spy.  And, since she's survived an attempted assassination in the past, her identity is probably circulating out there anyway.

Sometimes, I found it frustrating.  I mean, seriously, could they make it any more obvious?

The Ugly
Some death and mayhem.  Pretty mild, but best to be prepared.

Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy (Volume 1)

Boom! Box

Lumberjanes:  Beware the Kitten Holy (Volume 1)
Noelle Stevenson
Grace Ellis
Shannon Watters
Brooke A. Allen
2015

The Summary
"Friendship to the max!

"At Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types, things are no what they seem.  Three-eyed foxes, secret caves, anagrams.  Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they're not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way!  The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here."

The Good
As an ardent fan of Nimona, I couldn't not read Noelle Stevenson's latest foray into the comic book world.

Let me say, first off, Lumberjanes is great.  It's fun, if slightly absurd, and full of strong female characters who learn and grow and form relationships as they go along.  Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley all have unique characteristics, quirks, and qualities that make them both enjoyable and endearing.  Morever, each girl has special skills that make her invaluable to the group--and, you know, helps them save their camp from certain destruction.

Jo is highly intelligent, specializing in mathematics and puzzles; April is dramatic and witty, and she has more than a few surprises up her sleeves; Molly is an incredible archer (which does come in handy in their misadventures), and she has a special companion you'll be more than happy to know in later issues; Mal is cautious, but she's incredibly detail-oriented and highly skilled at crafting plans, even on the fly; and Ripley, while naive and childish, is a ball of energy willing to take on any task--even if it means riding like a rodeo cowboy on the back of a raptor.

And, yes, there really is an incident involving dinosaurs.  (I told you it was sometimes absurd, but I think that might be volume 2.)

Although the Lumberjanes is good wholesome fun with an uplifting message for girls everywhere (i.e. it's okay to be tough, take adventures, and, in general, kick butt), it has an underlying layer of complexity that can make it appealing to readers of all ages and genders.  Not only does the story incorporate hints of mythology, deal with everyday difficulties most girls face, it also supports a level of diversity that feels natural.

For instance, I recently learned that Jo is transgender, while Mal and Molly are lesbians.  But their identities aren't defined by their sexuality.  If anything, their friendships and their adventures define who they are, who they will become.  Honestly, I loved seeing the different facets of their personalities, which helped flesh them out as characters, and how they developed with each subsequent challenge they faced.  They're good, solid characters and, truthfully, they're probably the nicest girls you're ever likely to meet.

Yes, it's a weird adventure.  Yes, it's sometimes so crazy random that you don't really know what's going on.  But that's totally okay.  It's a story about adventure, self-discovery, and forging lasting friendships--and it's fun to follow along for the ride.

The Bad
Lumberjanes sometimes feels a little fragmented.  Although it has a overarching narrative that contains the full story, it's primarily a collection of separate adventures that just so happen to come together.  I liked it, but I found it came as a bit of an acquired taste.

The Ugly
Lumberjanes is a pretty mild graphic novel.  I mean, it's safe for kids while remaining appealing for older readers, so it strikes a good balance.  It's not explicit, or graphic, or full of foul language.  Seriously, the harshest phrase you're likely to hear is "What the junk?" or "Holy Mae Jemison!"

Comic Book Extravaganza!

This month, I decided to do something special.  Since it's almost summer and it's the perfect time for sitting outside, enjoying the warm weather, and reading--and since I've been on a crazy comic kick--I thought it would be nice to review some of my latest comic book conquests.  I have new Marvel volumes with Thor and the latest Ms. Marvel, a handful of indie publications featuring the Lumberjanes and the sassy, oh-so-classy Rat Queens, and some old favorites given a new lease on life (or afterlife, as the case may be) with Archie and the gang.

To me, it seemed like the best time to bask in the stories and wonderful illustrations of the comic book world.

I hope you enjoy, and happy reading.

- The Scrivener