Not to sound like a broken record or anything, but the Marvel Universe is undergoing a change. We’re evaluating the brand new titles birthed by the fallout of Secret Wars — taking a look at each and every #1 issue to tell readers if we think the comics are worth the dollars. It’s week #8 of The All-New, All-Different Marvel Rundown (this time with just three books.)
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1
Writer: Brandon Montclare & Amy Reeder Artist: Natacha Bustos
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain Letters: VC’s Travis Lanham
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 asks a perplexing question: what is the Marvel Universe like for a normal person suddenly pushed to the fringe of reality — caught up in the weird science of time traveling and outlandish Kirby characters?
The series has a wonderful everyman aspect baked in the premise, but the comic shines by introducing readers to Lunella, a younger protagonist full of unrecognized talents and limitless potential. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is a beautiful comic that should appeal to younger and older readers alike. Amy Reeder and Brandon Montclare have established a good voice for the new Moon Girl, while Natacha Bustos has vivid, expressive pencils that paint a lively world around Lunella. Tamra Bonvillain‘s colors look similar to those that Javier Rodriguez was exploring on his acclaimed Daredevil run with Mark Waid — the colors give this quirky All-New, All-Different title some cohesion with the rest of the line.
Verdict: Purchase.
Here’s to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 — Kirby would be proud.
Silk #1
Writer: Robbie Thompson Artist: Stacey Lee Colors: Ian Herring
Letters: VC’s Travis Lanham
Silk is a comic that initially angered to me to no end. It looked like the publisher was aging Cindy Moon down for no apparent reason. The newest #1 sticks with this new version of the character…so, without any other choices, I am sticking with her too. While there are a lot of titles like this, featuring younger solo heroes in the Marvel Universe, (see Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur) this one finally has a different angle on Cindy Moon’s superhero career. The parallels to some of the early Spider-Man comics are present in this series, but that is to the book’s advantage. Robbie Thompson finally has the angle on Silk that beefs up the plot in this first issue (and make me forget enough about the de-aging to think about the actual story.)
Verdict: High Recommendation/Buy
Thompson finally spins a story I want to see from Silk.
Venom: Space Knight #1
Writer: Robbie Thompson Artist: Ariel Olivetti Letters: VC’s Cory Petit
Marvel made a smart play here: instead of having two angry serial killer symbiote books on the market (see, Carnage) Venom: Space Knight is about Flash Thompson (Venom) exploring the cosmos as a fun action hero. With the recent Guardians of the Galaxy arc zeroing in on the symbiote planet, author Brian Michael Bendis was allowed to utilize the symbiote as a force working only for good. As a result, Thompson’s Venom suit has been purged of all anger, making this title uniquely different from Rick Remender’s first Venom title, which had a more volatile tone. Ariel Olivetti and Robbie Thompson (not to be confused with Flash Thompson!) glamorize Venom’s new life, pairing Star-Lord’s sense of humor with Venom’s physical prowess. At times, Olivetti’s art can feel a bit static for me with the realistic way that he draws, but effects like motion blur and the fire sell me on this new status quo of Venom and the illusion of motion. While this series could stand to have a more substantial plot, this isn’t a bad start for a Venom comic.
Verdict: Recommended/Take a look
Thompson quells the rage and starts the fun.
That’s another solid offering of comics this week. Next week is a doozy, with Totally Awesome Hulk, Red Wolf, All-New X-Men, Daredevil, and more (my most anticipated new title)! Catch us at the tail end of next week for the ninth installment of the All-New, All-Different Marvel Rundown.
Nothing appealed to me this week so I grabbed Hawkeye #1, Uncanny Avengers #s 1 and 2, and Wolverine 1 and 2.
Great reviews. I was pleased to see the art in Venom. Moon Girl is a gem.
I reviews are nice, but they would help me more if they came out before the books themselves did, as most everything is sold out( at my local shop ) by the time I read them.
Hey Alexander! Thank you for the good reviews, it’s hard to get decent comics criticism on the big two. You were spot on about Moon Girl and Venom, and you’ve got me pushing these at my shop now. I find that the $3.99 price point is the biggest impediment to getting readers on a new series, but these two are worth the first issues at any rate. Thanks again!
“Here’s to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 — Kirby would be proud.”
Actually, I think he would have thought ‘Why didn’t they they just come up with their own creation?’ which fits more with his public comments on such matters.
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