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Graphic Novel Roundup: New Ms. Marvel, Itty-Bitty Ant-Man, and Trip to Gotham Academy
The internet exploded this week with news that Miles Morales will soon take over as the Marvel Universe’s primary Spider-Man, with Peter Parker serving as a mentor. There’s definitely a case to be made that re-making heroes of the past isn’t the same thing as creating a new, more diverse generation, but a little variety never hurts (and even the big two publishers have found, brand-new superheroes are rarely able to compete with established names). Marvel has gone a long way toward creating a more open and inviting universe, D.C. has made moves in the right direction), and that can’t be a bad thing.
Here’s what’s up this week:
Ships in 1-2 days.
Ms. Marvel Vol. 3: Crushed, by G. Willow Wilson, Takeshi Miyazawa, and Elmo Bondoc
There’s not much more to say about the awesomeness that is Ms. Marvel, but it’s notable that the series continues to provide a mega-dose of monthly fun even as it enters its second year. Young love is in the air for Kamala, first in a Valentine’s Day story which has Loki going undercover at Kamala’s high school in order to investigate the recent abductions. In the main event, guest-illustrated by Takeshi Miyazawa, a childhood friend of Kamala’s comes back to town just as she’s exploring her Inhuman roots. As you can probably guess, Kamran is not entirely what he seems.
Ant-Man Vol. 1: Second-Chance Man, by Nick Spencer and Ramon Rosanas
Marvel’s upcoming Ant-Man movie might be the studio’s riskiest move yet (though we all said that about Guardians of the Galaxy, too), so it’s no surprise that the little fella’s getting a reintroduction in the comics. For the record, this is Scott Lang, the modern Ant-Man, also a former criminal and single dad. Nick Spencer’s the writer, and with his recently completed run on the fun and funny Superior Foes of Spider-Man, he’s easily got the chops to tell the story of this downtrodden blue-collar hero. For more teeny-tiny action, Marvel’s Ant-Man Prelude is also out this week, collecting an official prologue to the movie, as well as some odds and ends from Ant-Man’s shady past.
Grip, by Gilbert Hernandez
The only work by Love and Rockets co-creator Gilbert Hernandez that’s never before been collected (at least in the U.S.), 2002’s Grip: The Strange World of Men gets the deluxe treatment from Dark Horse. There’s no easy way to describe this one. It begins with main character Mike Chang waking up with no memory. Wandering the city, he encounters police detectives, gangsters, dwarves, and a super-powered little girl. Then he loses his skin. Then the skin comes to life and joins in the adventure. It’s as weird and wonderful as anything Hernandez has ever done, and this edition includes new pages that expand the story further.
Black Canary and Zatanna: Bloodspell, by Paul Dini and Joe Quinones
Paul Dini, one of the creators of Batman: The Animated Series, is behind this original graphic novel starring two of the toughest ladies in DC’s pantheon (don’t let the fishnets fool you). Black Canary turns to her pal Zatanna in order to investigate mysterious deaths among a team of criminals that Canary had infiltrated a year earlier. The gang’s leader died during a failed heist, but vowed revenge on the survivors. Dini has a classic sensibility, and has set this one outside of current continuity, so there’s every reason to believe it will provide some old-school fun as two favorites team up for the first time.
Ships in 1-2 days.
Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy (The New 52), by Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, and Karl Kerschel
Set at über-prestigious Gotham Academy, this book stars the adventurous Olive Silverlock, her best friend “Maps” Mizoguchi, and a whole crew of friends and frenemies as they navigate the tricky prep-school social scene while investigating the secret societies, super-villains, and ghosts that roam the halls. With hints of Harry Potter, writer Becky Cloohan uses the long, weird history of Batman’s hometown as a backdrop, but still somehow manages to keep things bright and lively.
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