This week we’re looking at the latest Marvel Voices One Shot, Jubilee: Deadly Reunion by Gene Luen Yang and Michael Yg. And in our Rapid Rundown we look at Alien: King Killer #2 and Daredevil #2.
Note: the reviews below may contain spoilers. If you want quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendations on the comics in question, check out the bottom of the article for our final verdict.
Jubilee: Deadly Reunion
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Michael Yg
Colorist: Yen Nitro
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Jubilee certainly ranks among the most iconic X-Men. Introduced in the late 80s as a foil for Wolverine, her yellow raincoat, sunglasses, giant hoop earrings (with her name on them!!!), and mallrat personality offered a new point of view character for readers after the departure of Kitty Pryde from the book. She’s also one of Marvel most iconic Asian American characters. So putting her into this year’s Marvel Voices special for AAPI month is a no brainer.
The script by American Born Chinese creator Gene Luen Yang really digs into both Marvel lore and Jubilee’s past. And Yang really lets his geek flag fly here. How many folks remember Jubilee’s aunt from the Robert Kirkman penned Jubilee series? AIM is certainly familiar but how often does Warlock’s techno organic virus get trotted out? These are all fun pieces that Yang puts together into a well oiled story. This is a very fun comic.
The meat of the story though lies in Yang delving into the character’s Asian American identity. Her lack of practice speaking Cantonese. That she rarely visits Chinatowns after the death of her parents. How disconnected she feels from that identity and Asian spaces. It’s both an exploration of the character and a not so subtle critique of a character, outside of Jim Lee, rarely handled by Asian American creators.
While the script by Yang is sharp, the art by Michael Yg brings this beloved character to life. Yg gives Jubilee the massive, flowing hair of a manga protagonist which is fun to look at. He also tries channelling some of the expressions and iconic body language that Lee gave to the character. In fact, body language and and character acting are his strong suits in this story. Occasionally he’ll bust out a really cool page layout such as when AIM makes their entrance.
Maybe the weakest part of this book though is the coloring by Yen Nitro. Nitro tries to emulate the realistic painterly style favored by artists like Richard Isanove and Adam Hughes. Occasionally they’ll use in vibrant colors to remind us of Jubilee’s power set. It unfortunately stiffens Yg’s art giving it an overly modeled look. Credit though should be given to them for using a lot of pink and not making readers feel overwhelmed.
Overall though Jubilee: Deadly Reunion gives this character a spotlight that they rarely receive. The story told here shows the affection and nostalgia that Gene Luen Yang and Michael Yg have for the role Jubilee has played in X-Men over the years. But they also rightfully recognize her as an icon to Asian American readers. What better way to honor that than by giving her a rollicking fun solo adventure that deepens her character’s backstory?
Verdict: Buy
Rapid Rundown
Alien: King Killer #2
Alien: King Killer should be a slam dunk. It puts an interesting spin on the Alien mythos. Here’s a colony that the Weyland-Yutani corporation left to rot and three warlords rule the fractured cities. Meanwhile xenomorphs roam the ruins. The only hero is a genetically modified warrior roaming this world on a quest for revenge killing xenomorphs with a big sword. A decade ago this would have been the kind of European influenced Image book that those in the know flocked to. Instead it’s a just okay book that Marvel puts out now. Saladin Ahmed’s script is fine and the art by Carlos Nieto is serviceable. Yet nothing in this comic reads as particularly engaged. There’s little world building here both in the story or the art outside of what needs to be done. The art never looks particularly otherworldly or transportive. And science fiction works are at their best when they truly transport us. There’s some fun violence in this issue but that’s all it really has to mention. Alien is one of science fiction’s greatest works and it would be good to see creators attempt to reach that high. This is a comic that just exists out in the world without really making much of an impression.
Daredevil #2
The current Stephanie Phillips and Lee Garbett run on Daredevil continues the excellence seen in that first issue. If the first issue was the pilot episode, then this one sets the tone for the series. Matt Murdock tries to find out the identity of the masked stranger who broke into his home last issue while adjusting to his new life as a law professor. Phillips gets the most out of Murdock’s new status quo. He can no longer rely on Foggy, who lives in Miami, to cover him. There might be Daredevil stuff he needs to attend to but him leaving class willy nilly looks bad. Where the book truly soars though are the visuals. Garbett nails from the fight at the beginning to communicating the claustrophobic paranoia central to the second half of this issue. Watching Murdock once again crumple under an unknown threat as word balloons overwhelm him (thanks to some excellent lettering by Ariana Maher) reminds readers why comics is such an incredible medium. Additionally colorist Frank Martin’s use of cool colors punctuated by Daredevil’s red suit is such a smart visual decision. We’re only two issues into this Daredevil but dear lord, it feels like one of Marvel’s greatest heroes is back.
Read past installments of the Marvel Rundown here!
And check out the Beat’s other recent comics reviews!
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