Class Warfare by Gail Simone and Freddie Williams II (The Movement Volume 1)Published: May 27th, 2014 by DC Comics
Genre: Comics
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: Goodreads says 144
Part of a series? This bind up contains issues 1-6 of the Movement series. Apparently the New 52 series "The Green Movement" is also connected to this world.
Got via: The library.
Amazon / Book Depository / Indiebound
Summary (from goodreads): Coral City is infected by corruption and crime and its up to the citizens to fight back!
The Movement sees a young group of super-heroes rise up and take back the streets of their corrupt city. But when one of their own is captured by the police, its Coral City's finest against the citizens they have negelected to protect.
Thoughts: This is a new series for me. I've been curious about Gail Simone's writing, and wanted to check something of her's out, and I heard this had an asexual character in it, so I decided to grab it. This is also a short run so it's entirely available in only two bind-ups. Easy to get my hands on both! I have no real preference Marvel or DC, but I do really like the idea of comic series that I can read all at once, especially since it takes so long for the library to get new bind-ups. Following Lumberjanes and Ms. Marvel is a lot already.
It's also pretty new for me to read a comic series that's aimed more at adults. I know comics don't have as strict of a YA/teen/adult line, but most of the ones I read (again, Lumberjanes and Ms. Marvel) are pretty clearly aimed at a teen audience. This has a teenaged cast, but the tone definitely feels more adult. YA appeal, I think, for sure, but it almost seemed like it's aimed at like a 20-25 year old audience? It's kind of interesting.
The basis of this story is police corruption and police brutality, and that's very relevant to today. Which considering this is four years old is saying something, and that something is not good. The art style is not my favourite at times, especially the action scenes. It is pretty action heavy, too, so sometimes I'm a little thrown off. Otherwise, it can be really nice, but sometimes things just look a little off to me. Probably just a personal thing there, though.
The only thing that really bothered me was the depiction of Amanda Waller.
(Left photo from Who's Who in the DC Universe #1 (August 1990, art by Luke McDonnell and Geof Isherwood, right photo from Suicide Squad #8 (February 2017) by Jim Lee, both copyright Marvel. Photos from Wikipedia. Photos used under fair use for educational purpose only. No I'm not paranoid about using these pictures at all.)
(Photo taken by me of The Movement Volume One, Class Warfare, from issue #4, by Gail Simone and Freddie E. Williams II, copyright DC comics. Photo used under fair use for educational purposes only.)
Do you see a bit of a difference in how Amanda Waller is drawn in this versus other places? This is a real nasty habit Marvel has with Amanda Waller's look, both making her thinner and, honestly, lightening her skin tone. The series overall lacks fat characters. The boobs and female bodies in general are also a little bit... standard comic book. Two characters are hinted at being queer in this, but none are explicit yet. There is some disability rep that seems interesting, and it is really racially diverse. (That always sounds so weird to say. It's really not just white. Although, there is the aforementioned lightening of Amanda Waller so, like, make your own decisons on this one.)
Overall, I'm finding this interesting, and it really ended on a cliffhanger, lol. I also want to find out who the ace character is. So, I'm gonna keep reading. Will update!
Probably the next book, actually, because I have the other one already.
Fighting for the Future by Gail Simone and Freddie Williams II (The Movement Volume 2)Published: December 9th, 2014 by DC Comics
Genre: Comics
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: Goodreads says 144
Part of a series? This contains The Movement issues 7-12.
Got via: The library.
Amazon / Book Depository / Indiebound
Summary (from goodreads): Its the corrupt cops and politicians of Coral City vs a rag-tag group of young super powered vigilantes known as the Movement. But after The Movement has been taken down, only the powerless Vengeance Moth is left to protect the streets from the Graveyard Faction!
Thoughts: Well, I have many. The most prominent one is that I didn't like the ace rep at all. Because the ace rep consists entirely of this:
So, click to enlarge the pictures, but if you can't see them, the ace rep in this series consists on Mouse hitting on Tremor for a while, and Tremor eventually turning him down by saying, "I'm asexual." Mouse replies with, "A sexual what?" And the scene ends. Later, another characters says, "You can't keep hitting on Tremor, that boat has a hole in it."
"I'm asexual" does not automatically equal "I don't date anyone". Asexual doesn't equal aromantic, and even being aromantic doesn't automantically mean that someone doesn't want to have a relationship. And after that scene, we never hear from Tremor again. Maybe instead of the weird "Katharis/Kulap hooking up with a dude who killed a bunch of people" plot, we could have spent a page or two having Tremor actually talk once again in in the entire series seriously she never gets another line about herself.
It's not really good ace rep. It is explicit, at least, but it's not exactly thoughtful or not stereotypical. Also, another character calling her "Miss Priss" doesn't sit so well with me, and the reaction later, saying she's a boat with a hole in it, acts like there's something wrong with her for being asexual.
The storyline is okay. It kind of meanders, and with such a short run, that definitely feels unsatisfying. There's a lot left unfinished, and it feels cancelled for sure (which it, apparently, was), not like a planned short run. Between that and the completely unsatisfying ace rep, I wouldn't be quick to recommend this one.
Mecca by G. Willow Wilson, Marco Failla, Diego Olortegui, and Ian Herring (Ms. Marvel Volume 8)Published: December 26th, 2017 by Marvel
Genre: YA Comics
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: Goodreads says 136
Part of a series? This collects issues 19-24 of Ms. Marvel
Got via: The library
Amazon / Book Depository / Indiebound
Summary (from goodreads): An enemy from Ms. Marvel's past resurfaces and begins targeting those closest to Kamala. As the world around her is spinning out of control, it becomes clear that this time there's something more sinister at work...Kamala's no stranger to fighting for what's right, but in facing down this challenge, everything she is will be called into question. Not just as a super hero, but as a human being.
Thoughts: I'm trying really hard not to compare things too much, but this really worked so much better for me than the Movement and it's hard not to compare them when I'm reading them back to back. And honestly, Ms. Marvel comes out ahead. Kamala reminds me sometimes of Kara (Supergirl), not in personality, but in how she believes in people, and how people believe in her. Which, fun fact, one of the writers who used to write for this series now works on Supergirl. In this, Kamala needs to be reminded of that fact, and that leads to one of my favourite scenes that the series has probably ever had.
At least for now, since I tend to like a lot of scenes in this series.
I also liked that one of the issues in this took a bit of time to focus on her brother. Aamir is a very interesting character, and I love the nuance that the series gives him. He's a very thoughtful character, and when the series chooses to focus on him, it often leads to some really great stuff.
And this wrapped up things from the last little bit of the plot arc really well. There's still obviously a lot of places to go, but it's a very satisfying place to take a break until the next one comes out. It's like a cliffhanger that makes you happy, if that makes sense. I also noticed again how much I like the art style for this series. Kamala's boobs are not, like, vacuum sealed into her costume, and I really appreciate how they can show that she's gotten her butt kicked and is exhausted and hurt without going really heavy on the gore. Very happy with this one, and I can't wait for more.
A Bird's-Eye View by Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Carey Pietsch, Ayme Sotuyo, and Maarta LaihoPublished: December 12th, 2017 by BOOM! Box
Genre: YA Comics
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: Goodreads says 112
Part of a series? This contains Lumberjanes issues 25 to 28.
Got via: The library.
Amazon / Book Depository / Indiebound
Summary (from goodreads): All Lumberjanes are on deck when the High Council comes to camp for inspection!
The High Council is coming to camp and counselor Jen is determined to make everything perfect, even though a storm is brewing and kittens from the boys’ camp are manifesting magical powers. It’s every Lumberjane on deck as the girls do their best to prep the grounds for inspection . . . but there are some storms no one can prepare for.
Thoughts: The art shift continues to not be my favourite, since it's gotten a bit more cartoon-y, but how much I love the story in this one makes up for it. Honestly I took like no notes reading this because I was enjoying this so much. I like that this one is mostly self-contained within these four issues, with just a little hinting at the end of what's to come. Because I am reading these through the library, and the wait between them can be quite long, it can sometimes get confusing if I forget what happens between volumes. It's nice to get one like this now and then.
The plot of this one is really fun, and it's so cool that there's a nonbinary character, which I hear the next issues go into more, so I won't talk too much about here, but I'm very excited about them, and those parts are really wonderful. Really enjoyed this one, and I'm already super excited about the next one.
And that's four! Let's get this thing scheduled.
Do you guys have any comic recommendations? I always enjoy them so much.
Peace and cookies,
Laina
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