Two Caps, Vision’s ‘Family’ And More

Thor is a woman, the Falcon is now Captain America and so is Steve Rogers. And that’s just what’s happening in the Marvel Universe. These days between relaunches, rebirths and yet another issue one of a 75-year-old character it’s tough to get on the ground floor of a comic book series. Not every work gets good promotion. For every “Black Panther,” there’s a languishing independent that’s just not getting its proper respect. Navigating the ever-shifting sand even for the experienced comic book fan can be daunting, still a trip to your local comic book store can hook you up.

Browsing the stacks here are some recent issues of comics that should get more than a perusal.

1: The Vision has a family. The villain, The Grim Reaper has attacked their home and someone is blackmailing his wife. By the way, it’s not Wanda Maximoff. Marvel has given Vision his own comic with Tom King at the helm. You wouldn’t think that a synthesized, sentient being living in the suburbs with a wife and two children would be interesting, but the situation is ripe with opportunity for intersecting storylines down the line. Issue 3 is currently out. Still it’s just the right time to get on board.

2: Sometimes as a lover of comics it’s nice to get out of your comfort zone. For that to happen certain comic book stores will highlight a new series or independent press to get new readers. In a sea of Marvels and DCs there’s Icon Press’ “Empress.” The cover is intriguing enough, a woman flanked by two men, one holding a rather large gun. It gives an expectation of otherworldly happenings. But Mark Millar’s series starts off with a daring escape, a unique take on telling a backstory and a whiny teenager. You’re left slightly off-kilter at the end which leaves you with a need to find out more about this world.

3: Name recognition whether it be a character or writer will at least get you interested in a new read. And the Scarlet Witch has some serious name recognition. This isn’t the film version. Instead this Wanda is the one who caused 98% of mutants to lose their powers, daughter of Magneto and sister to Quicksilver. A former member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and then the Avengers. The one who married a synthesized android and manifested two children only to have them disappear. Could you imagine being so powerful and damaged at the same time? In issue 6 of her ongoing series there’s no Tony Stark or Captain America. She’s just plain Wanda Maximoff dealing with paranormal issues and trying to assess her life. For most of this issue there are no words. It’s a powerful narrative told mostly by action and a series of events. As a reader you’re drawn into this world quickly. What’s more she still has her powers and seems to have a deeper understanding on how to use them. Perhaps she is more dangerous now than before.

4: In seeing the cover of “Civil War II” issue 0 you’re wondering why revisit this? After all in the first Civil War series Captain America and Tony Stark were at odds about registering superheroes. After the destruction caused by the New Warriors battling a B-level criminal that decimated most of Connecticut, lines were drawn. From that maxiseries the Secret Warriors sprouted (a secret team led by Nick Fury, it was one of the best narratives in comics), Spiderman revealed his real identity, Tony Stark cloned Thor and Captain America “died.” Essentially it wasn’t pretty and left rippling ramifications throughout the Marvel universe for over a decade. Opening the comic you’re immediately pulled in by the art and as you read, you’re glad that She-Hulk has more to do than look like a green amazon. She was a lawyer before that blood transfusion with her cousin Bruce Banner. Even Brian Michael Bendis’ writing is on point. As a reader who remembers the first Civil War this may not be for you, but nearly a generation has passed and for readers just coming into this landscape of mutants, superheroes and villains it may give them a set of new iconic heroes for a new generation.

Comics can tread new ground while revisiting old arguments. At the very least they give hope that certain characters will get the recognition they deserve (the Inhumans come to mind for many long suffering reader). For lovers, or even the casual fan comics can be a place that will change their world. Trying a new title or a different take on a long standing character may just get you on board.