REVIEW: 'Dejah Thoris' #1 by Frank J. Barbiere and Francesco Manna

★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Dynamite Entertainment has a long list of great powerful female characters. Red Sonja, Vampirella, Jungle Girl, and Lady Zorro are just some of those fantastic women in comics. I was glad to hear that Dejah Thoris was getting her own series, taking center stage and emerging from John Carter's shadow. She's a brave and fearless leader who serves as Princess of Barsoom. She deserved to helm her own title and it's finally here. I just wished her first exploits would have been more original.

Frank J. Barberie is usually a very capable writer and while he establishes the plot against Dejah early on and swiftly what follows is almost by-the-book storytelling. Her father, the king, has gone missing. Suspicion leads to the imprisonment of Dejah and almost that of John Carter. A shady and opportunistic councilmember, Valoris, is ready to take the throne in the king's absence and the jailing of the princess. John sees the convenience of all this as we the audience do which makes things all too predictable.

Dejah escapes after her lineage to the throne is questioned and sparks some memories of her adoption. This leads her on a quest to find out who she really is. A lot happens in this issue, all plot-driven, clumsily and hastily executed. The pacing is clunky because so many contrivences occur to push the narrative to the next plot device. Dejah still comes across as a proud and resilient character but despite some thoughtful monologues 'Dejah Thoris' #1 is about getting issue two not enjoying issue one.

The issue's saving grace is the amazing work by artist Francesco Manna. His character designs are graceful and of course Dejah herself commands the page with her presence. Manna provides a lot of detail and the action is well composed overall, building the world Dejah inhabits with a familiar eye.

'Dejah Thoris' #1 isn't terrible it just isn't very ambitious. The problem facing this first issue is meeting the expectations of a popular and well-known heroine which it fails to do. The proposed "shocking conspiracy" is rather obvious and clumsily conceived. It's all too cliched and not the great adventure I'd hope for Dejah to partake in. Dejah deserves better than this and I can't recommend this title.

Comments

PREVIEW: 'Tet' #4 by Paul Allor and Paul Tucker

We've seen Eugene's story. But during his last day's in Vietnam, he finally learns how Ha survived the war. She's always been much stronger than him; and much stronger than he's given her credit for. With all their secrets gone, Ha and Eugene must decide how to move forward.

REVIEW: 'Cyber Force' #3 by Bryan Hill, Matt Hawkins, and Atilio Rojo

The story of Aphrodite is the focus of 'Cyber Force' #3. This compelling chapter continues to build the new world of Top Cow's reimagined original title. Corporate greed leads to murder and coercion until one doctor's obsession results in a powerful revelation.

CYBER FORCE #3
Writer: Matt Hawkins, Bryan Hill Artist: Atilio Rojo Letterer: Troy Peteri Editor: Elena Salcedo Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: May 30, 2018 Cover Price: $3.99
Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)
Marc Silvestri released 'Cyber Force' twenty-six years ago and this second reboot of the former flagship series rests in the hands of writers Bryan Hill and Matt Hawkins. It was only a matter of time before we'd get the whereabouts of the sentient android Aphrodite. Hill and Hawkins dedicate this issue to her story, and it's probably the best in the series so far. We get very little Carin and Morgan in order to give what is essentially an unnerving scientific horror story.
Cyber Data is the or…

WONDER WOMAN OF THE DAY: Fitness Model Gia Macool Embodies the Amazon Princess

The closest we'll ever get, probably, to superheroes in real life is through the great work of cosplayers. You see them at every pop culture convention from the very basic to extremely elaborate costume design. However, you don't have to be a cosplayer to enjoy dressing up as your favorite superhero from time to time. Take fitness model and entrepreneur Gia Macool for example. An accomplished fitness competitor and model, Macool is also a big fan of DC Comics' Wonder Woman. She shows her love of the iconic Amazon Princess in her fitness wear, meal prep accessories and even a full blown photo shoot in a Wonder Woman costume.

For decades comics have featured very muscular superheroes, male and female, epitomizing the human form at its strongest. So when bodybuilders and fitness pros decide to suit up as these costumed heroes, they are the embodiment of those fictional characters in the flesh. Macool looks like she stepped out of the pages of a Wonder Woman comic with a suit …

REVIEW: 'Cyber Force' #2 by Matt Hawkins, Bryan Hill, and Atilio Rojo

As Carin becomes accustomed to her new abilities, Stryker is determined to keep her out of the line of fire. He knows these "gifts" come at a price. Meanwhile, The Accuser recruits a dangerous ally.

CYBER FORCE #2
Writer: Matt Hawkins, Bryan Hill Artist: Atilio Rojo Letterer: Troy Peteri Edited by Elena Salcedo Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: April 25, 2018 Cover Price: $3.99
Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Matt Hawkins and Bryan Hill set the foundation in issue one with the explosive and destructive arrival of The Accuser. In her wake was the shattered body of Stryker, who along with his paraplegic daughter, get an extraordinary chance to become not only whole again but enhanced. Carin has taken to her powerful working legs with enthusiasm and joy. Stryker not so much because he knows they're being used by C.O.I.It's an uneasy arrangement but origin stories are rarely simple and carefree. Whether one's powers are considered a gift or a curse, there is a price to pay i…

PREVIEW: 'The Ghost, The Owl' Hardcover by Franco and Sara Richard

On a cool evening on the swamp, a figure appears dancing across the water. A human figure, but far from a human form. A Ghost, a young girl spirit that seems to have lost its way. A good Samaritan owl decides to help against the wishes of his animal brethren.

What mysteries does the ghost girl hold the secrets to and what will happen when she and the owl unlock them together? Will they find out what happened to her? Will she find her way to where she needs to be? What will happen to the animals in the swamp and surrounding forest? An adventure with the most unlikely of pairs, the Ghost, the Owl.

THE GHOST, THE OWL HC
In stores on 5/2/2018 Writer(s): Franco Artist Name(s): Sara Richard Cover Artist(s): Sara Richard
48 pgs./ A / FC $9.99

Spartantown

Search This Blog