The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #12 by Saladin Ahmed (writer)
Art: Minkyu Jung (penciler), Juan Vlasco (inker), Ian Herring (color artist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

I’m really uncomfortable with the idea that Yusuf is now permanently disabled because Kamala had to stop her sentient suit Stormcharger from killing Josh. It uses disability — of another character she loves — to show the hard choices Kamala must make as a superhero. This is Kamala’s sacrifice, yet she is not the one directly impacted.

Why couldn’t Kamala phone the other Avengers? Especially since we just saw Tony, who probably isn’t doing anything but getting himself into trouble.

This distracted me from being able to enjoy Kamala and Bruno together. Interestingly, it’s Kamala who wants to hide their relationship, at the moment, from the others. Not Bruno. Which means maybe his talk with Aamir wasn’t as terrible or affecting as I assumed.

I think this is the first time Kamala might’ve actually died without Bruno saving her. I also don’t have great feelings about that. Kamala felt damseled.

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #13 by Saladin Ahmed (writer)
Art: Joey Vazquez (penciler), Juan Vlasco (inker), Ian Herring (color artist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

I’m glad that we’re onto a new plot. Stormcharger is taken care of, and this is nice. But I do like Kamala feeling that perhaps she’d started relying on the extra power in her fighting and finds herself more tired than she expected.

Vazquez’s pencils are pretty good so far. I enjoyed Amulet’s design, and I’m curious to see how Vazquez’s take on Kamala and her world evolves. Kamala looks a bit softer here.

Ahmed’s approach on how Kamala feels about her father and his disability and how she blames herself works a bit better here. Especially since we see Yusuf living his life again and more joyous about that than Kamala is.

Bruno and Kamala’s relationship is still in an uncomfortable position for me. I don’t understand why Kamala wants to hide it from their friends. Her relationship has already changed forever with Bruno. There’s nothing she can do to stop that by not telling their friends. Plus, Bruno seemed to overreact at the fair greatly.

The sham fortune teller was a great gag on the dangers of cultural appropriation. Amulet seems fun. However, I do not want a love triangle between him, Kamala, and Bruno. We already did this.

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #14 by Saladin Ahmed (writer)
Art: Minkyu Jung (penciler), Juan Vlasco (inker), Ian Herring (color artist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

So I’m supposed to be reading several other books? Yeah, I do not like this. I’m happy to see that Kamala’s getting a higher profile — and I’m excited about her Marvel Studios TV show — but I find it extra annoying to have books so closely cross over with each other.

I won’t be picking up any extra titles.

The flashback-style nightmares didn’t add a lot to what we already know about Kamala. Or about her current struggles. Yes, we know she has a bunch of angst right now over Bruno. Sure, he’s been her best friend forever, but they’ve both had a crush on each other for a long while now.

This ban on teen superheroes is a plot that gets recycled in Marvel at large every 10 years. It’s tired. Though this twist of the law being named after Kamala — especially since her parents no longer know she’s a superhero (which I guess that plot I disliked, I can now blame on Marvel editorial) — is the very the United States.

Black Magick #12 by Greg Rucka (writer)
Art: Nicola Scott (artist) and Jodi Wynne (letterer)

This book skips ahead six months or so, and honestly, I have no idea what’s going on. Like I vaguely remember some of it, like the demon, a new baby from the cop partner, the witch killer guy, and the talking cat. Thankfully, I still own the issues, and I wrote reviews about them, so I can go back and read those too.

Honestly, I didn’t ever expect to get another issue of Black Magick. So maybe 2020 did do something good for once.

Scott has changed the look of Rowan, and I’m not just talking about her hairstyle. Something about her physicality has shifted. The main reason I noticed is that Rowan was a doppelgänger for a friend of mine in those early issues. (She thought Rowan looked more like her sister, but still family resemblance!) And this Rowan looks less like my friend, maybe more of her distant cousin. Scott’s such a wonderful artist that I hope this is saying something about her character — and not in the very long time between issues, Scott’s made some changes to character design.

That sex scene between Alex and Laurent. Like I know it’s Beltane, but dang. I have to say I appreciate the explicitness of it. These books have so much explicit violence; why not show how people’s romances actually are, especially new ones.

Rowan uses her magic to get a criminal suspect to confess, and clearly, Morgan knows she’s doing this, or something. It seems more than sexual tension. Of course, the other cops don’t know that she has magical powers, or that magical powers are a thing. However, as we think a lot about policing right now, I cannot help but wonder if the creative team doesn’t want to write a cop story anymore. Or one with good cops and add to the copaganda in our media. This will remain to be seen.

More backstory for Hawthorne.

Black Magick #13 by Greg Rucka (writer)
Art: Nicola Scott (artist) and Jodi Wynne (letterer)

Did Scott change Rowan’s design, or does she draw long necks on everyone, and it’s Rowan’s new haircut?

So maybe it’s the sexual tension that has Morgan so obsessed? Rowan sleeping with her new partner Nicky is a bad idea. I mean, I’m still betting that Rowan gets fired from the police force. (Foreshadowed with the police captain’s conversation with Morgan about how he doesn’t want to fire either of them.) Now, there is a non-supernatural reason for it to happen.

Like sex is fun, but I don’t buy both Rowan and Nicky not caring about what comes tomorrow. One of them, sure, but not both.

Alex will be so pissed when she finds out that Rowan already knows about her demon problem. I suppose this is how you make a plot in 2020 when everyone has cellphones, and you have to get more elaborate in communication breakdowns around sharing information.

Either Alex is hitting a real child possessed by a demon and will go to jail for killing a child, or she will die here. I’m not too fond of either option.

Black Magick #14 by Greg Rucka (writer)
Art: Nicola Scott (artist) and Jodi Wynne (letterer)

Yeah, these misinformation-type plots are not my favorites. I can do without this entirely. I want Alex and Rowan to talk together, and I don’t care that Nicky is uncomfortable or jealous. Seriously, you cannot get that upset without cause. It seemed too contrived for the plot’s sake.

I’m glad that Alex is alive, and I’m perfectly happy that we’ll never again have to see the creepy little girl with her mouth sewed up and carrying around a doll. That’s a demon I can do without.

The cover made me worry that Nicky was possessed by the demon who has invaded Rowan’s space.

The world-building hasn’t led in any understanding of why Hawthorne also cannot seem to tell Rowan about the demons. Rucka implies that familiars are at least part demon, but then why do they help or live with witches?

Because he loves Alex, I don’t want anything to happen to Laurent, either. Maybe he’ll be able to take out Stepan.

I’m still not quite sure what I’m missing in this book, but there’s something I want that has not appeared yet. Maybe it’s connected to Hawthorne calling Rowan “Mothers.”

Also, I certainly do not want Gilles to die in a duel! (I just watched Hamilton like a month ago, so this dueling thing is bad news. Even if they have swords, not guns.)

Sex Criminals #28 by Matt Fraction
Art: Chip Zdarsky

Overall, I like this message around how we cannot go back and change the past, only go forward into the future. However, it was maybe a little undermined because Badal goes forward into the future during the entire series, and he’s the villain.

I didn’t find Badal’s villain speech as very moving. Interestingly, he considers Suzie his god and that he didn’t already have his powers until he found his “kink.” Though I don’t understand how the machine works, since it seemingly hurts him and not the other way around.

I’m unsure why Suzie doesn’t leave after this revelation. Like you can change the timeline if you do something different. Badal was clearly going to plug himself into the machine and start getting off. Suzie didn’t need to be his type, but I’d tell him to put back on his clothing too.

Perhaps, it’s just Badal I don’t find interesting.

Sex Criminals #29 by Matt Fraction
Art: Chip Zdarsky

Glad to see Fraction and Zdarsky took my note that Badal is boring, and since he and Suzie “jumped” to their deaths/got sucked into the orgasmatron, we haven’t seen Badal.

This has my favorite visual gag in it — Myrtle walking outside naked with slippers on to get the paper because she doesn’t know she lost her superpowers. Of course, she used her extra time to do chores and other things on her to-do list. I would do the same.

Dewey and Bud’s scene of the missing powers was sweet. Sweet for those two perverts anyway. Glad they found each other.

Poor Suzie’s mom. She’s been through so much in this book, and even though she’s a minor character, I hope that Fraction and Zdarsky come up with a kind ending for her. If Dewey and Bud can find happiness, so can she.

Oh my god, Jon destroying Badal’s possessions — every single one with precision — was perfection. I am surprised he didn’t get stopped by the cops earlier, or no one came to check on the place. Badal seems like the type of guy who’d at least have maids or gardeners show up (when he was at work) to do chores. That’s a giant mansion for one guy, and I don’t see Badal doing chores with his extra time like Myrtle.

When Jon latched all the watches to the bottom of his shoe and stomped on all of them at once — glorious and hilarious; plus, all the love to him working to steal all of Badal’s books and not wanting to destroy them because Suzie loves books.

No one is surprised that Jon finally ended up in jail. If there’s anything inevitable about this book, it’s that. And spectral Suzie visiting while he masturbates in his cell.

Sex Criminals #30 by Matt Fraction
Art: Chip Zdarsky

So Suzie comes back? I read this issue two nights before I wrote this, and I’m having a hard time recalling anything except that Suzie finds her way out of her trauma loops in the Quiet and then comes back.

It seems far too realistic that she doesn’t remember her father’s face.

Of course, Suzie stays with Jon. I do appreciate that she’s the only one able to freeze time. It was funny seeing her burning down all the banks given how this comic book started.

I have a lot of hopes for the wrap-up (and the Special).

Runaways #25 by Rainbow Rowell (writer)
Art: Andrés Genolet (artist), Federico Blee and Matthew Wilson (color artists), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

Did I miss something? I’m not sure how Nico and Karolina’s super-heroics have led to the digging around their house. Though too many people do seem to know where they live. It appears that Rowell just wanted to have an excuse to give them a new home. This wouldn’t be the first time the Runaways have been on the road.

Not sure what to make of Doc Justice. It is nice to know that someone was fighting against the Pride, and I liked that he was surprised at how well the kids were raised and how they’re (mostly) all good people.

Molly’s sacrifice to feed Gib was cute. Even if it didn’t work, and I’m beyond tired of this plotline.

Chase being shirtless was a pretty good gag from Genolet. I do question how quickly they were able to pack up their lives and head out. They’ve lived there for years, and Chase alone has a ton of engineering equipment that wouldn’t be easily moveable.

Runaways #26 by Rainbow Rowell (writer)
Art: Andrés Genolet (artist), Dee Cunniffe (color artist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

Errr…what is happening here. I assume nothing good. The previous J-Team(s) all being dead (or presumably dead) is a huge red flag.

I hope that Matthew and Doc Justice are a couple. Perhaps, manservants just feel very DC. Or perhaps, this book needs to be more queer. It has a queer couple, and we see them fighting more evil than we do smooching. That seems off to me.

The doors labeled with “only girls” and “only boys” cracked me up. Also, it made me realize how few young men are in this book (which is rad).

The cat and Old Lace bringing “sacrifices” to feed Gib was pretty funny. Of course, that actually worked.

Runaways #27 by Rainbow Rowell (writer)
Art: Kris Anka (artist), Kris Anka and Walden Wong (inkers), Dee Cunniffe and Jim Campbell (color artists), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

I’m just waiting here for the other shoe to drop with Doc Justice, the J-Team, and Matthew. Clearly, this first mission was a setup. If Doc Justice gave them each a job, none of them strayed from it, and everything came out perfectly: it was a setup. This was engineered to make them feel like a new team and make them trust Doc Justice even more.

That’s really what I don’t get — why do they trust Doc Justice so much, especially when the adults in their lives have turned out to be supervillains.

I wasn’t a big fan of the makeover scene. Though Nico’s first ridiculous costume and Gert’s comment about making sure that the bullets only hit her boobs was great. Sadly, all of Rowell’s meta about superhero costumes — particularly those given to girls and women, but there are a few jabs at male costumes — would’ve felt more groundbreaking 15 years ago. It felt mostly done already.

Gert will definitely be the one to discover whatever is up with Doc Justice. Or maybe Gib and this hunger problem. Yeah, chicken periods (aka eggs) weren’t going to be a real sacrifice to Gib.

I want Rowell to stop with the queerbaiting of Doc Justice and Matthew.

Wonder Woman #72 by G. Willow Wilson (writer)
Art: Jesus Merino and Tom Derenick (pencillers), Jesus Merino and Scott Hanna (inkers), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (colorist), and Pat Brosseau (letterer)

I do not like one of these artists, but DC didn’t label who did which pages, so I cannot tell. These are beautiful women and a beautiful non-binary character, but wow, do they all look ugly in the second half. Atlantiades, especially, which is weird since they and Diana are supposed to look alike.

I really loved Atlantiades calling out their mom, Aphrodite, on being scared to face any hardship. Not that cleaning up the town will be an easy task, but it’s certainly safer.

The sword lighting up and guiding them on their way was a bit convenient. I was glad Atlantiades grabbed it for Maggie as I do like her having the sword and gaining fighting skills. Somehow, I think there’s more than just the sword happening here.

I have not read the Wonder Woman stories in Dimension Chi, so I’m not sure where this is going.

Wonder Woman #73 by Steve Orlando (writer)
Art: Aaron Lopresti (penciler), Matt Ryan (inker), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (colorist), and Pat Brosseau (letterer)

If you are going to dig into some Wonder Woman lore, Orlando is a good guest writer. Same with Lopresti on pencils as he brings classic Wonder Woman sensibilities, but with modern updates that don’t make the art looked trapped in the 80s/90s. Queen Hippolyta’s hair looked on point, which Lopresti always knocks it out in the hair department.

This was a good bit of exposition, along with some traditional Themyscira features to bring it all together. Kangas are always welcome. The technology touches were great at showing how Dimension Chi is an Empire, not the Amazon homeland.

Teen Diana was cute. She had just the right balance both in writing and art. I loved her Greek-inspired tunic dress with the golden eagle on the front.

However, I’m confused if we’re just walking through Dimension Chi and what happened to the populace. You’d think the Empress would pop out from behind a tree or something.

Wonder Woman #74 by G. Willow Wilson (writer)
Art: Jesus Merino and Xermanico (artists), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (colorist), and Pat Brosseau (letterer)

Ugh, the return of Grail. I’d really hoped that plot had died when Robinson left the book. But I guess it was established in Wilson’s run that she was still there and in prison with Ares.

This issue was dull — a lot of plot to get us to the Amazons and Antiope. However, I am excited that this change will mean that Diana can reaccess her mother and her sisters. Being able to bring in the other Amazons is usually always fun.

The fight against Chi Hippolyta was meh. Atlantiades seemed far underused. It was like Maggie had to remind them they had wings. I guess this also means that our road trip fun is coming to an end.

I do like the idea of Maggie being the first mortal woman in an era to join the Amazons. I fully support her not going back to be a waitress in DC. Also, she’s more than her job and romance with a satyr, so let’s give Maggie more characterization.

Once & Future #7 by Kieron Gillen (written)
Art: Dan Mora (illustrated), Tamra Bonvillain (colored), and Ed Dukeshire (lettered)

Bonvillain is a glorious colorist. The way she builds out the dead otherworld of King Arthur is brilliant. Same with the forests in England. Her colors give incredible depth to every page. With them, the story feels more alive and tangible. I cannot wait to see what she does as Gillen brings in more myths and legends.

Is this going to turn out to be all of England’s myths and legends? I’m not sure how I feel about that. However, I know Beowulf much better than Arthur.

This book continues to be a romp, but at the same time, I wanted some moments with Duncan and him dealing with everything that’s happened. Maybe he and Rose having a cup of tea or something while hashing out their feelings.

Bridgette calls Galahad her grandson, but Duncan’s stepbrother. Isn’t that supposed to be half-brother?

Bridgette was right that Duncan would’ve hesitated to destroy Galahad, even in his changed form. (Also, what a sucker to sit in that throne of skeletons and not expect something terrible to happen to him.) I do love her when she pulls out her guns.

Once & Future #8 by Kieron Gillen (written)
Art: Dan Mora (illustrated), Tamra Bonvillain (colored), and Ed Dukeshire (lettered)

This story is starting to unravel a bit. The characters are running around, doing their own operations, and believing they’re interacting with each other, but only by very loose means. And we’re introduced to a brand-new character: Merlin.

The art remains perhaps the most robust feature of this book. Mora’s Merlin is creepy. He’s too skinny, but then those sinew arms. Sure all these supernatural characters seem to have some features that make them inhuman and violate the laws of how we believe bodies exist in the world — but Merlin seems like he’d fall over in a mild wind.

Bonvillain’s colors very much lead the book. The use of light and fire conveys so much, and the places Mora gives her to expand the story are nothing short of beautiful.

Duncan and Bridgette keep missing their target. I don’t know why they don’t assume they’re following Elaine. She is the character who got away.

Of course, Beowulf aligns himself with Arthur. That character understands power and monarchy. I hope we see him lost in a modern world, or at least scared of things like cars or other technology.

Galahad is not fine. But telling Elaine that is critical for her not to go against Arthur.

Not enough Rose.

Once & Future #9 by Kieron Gillen (written)
Art: Dan Mora (illustrated), Tamra Bonvillain (colored), and Ed Dukeshire (lettered)

Still not enough Rose. Gillen needs to figure out how to incorporate her more into the story. She deserves full characterization.

Bonvillain’s colors continue to carry the story. Mora’s art is strong, but Bonvillain’s colors push the story and the fight scenes further. Especially with how much fire and explosions happen.

Bridgette and her snark also carry the story. I loved her conversation with her fellow elders at the older folks’ home. The way that she’s mellowed is just threatening to break people’s fingers instead of outright kill them. I stan.

Beowulf was suspiciously easy to murder, which Grendel coming alive makes sense. Duncan won’t be getting a lot of sleep. I’m kind of surprised he could fall asleep. I know with myself, I’d be dead tired, but too much awake to sleep.

So Elaine is working with Merlin.

Marvel Action: Captain Marvel #1 by Sam Maggs (writer)
Art: Sweeney Boo (art), Brittany Peer (colors), and Christa Miesner (design and letters)

Is this comic book adorable? Yep. Is it a romp? Yep. Are there cats (flerkens) everywhere? Yep. All things I like and enjoy. Is this book groundbreaking? Nope. I’ll continue to read it as long as the focus remains on cats and fun relationships.

Carol and Jessica’s movie night in PJs was adorable. Maggs does a great job at balancing the familial demands Jessica has and the save the world demands both of them have. The line where Jessica questions Carol having her suit on under her PJs was quippy.

Will Chewy help with the Flerkens? I can hope so. If she’s a rare alien seems like there will be more to the mystery or that she’d want to hang with others of her kind. (Of course, Kelly Sue DeConnick posited that all cats are Flerkens too.)

This was a very NYC-centric story, which was a bit of fun for placing it and providing room for more jokes. Overall, this first issue is a solid venture into a cute middle reader book.

Marvel Action: Captain Marvel #2 by Sam Maggs (writer)
Art: Sweeney Boo (art), Brittany Peer (colors), and Christa Miesner (design and letters)

Honestly, I’m questioning how valuable my reviews on this book will be. It’s cute, but not profound. That’s fun for middle readers, and it’s enjoyable even by someone who is old enough to be a parent of a middle reader. And frankly, my oldest cat is old enough to be a middle reader.

Maggs is a bit verbose in this issue. I don’t recall finding the first issue too wordy. Perhaps, since Carol spends most of this issue on her own, this makes it stand out more. She essentially talks a lot to herself while stuck in a Flerken’s stomach and then on a ship. Also, to the bad Kree she finds out controls the Flerkens and forces them to attack Earth.

It promises to be less monologue as Jessica and the Guardians of the Galaxy show up to help Carol on her mission.

Boo’s depictions of the spaceship cats with their little uniforms and hats — that throwback to early commercial aviation — were just adorable.

Marvel Action: Captain Marvel #3 by Sam Maggs (writer)
Art: Sweeney Boo (art), Brittany Peer (colors), and Christa Miesner (design and letters)

Maggs is far less wordy of a writer when there are other characters for Carol to talk with, not just herself. No, the lampshade that Maggs hung on Carol saying she talks too much didn’t work for me.

Ultimately, I don’t think this book will be substantive enough for me to review. Like it’s cute, and I’ll probably keep reading it. However, I find myself without much to comment on besides it being cute and fun. Which is just fine, just not great review material for this blog.

Of course, Chewy saved the day, and Carol needed all her friends. Despite all of them saying Carol smelled terrible, they were very huggy.

I’m a little confused about why all the Flerkens are the same coloring if all cats are Flerkens.

Jessica and Carol’s friendship remains the best. I like that Jessica adopted one of the Flerkens, who stays behind on Earth. Their movie nights are charming. What’s better than sitting around in your pajamas with your best friend watching movies and hugging your cats!

Lumberjanes #71 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Kanesha C. Bryant and Julia Madrigal (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)

As much as I love the knotweed fight, I instead wish this was just the flashbacks to Jane’s life. None of this needed back-and-forth between the timelines. I wonder if there’s an assumption the younger reader audience won’t understand the story or lose interest if they don’t include the current timeline.

I’m such an Abigail and Rosie shipper. This also shows my age.

The map was a sweet feature, and it shows how ingenious and resourceful the girls can be. This comic continues to be refreshing after all of these years.

The old-timey Yeti was pretty sweet. And I’m looking forward to learning how Jane took back the house and the campground, and I also want to know where she is. We certainly have met Nellie.

Lumberjanes #72 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Kanesha C. Bryant and Julia Madrigal (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)

I wanted more with Jane and her mother. Her mom was very much like, “okay, you can have the camp.” I figured there would be more tension there, but I guess we cannot make a storyline more than four issues; otherwise, we’d have to make a larger trade paperback collection.

I do want more stories about Jane. I’m glad the Roanokes asked Rosie and Abigail if they’d ever met Jane as it gives more context to the timeline. I do want to know more about the cat with sheep horns that bird Jane protected them from. Do eventually you get to turn into an animal and back-and-forth after you become zen with the forest? What will Rosie be able to transform into?

Totally pro bringing Abigail back into the fold. The girls are very charming, and they demand stories. Plus, it will be interesting to have another character with a bit of gray in her past, given how Diane reformed. Even if April still doesn’t like her.

Yep, if you leave even the smallest bit of knotweed root in the soil, it will grow an entirely new plant. This is an excellent concept to teach children.

Lumberjanes #73 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Kat Leyh (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)

Is summer coming to an end? Or are we just ending this numbering? Or perhaps, we will have an entirely new group of campers for a new summer.

I get that Jo skipped grades. However, how old is she? It seems like Jen is going to college age. But then again, the other counselors seem to be older. What is anyone’s age in this book?

Despite this being yet another April conflict and April ultimately winning her detractors over and getting her final badge, I did enjoy this. It was nice to see an adult having issues with her. The elusive party badge seemed a little silly, given that June would’ve experienced the surprise theater party that April threw for Jo. Okay, it was a little stealthy around Jo’s birthday, but still, I doubt the counselors didn’t know.

Similarly, it seemed ridiculous that Barney had so few badges that they were still a sapling and not a full Lumberjane. Like they’ve been on plenty of badge-getting missions in these books, not to mention with their camp group. I would like to see Barney taking the lead in the storyline and not just being the sidekick or pushed around by April’s more assertive personality.

Of course, Ripley wants to see Jonsey the velociraptor, one more time. I love that she’s been collecting stuff to give to her, including half her candy stash. That’s a lot of candy. And also, I hope Jonsey can read.

I like this team-up of Ripley, Jo, and Jen. Their skills and attitudes work well together. I love the idea that Jen’s been working out while the girls were off adventuring independently.

Since it was pointed out that Jo’s going off to college, I wonder how many of our campers will be back next summer. We may not get an entirely new crop for next summer. Ripley will certainly still be young.

Plus, I’m waiting to see what will happen with Molly.

The larger-sized issues worked very well for telling a Lumberjanes story. It allowed the characters to be themselves fully. One problem I’ve had with these 4-issue story arcs is not enough time to marinate in the story development and to become more complicated or show off the different characters. This felt like a lot more breathing room.

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #9 by Saladin Ahmed (writer)
Art: Minkyu Jung (penciler), Juan Vlasco (inker), Ian Herring (color artist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

I called it. Ms. Marvel’s new costume has been simplified. It’s still pretty complex, but at least those boob highlights were removed in the design. I actually find the simplified version much more stylish than the original new design.

Yay for Kamala and Bruno kissing. Finally. It took those kids long enough to get it together. Of course, it’s just in time for Doctor Strange and Iron Man to show up.

I don’t know how Doctor Strange can concentrate on Yusuf’s surgery and telepathically yell at Kamala. I get the metaphor of having Hyde attack the hospital. However, it just didn’t have the emotional resonance I was expecting. It became clear perhaps too quickly that Yusuf would survive this mysterious illness and that they’d make it related to the Inhuman DNA he carries, so the illness didn’t have to be tied to any disease in the real world.

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #10 by Saladin Ahmed (writer)
Art: Minkyu Jung (penciler), Juan Vlasco (inker), Ian Herring (color artist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

You know what I really don’t like: men telling women in their family who they can date and who they cannot date. If what I’m seeing is that Aamir threatened or told Bruno that he’s not allowed to date Kamala, I’m going to get very pissy. Women aren’t owned by their male family members. They aren’t to be bought, sold, passed on, or given with permission.

Hyde remains boring. I called it many issues ago that the suit would end up having a mind of its own. Yeah, not shocking that it wants to kill Hyde. I mean, who doesn’t. Since Hyde is really about toxic masculinity, it seems like there’s some missing metaphor that Ahmed could’ve planted here.

I do like the art team’s take on the evil costume. It’s perfectly sinister.

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #11 by Saladin Ahmed (writer)
Art: Minkyu Jung (penciler), Juan Vlasco (inker), Ian Herring (color artist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

This is still not completely drawing me in. Honestly, I want to see Kamala back with her family. I get that her father will be fine in the end. But especially since her parents’ memories were erased — how will they ever understand how she needed to leave them during an emergency to attend a superhero matter.

Kamala embiggening her face was hilarious. Also, frightening. I loved how those young women gave her their scarf and sunglasses. It’s the kind of community spirit that centers Ms. Marvel tales.

Oh, Bruno, I’m just glad he didn’t spontaneously tell Kamala that they cannot be together after his talk with her brother. If he goes that direction, he knows to wait for when she’s not fighting.

Of course, the costume has been keeping track of all the villains they’ve been fighting, and also making decisions about whether or not those villains were properly taken care of. In many ways, Josh and Becky are the two who elude Kamala the most because they are the most human. They are her Harry (Spider-Man’s friend turned enemy), and add to the classic comic feel of this book.

Lois Lane #10 by Greg Rucka (writer)
Art: Mike Perkins (art), Andy Troy (colors), and Simon Bowland (letters)

Those multiverse art spreads from Perkins — yowzas. Which I know is a term usually signifying a good thing, but not here. The floating heads are straight out 80s and 90s art styles. They clutter the page. I get that we’re trying to show different versions of the same person, but could we do it more creatively? Could the flow of these pages be less literal?

Well, at least we captured Kiss of Death? I’m not sure there was much of anything else particularly moving in this book. Lois is still reporting, eating junk food, and having the conversations of a married couple with her husband. That’s what she does. At least this time, Superman brought his cape and bold primary colors inside.

I cannot help but wonder if the pages of the multiverse explanation was editorial. If a reader has never heard the concept of multiple universes (doubtful in 2020) and if they have no idea DC comics has a canon multiverse that’s been destroyed and rebuilt 1,000 times, how will they ever understand this book? (But you know, just ignore Leviathan.) Back in my day, we just looked this stuff up on Wikipedia ourselves.

Where’s the big secret? What happened to that plot? Now the big movement is Jessica finding she can do spells and Renee taking a bullet.

Lois Lane #11 by Greg Rucka (writer)
Art: Mike Perkins (art), Andy Troy (colors), and Simon Bowland (letters)

This is where it becomes very clear that DC screwed over Rucka by changing this series from an ongoing title and making it a 12-issue “maxi-series.” (I know it’s proper grammar, but using “maxi-series,” just makes me think of maxi-pads, and well, do any people who menstruate work at DC marketing?)

What I don’t like about this penultimate issue is the redemption and revival of Kiss of Death (Elicia Sanchez) as fully human through her love of Renee, in which they were together in another universe. This could be interesting if the concept was getting more issues. This could be an impactful story about redemption and what leads us on the paths that we wind up on. This could be a great team-up of women (Sister Claire, Renee, Lois, Jessica, and Elicia). However, DC editorial chops this and makes it an all too convenient wrap-up for the series.

Once again, I find myself loathing Perkins’ art. His facial expressions are always off for the moment, especially in a story that, while it has action — which Perkins is also not good at choreographing — so much is about the emotions. These characters are finding out about themselves and who they are across worlds. Not to mention, this issue hinges on Elicia not just finding herself, but realizing she loves Renee and will forsake her role in the Religion of Crime for love.

Perkins’ art around their love is such a salacious male gaze into lesbianism. Renee’s literally wearing a corset.

What I did like was Lois having some second thoughts about her plan, and the others knowing she had this plan. But I’m still not sure what the story’s focused on, except to tell people other alternative universes exist?

Lois Lane #12 by Greg Rucka (writer)
Art: Mike Perkins (art), Andy Troy (colors), and Simon Bowland (letters)

Yikes. I’m not sure there is anything new I have to say that I didn’t say in my review for #11. My feelings are the same. This book would’ve been interesting as an ongoing, but as a limited series, the ending splats.

With ongoing status and a better artist, especially one who can draw women, this would’ve been a highly entertaining must-read. Instead, this is the first Lois Lane title in decades, and it was disappointing.