MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
STORY: Jeremy Whitley – @jrome58
ART: Elsa Charretier
COLORS: Megan Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Elsa Charretier with Nicolas Bannister
VARIANT COVER: Tony Fleecs
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2017)
Rated “T+”
The Wasp a.k.a. Janet van Dyne is a Marvel Comics female super hero, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. First appearing in Tales to Astonish #44 (cover dated: June 1963), The Wasp is usually depicted as having the ability to shrink to a height of several centimeters; fly by means of insectoid wings; and fire bio-electric energy blasts. The Wasp is also a founding member of the Avengers.
After Janet van Dyne, there was another version of The Wasp, Hope Pym, also known as the Red Queen and the Wasp. Hope is the daughter of Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man. Of course, Marvel has an alternate universe version of Hope Pym, and her name is Nadia, who is now in the main Marvel Universe. She is the daughter of Hank Pym and Maria Trovaya. Nadia is the star of the new Marvel comic book series, The Unstoppable Wasp. It is written by Jeremy Whitley; drawn by Elsa Charretier; colored by Megan Wilson; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.
The Unstoppable Wasp #2 opens as Nadia continues her quest to build “G.I.R.L.” (Genius in Action Research Labs). This is an organization “dedicated to finding the brilliant girls and women who will not just save the world, but change it.” First stop, meet Taina Miranda, before moving on to Lunella Lafayette a.k.a. “Moon Girl.” But Nadia's past is about to make a reappearance.
I enjoyed the first issue of The Unstoppable Wasp comic book. I had a few reservations, but everything makes sense after reading this second issue. That's crazy because it is hard to believe that a comic book has its act together or seems fully formed after only two issues.
Perhaps, the secret is in writer Jeremy Whitley's characterization of Nadia/The Unstoppable Wasp. She is self-assured, although not fully formed. She is determined to make her place in the world by not having to wash a man's drawers, bake him cookies, or get him a beer. In fact, Nadia believes that her place in the world is to make sure other girls and women have a place in the world where they can be the best they can be (or even better than that). This is comic book where the female characters don't get together to talk about what the man is doing. At some point, I may have to call this something like brilliant, even if I don't use that word.
Artist Elsa Charretier vivid compositions and boisterous storytelling is well served by Megan Wilson's bright colors. The Charretier-Wilson team marries the retro-style of Daniel Clowes' Ghost World with the pop charm of Darwyn Cooke, and that is a good thing.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
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