2021 is not the best timeline ever, but this year both Marvel and DC decided to acknowledge the queercreators and characters in their line-ups. A few days ago, I took a look at the Marvel Voices #1, their Pride collection. I had no particular expectations for either anthology, but expected that DC might do a better job, as they’ve had a bit more experience and a handful of more well-known characters who are out.
Marvel took the opportunity to talk about all the “firsts” they’ve done, without noticing that those firsts often lack follow-up. It made for a self-congratulatory feature that, I’m sorry to say, wasted some top-notch talent. In the end, I came into the book not knowing some of the characters and I left in the same state. Yes of course I can look the characters up, but why should I have to?
So here we are at DC Pride #1, and again, I had no idea what to expect. What I found was a really interesting approach. DC took their currently known, beloved characters from their DC TV Universe and focused on them. It was innovative in a way, because they were offering up two ways to engage with these characters at once – in comics and on television.
Again, I didn’t know every character when I began the book, I don’t watch DCEU on TV. I tried, most of the shows just didn’t hook me. But I do like Batwoman, and I’ll be the first person to tell you how much of a surprise that is. I even like Alice. I mean – I really like Alice as a character now, so far removed from the stuuuuupid origin story. And Javicia Leslie gets two thumbs up from be as Ryan Wilder/Batwoman.
So, I sat down to read this anthology…and by gum, I enjoyed it. Trung Le Nguyen’s art in the Batwoman story was fab, but I love-love-loved Lisa Sterle’s art for “Clothes Makeup Gift.” The Harley x Ivy story was a bit weak. I don’t much like Harley, but I especially dislike that Ivy ends up being the good cop to Harley’s chaos agent schtick. “Try the Girl,” written by Vita Ayala was a fab story all around and well drawn and colored by Skylar Partridge and José Villarubia. Of all the stories, I thought this one stuck the landing best.
Also, let me remind you, that I have permanently retired “Date Night” as a title, so dear comic artists, don’t use that anymore. Ever. It’s over. Done. The story was solid, I liked “meeting” Nia (again, I don’t watch TV much…) I loved seeing Brainiac, because I always did think that Silver Age Braniac was a bish. ^_^
Overall this anthology did exactly what I wanted both anthologies to do – introduce the queer characters from that universe and give me a taste of their personalities and powers. If you know someone queer who wants to get into American superhero comics but has no idea where or how or even if to start, you could do worse than hand them this anthology to get a broad idea of who is out there, what their stories are and why they might be interested. Dear Marvel – this is what anthologies are supposed to be. Do this next time.
Ratings:
Art – 8 Overall excellent, some sublime moments. And Lisa Sterle!
Story – 7 Generally very good, a little performative, but each choice served a purpose
Queer – 10 Yes, and… old school and current and varied in a way that I truly enjoyed
Service – Shockingly little
Overall – 9 Hands down this anthology was a winner
If you haven’t picked this issue up yet and aren’t virulently opposed, hop over to Comic Shop Locator and find a comic shop near you! Or, of course, you can get this digitally on Comixology.
After how much I really disliked DC’s Love is Love Anthology, (“searing white-hot rage” is a quote from my review) Pride #1 was a relief and a genuinely enjoyable read.
