Just recently Geek-Girl, issue 1, came out written by Sam Johnson and illustrated by Carlos Granda. The comic focuses on a girl named Ruby who becomes a superhero after winning these glasses in a game of strip poker. While patrolling she witnesses her idol Neon-Girl defeated by a lightning wielding woman. Upon defeat Neon-Girl tasks Ruby with tracking her down and defeating her. At the same time Ruby is having a hard time adjusting to her new powers and convincing her friends that she is a superhero. Thus resulting in a new and fun clever take on the super hero genre.
The Good:
The comic does not take its self seriously. In particular, as Ruby had won the glasses, which are granting her powers in a game of strip poker. With this being the way she has obtained her powers it is mocking typical super hero stories. Furthermore, the comic captures the idea of a superhero as a career. In particular, Neon-Girl’s brother is making sure she receives the best care for her treatment. Not because he cares about her health but he cares about the amount of money she can produce. Finally, the comic is fairly balanced with the development of Ruby and her powers. She has mastered how to fly yet she is still learning how to control her super strength. As a result, the comic strikes a nice balance between an unbelievable superpower and a learning curve to create a balanced superhero.
The Bad:
The major issue in the comic is the lack of what Ruby’s super powers are. We know that she can fly and has super strength but we don’t know what is allowing her to have this power. Or what else she can do with these glasses? As a result it is very hard to get behind her as a character, not knowing what she is fully capable of doing and what her limits are as a character.
The Verdict:
The comic is different than what is currently out there in the superhero market. The comic respectfully pokes fun at the way superheroes obtain their powers, while exploring some new concepts in the superhero world. The comic overall delivers a fairly balanced main lead character that can appeal to a wide range audience. Now, Geek-Girl is not a comic that will appeal to everyone. For those who enjoy when comics poke fun at themselves, adult humor, and well-balanced characters and plot lines this comic is perfectly in-line with your tastes.
Geek-Girl #1 is Out Now in regular, digital and variant editions, and available at www.geekgirlcomics.com and www.comixology.com
