She Said Destroy #1 Early Review

While Vault comics is still developing as a publisher, the company has already published indomitable stories like Heathen, Submerged, Wasted Space & These Savage Shores. I'm excited to say that when She Said Destroy drops into comic shops next month, it will undoubtedly be following its powerhouse predecessors. Of course when this book was announced I immediately knew I had to get issue one. After all, this book screamed my entire space goddess neon aesthetic. So huge shoutouts to Liana Kangas for getting this gem into my hands a little early, because I honestly just could not wait until it's release date in late May.

"And when a God is forgotten, they can never return." One of the opening lines of She Said Destroy, this simple phrase compiled of only a few words was enough to make my jaw drop and go "damn, this is gonna be good." As stated in the first page of this debut issue, when the Pantheons have fallen only two Gods remain.  Brigid, the Goddess of Sun, and Morrigan, Goddess of Death. A regalias interstellar war wages between them and the line between good and evil although seemingly apparent are not as expected, as it's the Sun Goddess who appears to wage war against that of Death. The story's focus lays with those who have pledged themselves to the divine deities, as warriors from both sides will inevitably come together for better or for worse in the future issues to come.

Joe Corallo has taken mythology from all walks of life that we've known forever, elegantly transforming it into lore that is all his own, yet still, something we as readers can connect with. Morrigan and Brigid, names that are all too recognizable have been transformed into deities for a modern age, while still staying true to their characteristics.


She Said Destroy is a beautiful blend of magic and science fiction. You can really feel the Star Wars influence on every page making many moments, like the training sequence between our main characters Winona and Raul on the first few pages feel familiar. That being said, She Said Destroy feels entirely it's own despite its mainstream inspiration. The characters and settings are fantastically designed by Liana Kangas, taking traditional fantasy influences and making them feel modern and gorgeous. Despite the war raging in the story's backdrop, each panel is bright, breathtaking and colorful creating a wonderful contrast.

The first issue is quick, a little too quick for my liking, and not a whole lot happens, but then again as with all first issues, there's the task of world building for what's to come and engaging the reader all within the span of twenty-two or so pages. That being said issue one ends on a fantastic note. As the Goddess Morrigan, bringer of death and destruction sits calmly on her throne she utters one single word to those who would pledge themselves to her. "Destroy."  Personally, I think it's going to take more than the first issue for me to become truly invested, which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering it makes me more than willing to pick up future issues to see what's to come.

Overall She Said Destroy is a great addition to Vault's wide range of stories. It's a science fiction/fantasy elements along with strong female heroines is the perfect media to help hold us over while we wait for the release of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker.  Even better She Said Destroy has a strong young adult vibe, making it a fantastic story for everyone to enjoy compared to some of the more mature titles from the publisher. Be sure to pick up She Said Destroy from Joe Corallo and Liana Kangas when it drops into your local comic shop on May 29th.

Star Crossed Lovers - Darth Vader: Dark Visions #3 Review

Alright gang so I normally don't do individual reviews on single issues, unless it's the first issue of a new series, however after reading Darth Vader: Dark Visions #3 today and literally not being able to shut up about it I felt like it was a great opportunity to share my excitement with you guys. I literally sat at my kitchen table and for lack of a better word "squealed" through all 28 pages of this issue.

For those of you who don't know already Darth Vader: Dark Visions is a five issue mini-series from Marvel comics, with each individual issue being a self-contained story from the point of view of someone who has had an encounter with the Sith Lord. It's an outsider's perspective on a character we've known for years. I love the idea that we get a chance to see Darth Vader in more, dare I say personal situations. We've seen a lot of series featuring the dark commander in the past, but none like this. Vader is one of the most complicated characters in fictional history, let alone in Star Wars, so getting the chance to see even more of his multi-faceted persona is just such a treat and I wonder why it hasn't been done like this before.

I'll be honest, Dark Visions wasn't on my initial pull (but it is now, with issues one and two on special order) I only had a desire to read issue three because it was supposed to showcase a romantic relationship between DARTH VADER (not Anakin Skywalker) and another woman. As fans, we've only known Darth Vader to love one woman, Padme Amidala. So the idea of him having relations with someone other than the woman he literally turned to the dark side for had me more than intrigued. I mean look at that cover. Not only that but who could possibly be in love with Darth Vader, a man turned machine. I mean personally, that's a hard same. While the teenage girl in me loved Anakin Skywalker the woman in me loves our Lord and Savior, Darth Vader. 

The story wasn't what I expected, and honestly, that's more than okay. I thought there might be mutual feelings between Vader and our unnamed heroine but I can assure you without majorly spoiling anything that is not the case. Instead, we get a lonely Imperial medic, stationed on the Death Star, with an awful unappreciative boss who just wants Vader to notice, love and accept the love she would give him in return. She's fascinated by the power, strength, and mystery behind the man. Again girl same. There are moments where her obsessive love kind of give you that Harley Quinn/Mad Love vibe (you know without being Harley Quinn levels of annoying) Multiple times throughout the issue there are beautifully drawn out fantasy moments as she envisions what a life would be like should Darth Vader choose to have her by his side. These moments were both stunning and heartbreaking. The entire issue almost felt personal. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who had these same exact fantasy ideals as a kid.

I can't say for sure the feel of the rest of the series, but issue three, in particular, had an oddly quirky vibe that we don't even see in the Star Wars Universe. David Lopez and Javi Pina's art style at times often reminded me of a softer version of Erica Henderson's work during her time with Squirrel Girl, and that style just worked with the tone of this particular issue. That being said it still was serious in nature throughout most of the story and at some points, it even showed moments of honest and pure sincerity.

Dark Visions is totally going to be collected into a trade, with all five issues being available in comic shops in August, but honestly, if you can I would look for the individual issues because this book is just that good.

Between Visions and the IDW series Vader's Castle (which gives a more horror take on the character), I love seeing the odd and peculiar glimpses into the Star Wars universe, and while I'm sad that Dark Visions is a mere five issues it makes me excited for what the future can bring. After all, I'll never say no to more Star Wars.

What I've Been Reading

After what feels like a million years, we're finally back with another segement of What I've Been Reading. This seems to be a pretty popular serial among my readers so I want to make sure that I keep up with it. For those that are new to ThatComicGirl, What I've Been Reading basically just details exactly what the title states, what I've been reading. I tend to primarily focus on graphic novels and collected trades. If you're looking for my thoughts on some new series, check out my New Series Roundup. (Ps there's totally another one of those on the way because there's just so many good series in 2019 and we are blessed!) I don't know about you but I just think these pieces are just a nice little way to get people interested in books they maybe normally wouldn't have looked at before. On a side note, I've thought of giving the thought of transfering a lot of my content to Youtube as I feel like a lot of content creating is now housed on things like Youtube and Twitch. I mean do people still even blog? ....but I also hate Youtube, and my face, and my voice so there's that. Either way and as always let me know what you think on any or all of that.

Mera Tidebreaker - Danielle Paige & Stephen Bryne -If you follow me on any sort of social media you know I love Queen Mera. So when Mera Tidebreaker was announced, I immediately put it on my list of most anticipated books of 2019. First it's Mera, and honestly, I will never argue with having more Mera in my life. Even with the four issue mini-series published in 2018, it wasn't nearly enough. Secondly, it's one of the launching titles for DC's new imprint, DC Ink, which is reason enough on its own to get excited. If you don't already know DC Ink is a new line of graphic novels targeted towards young adult readership and will also include other titles such as Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass and Teen Titans: Raven. Mera Tidebreaker helps to serve as a more in-depth look at the character's origin and her first encounter with Arthur Curry as well as the surface world. In the past we've seen subtle looks into Mera's life as an assassin for the kingdom of Xebel before ultimately betraying her orders and eventually assuming the throne as Atlantis' queen, but never anything nearly as detailed as Tidebreaker This time around really felt like a fresh new take on the character, and it's truly an all ages and inclusive story about growing up and pathing your own path. I'll admit there are moments in the story that feel a little dumbed down and cheesy, but I also acknowledge the fact that this story really is geared toward a younger audience. Despite it's younger approach I was still able to enjoy it as a long time fan of the character and loved every little bit of this book. From Stephen Brynn's inventive and playful character designs to the strong and powerful initiative Danielle Paige has crafted with Mera's character, this book is just a joy from start to finish. Not to mention fresh off the hype of the Aquaman film, this book will serve as a great jumping on point for new readers of any age. [Comixology]

Rogue & Gambit: Ring of Fire - Kelly Thompson & Pere Perez - I've been slowly reading more and more from Marvel. So my equal love for Rogue and Gambit, albeit that love coming directly from the 90's cartoon series, and my love for Kelly Thompson (seriously check out her work on Hawkeye and Jem & the Holograms) were bound to lead me to the 2018 mini-series eventually.  And those covers from Kris Anka? SWOON. Unfortunately, despite some of the witty dialogue between the main characters alongside the fantastic art from Pere Perez, I just was not a fan and actually struggled to finish it. The plot felt really convoluted at times and I wasn't able to follow along almost at all. Maybe I'm just out of the loop in regards to these characters. There were a lot of jumps back and forth between the past and present which added to the confusion. Along with a mess of a plot, there wasn't really any motivation for the story's villain, who was so forgettable their name escapes me. Despite some really heartfelt moment between the pair, it just wasn't enough for me to enjoy the story as a whole. It's very possible that X-men comics just aren't my thing. After all, I had a very similar experience with Matt Rosenberg's Phoenix Resurrection. On a positive note I will say that I really enjoyed seeing all the various versions and incarnations of the famous mutant couple, and of course, being able to see the small cutesy moments between Rogue and Gambit made me a very happy gal. Overall I wouldn't mind giving the followup series Mr. and Mrs. X a chance considering how much I adore Rogue and Gambit as a couple. [Comixology]

Perdy -  Kickily -Perdy is an original graphic novel from Image comics and has been on my list of books to read for awhile. Lucky for me I finally sat down and took the time to read this fantastic book. I'm not the biggest fan of westerns, (aside from Red Dead Redemption and True Grit) however the idea of an older leading lady who was crass and literally took what she wanted, immediately had me onboard. After all how often do we see something like that any genre, comics or otherwise? After spending fifteen years in a Yuma prison, Perdy is back and she's after a bounty that will set her up for life. Along the way she'll have confrontations with her own past, but she'll be damned if she lets that stop her. The flow of Perdy feels simplistic, yet engaging making it a really quick and enjoyable read. It almost felt like a more violent and raunchy comic strip you'd find in the Sunday paper but on a larger scale. That might sound like an insult to some, but I assure you it's far from it. I also really love the larger magazine style size of this book along with its usage of pink for both the cover and much of it's interior. There isn't nearly enough pink in comics! I will forwarn that there is a lot of nudity and sexual comedy all throughout Perdy, so if it's not something you're okay with then it will be hard for you to love this book. However, if you're looking for some good laughs alongside a badass female lead check it out. I can definitely say that Perdy's cliffhanger ending has me excited for book two! [Comixology]

Spiderwoman: Spiderverse - Dennis Hopeless & Greg Land - I feel like of all the Spiders out there, Spiderwoman is one of the hella underrated ones. Maybe I'm just not seeing it because I'm more involved with the DC community, but compared to the other female characters like Silk and Spider Gwen, I just don't really see a lot of people talking about my girl Jessica Drew. Now, this is the second time I've read Spiderwoman: Spiververse. Believe it or not, this was actually one of the first Marvel books I really ever touched back when it was released in 2015. I can honestly say I enjoyed it just as much now as I did four years ago. Now I have mixed feelings on how I look at this book from a newcomer standpoint. On one hand, I can totally understand and see it being overwhelming as this book does fall in the thick of the huge Spiderverse event. This arc also utilizes characters like Spiderman Noir, Spider Gwen, Spider-Girl and of course Silk, who also plays a large role through the entirety of the book. Sidenote, I love Greg Land especially some of his work throughout this book in particular, but I'm not crazy on his portrayal of Silk, as she's merely a teenager and Land's representation of her comes across as anything but. All of that aside Spiderverse is a really nice introduction to Jessica Drew/Spiderwoman as a character, particularly with how witty and sassy she can be. If I'm being quite honest it's exactly how I came to love her. Not to mention this arc is filled with doppelgangers and a pirate Namor from another universe. Of course, you'll want to read it for that last reason alone. For those still reeling from Into the Spiderverse, this is honestly a perfect book to help fill the void. [Comixology]

 Sleepless -  Sarah Vaughn & Leila Del Duca - I'm just gonna get it out of the way and say that Sleepless is such a refreshing take on the predominantly white fantasy genre. Sleepless blends cultures together, creating an imaginative yet familiar world. Not only that but both of it's main characters are both POC's which is something we don't see nearly enough in comics. I've said it before, but diversity should come naturally and it feels just that in Sleepless.  The title revolves around Princess "Poppy" Pyppenia and her Sleepless knight Cyrenic. Following the death of her father, and the assumption of the throne by her Uncle, Poppy and Cyrenic attempt to navigate and adjust to life at court under a new ruler, while also avoiding the several assassination attempts on Poppy's life. It's the time old story of the Princess and her dutiful Knight, the antiquated relationship they've built over the years and the budding romance to come after.  It's fantasy trope that myself and I'm sure many others enjoy. This fantasy romance story has the intrigue and deception of Game of Thrones without all the gore and unnecessary nudity, which makes it perfect for teen readers as well. From Star Readers to literal Sleepless knights, I can say I've never read fantasy content like this, and with book two on the horizon it makes me so excited to see more of what the creative team and bring to the table. I said before how much I adore the blend of cultures crafting the world of Sleepless but I really can't stress it enough just how wonderful a world Sarah Vaughn and Leila Del Duca have created. Colorist Alissa Sallah's usage of patterns in both the character's fabrics as well as the settings around them just feels ingenious and makes me wonder why this style hasn't been utilized more especially in the fantasy genre. I picked up the first issue of Sleepless upon it's release and didn't thoroughly enjoy it, but I can assure you reading it in the collected trade format you'll fall in love with Sleepless and probably finish it in one sitting. [Comixology]

Between Panels - Issue One: Comics 101

In case it's not already obvious, I'm trying to be a lot more active in the comic community. In the long run, I'm hoping to join a league of already amazing creators whether that be in the shape of writer, editor or even as a publicist, but for now, this means being vocal, and directly giving back to those who also want to be a part of that community but might feel overwhelmed. To be honest, this is the exact reason I created ThatComicGirl in the first place. ThatComicGirl is a safe space where I could not only share my love of comics with the world, but it could also be a place where both new and old, casual and dedicated fans alike could communicate with me, get recommendations and even insight into the growing world of comics. After all, comics are for everyone. 

 So when my lovely local 2nd and Charles offered to become a host of a series of monthly comic panels, where I could ramble, educate and get people fired up about comics, I jumped at the opportunity.  It would be a chance to directly connect with people, get them excited, and be able to guide them exactly where to start or what they could potentially fall in love with without them feeling like the entire massive world of comics was crashing down on them. I could connect with people over movies and television directly inspired by comics, we could talk about comic con, what it takes to make a career out of comics, the possibilities are limitless. Comics are a huge invasive world and it's easy to get consumed and lost. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who will take a look at comics, decide that it's just too much for them to handle because they're not willing or don't have the time to put forth the effort to do the research and walk away from it. And I don't blame anyone for feeling like that, because at one point I was there too, but I never want anyone to feel like that, ever.

Last weekend, was my first panel, and what better way to start than with Comics 101. I talked everything you need to know to get started, where to purchase your comics, both physical and digital comics, the importance of creating a pull and preordering, utilizing resources like your local library, and of course what to start reading. The simple answer to that is independent comics like Image, Vault, and Aftershock, along with several others, will always be your friend.

I had as great of a turnout as I could have ever expected for my first panel, a solo hosted panel none the less. It was fun and interactive, the audience asked questions, and interacted with each other, and while I don't like to speak for anyone, I don't think a single person walked away from the experience not being excited about reading comics. I even took a page from the Jimmy Palmiotti book of panels and did a cute little giveaway at the end. There was also free comics available for everyone in attendance so what's not to love.  I can't even begin to express how wonderful it felt to get people a closer look into the wonderful world that is comics. Seeing so many diverse faces in the crowd really did solidify the motif that comics are truly for everyone.

While it's not the best, upon request a lot of people asked if I could record my panel, which I did but again the quality is not the best, and I'm pretty sure I cut it off prematurely in the end. But now that I've hosted a Comics 101 I definitely intend to do a similar written post in the future that people can refer back to along with helpful tools and links to get them started.  You guys can check out on the full audio recording on Youtube!

As always thank you for taking this incredible journey with me!