It’s the end of this series, so more likely than not Mockingbird will go out with a bang rather than a whimper, right?
With nothing to lose, can this creative team blow us away?
Mockingbird #8 (Marvel Comics)
So what’s it about? The Marvel summary reads:
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN! Stranded on a sinking ship adrift in the Bermuda Triangle, MOCKINGBIRD must catch a killer intent on using her past to drive her mad…if the sea monsters, pirate zombies and Nazi sailor ghosts don’t get her first. Giant whirlpools! Time vortexes! Ex-boyfriends! Worst. Cruise. Ever.
Why does this book matter?
This issue ties into Hawkeye and his recent murder of Bruce Banner in Civil War II. It’s also the last hurrah of Mockingbird which involves an ex she probably wishes went poof like a ghost.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Marriage can be tough.
This issue opens with a flashback to remind us Mockingbird and Hawkeye used to be married and the complicated relationships she’s had in the past. That directly leads to an ex arriving to ruin her cruise in the Bermuda Triangle. This ex is tied to the ghost realm – which ties nicely into the Halloween spirit – and also requires Mockingbird and the geek cruise shipmates to be clever in how they defeat the bugger. Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk infuse this issue with clever humor (like a full page flow chart detailing what to do with Mockingbird’s ex) that makes this feel a step better than most relationship superhero dramas.
The clever ideas are a nice departure too. A full page map of the Bermuda Triangle for instance, shows lots of fun elements in the ocean we didn’t know about. Niemczyk draws the ex in a cool way with a great glowing aura by colorist Rachelle Rosenberg. The comedic elements land due to the solid expressions and good layouts by Niemczyk too.
It can’t be perfect can it?
For a final issue, Mockingbird does a lot of standing around. The other cruise patrons do and say more and the focus is much more on her ex than anyone else. The final pages certainly close things out of her well, but it’s a bit of a shock she’s less connected to the events.
This issue certainly will bring a smirk to your face, but it wasn’t laugh out loud hilarious either. The jokes are rather spaced out and the overall tone is more of a rested waiting experience rather than a fast-paced laugh fest.
Fun cutaways like this add value to the experience.
Is It Good?
A good farewell worth a few chuckles for sure. It’s a bit slow and Mockingbird isn’t as highlighted as I’d like, but it’s a fine goodbye.
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