Comic book reviews for America #7, America #8, and America #9 by Gabby Rivera, Jen Bartel, Annie Wu, Ming Doyle, Aud Koch, Joe Quinones, Flaviano, and Joe Rivera
Average rating: 3.3/5 stars
America #7 by Gabby Rivera
Art: Jen Bartel, Annie Wu, Ming Doyle, Aud Koch, Joe Quinones, and Joe Rivera
I opened this book and was like “damn, that looks like some Bartel pencils and color.” And lo and behold, it was. I only wish she could be on this book all the time. Of course, I also love Wu and Koch too. So many great artists, which does lessen the sting of having too many artists in one issue.
To tell a cosmic love story, Bartel was 100% the right artist to choose. Her America and Madrimar are outstanding.
I like this idea for America that she has another home besides the Utopian Parallel, which she cannot ever get back to. That Planeta Fuertona depends upon Madrimar, and eventually that protection will land on America’s shoulders. She’s seemed to be looking for something to ground her this entire book, and well, being responsible for a planet will do that.
I loved how Madrimar’s retelling of her own life story and that of America’s mothers wasn’t easy for either of them. Madrimar made hard choices that also majorly affected America’s life. Madrimar wasn’t able to give America the home she would’ve loved as a kid. It’s very cosmic and superhero in scope, but it is true that not all grandparents are able to care for their grandchildren, even when said grandchildren could use a loving home and said grandparents want them around.
Overall, this issue was just lovely. I’m not sure how I feel about us getting back to Exterminatrix next issue.
America #8 by Gabby Rivera
Art: Joe Quinones
Something about Exterminatrix as Billie Brightly just bothers me a lot. Maybe it’s one of those things you’d think that there’d be more protocols in place to filter Exterminatrix/Billie out. Like there are sometimes when you’re like “of course, they didn’t run background checks” and other times, you’re like “yeah…they’d have to have a really great fake profile for her to get this job.” Plus, this would take lots of time, and she’d actually have to pass interviews to become university president.
I guess Exterminatrix could’ve replaced the real Billie.
And I guess that I am reading a book about a woman who can punch star-shaped portals for teleportation almost anywhere. I need to have some benefit of a doubt. All things considering, this is probably a 2018 reaction, where there’s such rampant corruption in the US government that I want Sotomayor University to be free from corruption. It is supposed to be a bastion of all things intersectional social justice.
America is definitely going to have to curb the impulse to immediately take action. Had she waited a tiny bit longer, she probably wouldn’t have been caught. Or if she asked for David’s help.
It’s sad, but unsurprisingly to see Exterminatrix being able to systematically manipulate X’andria. When you are at any organization where you can assume best intentions from others, it’s especially hard to navigate when someone who doesn’t hold those values comes in. In many way, you are completely disarmed by the person playing games for their own ends who doesn’t play with the agreed upon social contract rules. Not that I speak from any personal experience (except completely).
America #9 by Gabby Rivera
Art: Flaviano
No one is surprised that Billie Brightly aka Exterminatrix is evil. No one. Not the students, or America’s friends, or the Chavez Guerrillas that spy on her life. America is not surprised.
I am surprised that America was beaten so badly.
The rest felt like a Bond villain’s speech. Maybe I just expected more from this issue than where we are in the pacing and in the action. Maybe in trade, I would’ve felt more generous about this issue. But right now, it isn’t capturing me.