Written by: Chelsea Cain
Art by: Kate Niemczyk & Rachelle Rosenberg
Publisher: Marvel
Chelsea Cain says in her letter at the end of the issue that she wants Mockingbird to look different than other comics, to take risks, and I think she has definitely achieved this in the first issue and it is really refreshing to see great content from new writers at the Big Two.
I was pleasantly surprised with what was on offer especially as I didn’t know too much about what was going to happen in this new solo series. Mockingbird is a great character that has been greatly underused in recent years but I think all this is about to change.
The story itself is not world shattering, earth destroying epicness, it is a pure fun and charming. The issue is very clever in introducing new readers to Bobby Morse, yet the story itself is enough to allow those familiar with Agent 19 to keep reading and be entertained. The story is simply a puzzle that both Bobby, Doctors, and the reader wants to solve, and the pacing of this issue is excellent and helps achieve what is trying to be told effortlessly. The pace is set by the brilliant short and to the point dialogue, both between characters and in the thought boxes, I really found this issue a pleasure to read.
The art adds everything to this issue though. It is definitely unique when compared to what Marvel is putting out at the moment and the colouring is just so on pitch. The details really tell the story of the issue and the just enhances what is being told in the art and the fun created by the dialogue easily transfers into the art.
On a side point. I don’t know if I am reading too much into it, but there is a great reference to the Agents of Shield TV show in this issue, though it has nothing to do with the TV show at all, it was still quite fun to see.
Overall, this debut issue was a lot of fun to read, and one I can definitely recommend to both new and old fans of Mockingbird. Not only is it a fun read, it truly has the making to be as big a success as the recent Ms Marvel in terms of the uniqueness of both the script and the art. And because of that I have no doubt that this will be a hit series and I will be following it closely.
