Written by: Mark Waid
Art by: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Champions get a dose of reality when it comes to sharing their name online!
Mark Waid continues to write fun and innovative ways. The book so far was very reminiscent of Impulse book that Waid and Ramos did back in the 90’s. Now we have a full team with the same type of wit and energy as that book. Relationships between these characters continue to be driving points of this book and now they are dealing with the biggest diversity they had to deal with so far. This issue deals with them not fighting the enemy, but fighting for their own image.
There is healthy dose of these characters being portrayed as kids. That allows Waid to not be as serious as some of the other Marvel books tend to be. There is a lot of levity here, especially between Viv and Vision, and Spider-man and Vision, where they basically tell him they don’t need a babysitter to go on a mission with them. It is moments like that make this book fun to read, as it never take itself too seriously about the situations these characters get themselves in.
Humberto Ramos continues to be on the book as well, and his style is truly best suited for the books like these. His depiction of children is amazing with their wide eyed wonderment and excitement in every situation they get themselves in. Ramos’ style also fits the action here as the things go on a very brisk pace. His style truly captures all of the zaniness that is going on all around.
His depiction of Ms Marvel is also one of the best I have seen, other than Miyazawa as he truly portrays with all of playfulness that character exudes.
Champions is one of those books that are very reminiscent of Super Sons on the DC side, where it is never taking itself seriously so it forgets being fun. It portrays its characters as both heroes as well as kids just having fun, sometimes getting themselves a bit over their head.
All of this makes Champions one of the most fun books Marvel has. It is also one of the most diverse books that they have with pretty much every minority covered here. The way that last part of it is treated as footnote is especially important, as what this book does teach us is that there are no such things as minorities we are all in the same fight to make our world better. And it is because of this message, I recommend this book to everyone.
