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The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel Review
Marvel

Comic Books

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel Review

Some of the funniest and freshest takes on superhero’ing in comics. 

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl may have just wrapped up its regular series, but it’s not too late to join in on the fun. Marvel likely suspected interest may have grown two acorn sizes larger and have published a new digest-sized Squirrel Girl series. This collection houses the first eight issues from the start of the 2015 series, making this an easy purchase for fans who want to gift this to a younger audience. Their smaller hands would appreciate the format! The modern classic that is The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson can be relived right now with Powers of a Squirrel.

These first eight issues are some of the most invigorating comics to kickstart a series. Ryan North’s footnotes are so unique, clever, and funny you’re bound to find yourself anticipating them before you even get past the first panel of a page. They add a unique narration to the comic that allows North to add an extra joke, reflect on superheroes, and generally play with the reader’s expectations. It’s a method of storytelling that adds so much to every page.

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The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel Review

Sing it!
Credit: Marvel Comics

Speaking of every page, Henderson’s pencils with Rico Renzi’s colors are fabulously fun and energetic. Squirrel Girl is a spunky, silly, and sometimes down-to-clown sort of hero and Henderson captures this unique sort of humor so well. There’s a different kind of comedy going on here that’s at once loveable and anti-authoritarian that you have to love. You can gather Squirrel Girl is a bit of a loudmouth thanks to Henderson’s fantastic reaction shots and facial expressions. Meanwhile, Tippy-Toe is given enough personality to make her more than simply a talking animal. Squirrel Girl’s sidekick is spunky and adds a level of self-awareness to scenes that help sell the humor.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel Review

When you realize Galactus takes on the form of whatever species is looking at him. Cool!
Credit: Marvel Comics

This book is also a great commentary on superhero comics. To have Squirrel Girl–a hero with a moderate level of power–fight Galactus in her second issue is a bold move, but it works so well thanks to the premise of this hero having the gall to think she could take him on (and also question his use of pronouns). There are also Kraven and Loki appearances to jazz things up as well as heroic team-ups including Captain America and Thor.  By giving Squirrel Girl a bit of self-awareness similar to Deadpool’s ability to understand the lunacy of superheroes, North and Henderson give Squirrel Girl a license to have a bit of power over the nature of superhero business. When Squirrel Girl charges up her squirrel copter, for instance, and realizes it’s not getting her to space to fight Galactus, you have to wonder why she even considered using it. Likely to reflect on the silly idea of a hero like herself needing a squirrel themed helicopter.

Do yourself a favor and purchase this for someone who hasn’t yet found the unadulterated joy of Squirrel Girl. Hell, get it for yourself to reread some of the funniest and freshest takes on superhero’ing in comics.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel Review
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel
Is it good?
Do yourself a favor and purchase this for someone who hasn't yet found the unadulterated joy of Squirrel Girl. Hell, get it for yourself to reread some of the funniest and freshest takes on superhero'ing in comics. 
Great humor throughout, especially the footnotes
A different type of self reflective superhero comedy
Great visuals the pull off not so easy things
You might need to be in a sarcastic mood to really love it
10
Fantastic

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