Marvel’s Voices has become a consistently great celebration of diversity, with diverse creators telling stories using diverse characters in an anthology format. The Marvel’s Voices line has grown exponentially over the last few years, with special editions for different cultures throughout the year. This week, Marvel’s Voices: Legends arrives in comic shops with four stories, a spotlight on Matt Baker, and an interview with Denys Cowan. For anyone looking for a more robust offering from a single comic book, this is for you.
I was thoroughly impressed with this issue, from the introduction by John Jennings, aptly connecting the word “Legends” to what this series accomplishes in the various comic stories. The intro adds weight to the comic, but also the importance of the entire line. Angélique Roché once again brings us a great interview, this time with Denys Cowan. Frankly, I was surprised Marvel let Denys’ answer about a book being pulled about Apartheid get printed. Props to Marvel for letting that run. The interview feels thorough as Denys digs into his beginnings at Marvel and the work he did there. Roché also supplies a fantastic and thorough look at Matt Baker which is an important introspective.
The first comic tale focuses on Patriot in a story by David F. Walker and Eder Mesias. This story has Patriot fighting Crossbones intercut with the times he got a bit of wisdom from fellow heroes. It’s a nice way to show Patriot is always learning and growing while also showing he can be triumphant even when the chips are down. The art is super sharp and detailed, making from some intense moments as Crossbones’ mask gets torn and he pummels Patriot pretty hard.
Next up is the story “Do You Remember When?” by Justina Ireland and Karen S. Darboe. Misty Knight and Colleen Wing are teaming up for a little caper, and it shows how well they work together. It also shows they’ve been through a lot with some clever ways of them bringing up the past. It’s a fun and warm short tale.
This story may have been my favorite.
Credit: Marvel
The Deathlok story by Ezra Claytan Daniels and Sean Damien Hill is also fantastic. The concept is introduced that Deathlok has an a.i. on board that will do anything to keep him alive. The lengths it’ll go to even means hurting or even killing innocent bystanders. It gets pretty dark fairly fast, delves into Deathlok’s personal traumas of the past, and ends on a note that’ll make you want more. Hill’s art draws you into Deathlok’s perilous situation and humanizes him quite well. This story is so good I know for a fact it’d sell well if given an ongoing run.
Closing out the comic is Sheree Renee Thomas and Julian Shaw’s “The World is Not Ready,” which features an old Black Panther attempting to calm his grandkids down. Fans of T’Challa and Storm being an item…enjoy this. Marvel has broken them up, but this story will satisfy you to no end. It’s also a fun look at the hijinks potential of a Grandpa Black Panther with ruffian kiddos running around.
Once again, I’m blown away by Marvel’s Voices, this time in its Legends format. Each comic story offers something fun, thought-provoking, or downright riveting. The bonus materials only sweeten the deal in a buy-on-sight series.
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