Ororo Munroe has faced many threats in her life: various forces that want to kill her and the X-Men, world-ending catastrophes that she’s prevented with the Avengers, and life on the streets of Cairo. But Storm #8 finds her facing an entirely new threat with the U.S. government, who are seeking to prosecute her for offering sanctuary to Charles Xavier during X-Manhunt. If that wasn’t enough, Thor comes to her with a warning: the first thunder god, Hadad, is rising, sparking a war between pantheons. And somehow, Maggott has launched a tournament featuring some of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe.
That is…a lot for one comic, even if it’s the beginning of a new arc. And while I have always appreciated Murewa Ayodele’s gift for going big on this title, especially since it features a character that should be at the center of big stories, it does feel like a lot is thrown at the reader when one plot line could have been the focus. I do love the idea of Ororo going up against the government; after all, there’s layers to unpack considering she’s a mutant, a Black woman, and an immigrant. Ayodele does lean into that, ironically revealing that the bureaucrats opposing Ororo are anything but human.
I also love that Ayodele is continuing to explore the idea of what gods are in the Marvel Universe. Everything from the Phoenix Force to the Black Winter is crackling with ancient history, and by introducing the threat of Hadad, he’s adding to that history in an entirely new way. I’ll be honest, the thought of Ororo having to fight other thunder gods is a tantalizing prospect, especially given what happened in Storm #7.
Marvel
Storm #8 features the return of Lucas Werneck to the title, who’s also joined by Mario Santoro. The duo deliver some pretty epic images, including the Silver Surfer racing across a stormy sky, the One Above All in all of its celestial glory, and a title page featuring Ororo standing on the scales of justice. There’s even a bit of humor too: Maggott’s impromptu tournament is structured so that panels represent the “Select Character” screen in a fighting game, while Reed Richards has a smirk on his face as he listens to Black Panther and Iron Man bicker about their love lives. (Adding to the humor is letterer Travis Lanham placing an arrow that reads “Happily Married. Never Divorced” over Reed’s head.)
And it all looks gorgeous, courtesy of Alex Guimares. Guimares delivers a variety of colors: the cold, gray space of a small room where Ororo is being questioned, to the lush greenery of the Storm Sanctuary, to the crackling blue/white flashes of lightning summoned by Ororo at certain periods. It’s a visual feast for the eyes that also underlines the power on display.
Storm #8 delivers a visual feast and a plethora of plot lines, as the next big storyline for the book starts to come into focus. A war between thunder gods? The wrath of the U.S. government? Maggott causing trouble? Just another day in the life for Ororo Munroe.
You must be logged in to post a comment.