A comiXologist recommends:
Secret Wars: Secret Love #1
by: Michael Crowe
Doctor Doom may have taken over the universe and become God to all…but life goes on. And where there is life, there is love. Even those blessed with extraordinary powers can’t escape the tangles of relationships or the burning of desire. Secret Wars: Secret Love #1, the newest title to come out of Marvel’s Battleworld event, showcases the many forms love can take and the troubles that come with it. This book contains five stand-alone stories, by a host of talented creators, featuring some of the most popular heroes in the Marvel Universe.
First up, we find out if the love between Daredevil and Karen Page can survive the end of the world in Guilty Pleasure, written and illustrated by Michel Fiffe. The art for this story is vivid and loose, capturing an indie feeling not typical of Marvel house style. It’s a nice break and fits the narrative perfectly. Next comes the cover story, Fan of A Fan written and illustrated by Felipe Smith. This story features two of the newest and most well received heroes of Marvel’s all-new initiative: Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel and Robbie Reyes aka Ghost Rider. Fans of either series are sure to love this crossover. Felipe’s art is as dynamic and colorful as ever and his narrative style is well rounded, finding room for action, romance and humor in a few short pages. So, do sparks fly between these two sweet and ultra-powerful heroes? You’ll just have to read it to find out. Our third story, Misty and Danny Forever examines the turbulence of marriage and what it takes to stay together. Jeremy Whitley spins a sweet story that shows these heroes for hire are no different than you or me. The art, by Gurihiru, channels a familiar Disney art style that adds to the familial nature of this narrative. The fourth story, Squirrel Girl Wins A Date with Thor is…just what it promises to be. Marguerite Bennett delivers a story with equal parts heart and laughter with Kris Anka’s art supporting and capitalizing on all the best scenes. The final story in this book, Happy Ant-iversary, is a quick short about the love between an ant and wasp. Written and illustrated by Katie Cook, this clever narrative features a number of charming bug puns playing off various members of the Marvel Universe.
All the stories in this title capture the various ways love can find and affect us. The stories styles, narratively and artistically couldn’t be different, yet the theme of the overall book is never lost. Here’s hoping a few of these narratives are picked up in #2 and perhaps beyond. If you loved what you read and want more content from any of these creators be sure to check out the following titles. All-New Ultimates (2014-2015) written by Michel Fiffe, Ghost Racers, written by Felipe Smith, Princeless written by Jeremy Whitley, Thor and the Warriors Four art by Gurihiru, Max Ride: First Flight by Marguerite Bennett, Uncanny X-Men (2013-2015) #23 by Kris Anka, and Gronk: A Monster’s Story Vol. 1 written by Katie Cook.
[Read Secret Wars: Secret Love #1 on comiXology]
Michael Crowe is a member of the digital assets/launch team. In his free time he enjoys reading, watching and writing science fiction and horror.