What do you think?
Rate this book
Alters #1-5
Alters, Vol. 1
As the world struggles to accept the emergence of a new kind of human species known as alterations, or “Alters,” a young woman must navigate the path to becoming her true self, while struggling with the complications of her civilian life and the responsibilities of her newfound power.
This groundbreaking series--years in the making--begins the saga of a young woman who can only really be herself…whenever she is not herself.
This groundbreaking series--years in the making--begins the saga of a young woman who can only really be herself…whenever she is not herself.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2017
About the author
Paul Jenkins
1,307 books159 followersPaul Jenkins is a British comic book writer. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 11, 2017
3.5 stars
I'd never heard of Alters and probably would never have read this one if it didn't come in a care package from a friend. *waves* Thank you!
Ok, so I'm sort of nervous about reviewing this one because I don't know much about some of the sensitive subject matter. Bear with me if I say something stupid.
The gist is that there are people who (for whatever superhero-y reason) are mutating and getting powers - altering, if you will.
One of these people is a young transgender woman who goes by the name Chalice. She's new on the scene and still learning what she can do with her powers.
It's not totally explained, but there's this crazy (and powerful) alter who basically acts as like a terrorist - blowing things up, killing innocent people just because he can - who tries to force Chalice to work for him. Then there is also this group of good guys (also alters) who are trying to save everyone, including Chalice.
Chalice kind of blows in and screws some stuff up, and then for the rest of the book she's trying to make it right, learn from her mistake, and decide whether or not to trust the 'good guys'.
Alright. That was a pretty straightforward superhero comic storyline. And it was ok. There wasn't much new there, but it wasn't awful or anything. Of course, this is only the first volume, and with indie titles you usually have to give them time to grow because they don't have established characters, origins, or plot lines to fall back on.
Alright. I'm not sure if this is a good representation of a what a young person might go through while trying to transition or not. I honestly have no idea what that would be like, so my opinion on the subject would be meaningless but do I think it's a good thing that we're seeing more diverse heroes these days.
At any rate, Chalice is still living at home with her parents and brothers. She's dressing like a boy at home and work even though she's already started taking hormones. In the beginning of the volume, the only people who knew she was transitioning were the people in her support group, so a big part of the story is the relationship with her family, her reluctance to tell them what she's doing, and the reasons she's dragging her feet a bit.
I thought it was an interesting angle to see her changing because she now has powers, while also changing her outside to match her inside.
I don't know what normal is. In fact, I'm not sure that it actually exists. But I know that everyone (who isn't a serial killer) deserves to be treated like a human being. So, I hope characters like this one will eventually be considered...normal. No muss, no fuss. Just your everyday average trans hero.
I'd never heard of Alters and probably would never have read this one if it didn't come in a care package from a friend. *waves* Thank you!
Ok, so I'm sort of nervous about reviewing this one because I don't know much about some of the sensitive subject matter. Bear with me if I say something stupid.
The gist is that there are people who (for whatever superhero-y reason) are mutating and getting powers - altering, if you will.
One of these people is a young transgender woman who goes by the name Chalice. She's new on the scene and still learning what she can do with her powers.
It's not totally explained, but there's this crazy (and powerful) alter who basically acts as like a terrorist - blowing things up, killing innocent people just because he can - who tries to force Chalice to work for him. Then there is also this group of good guys (also alters) who are trying to save everyone, including Chalice.
Chalice kind of blows in and screws some stuff up, and then for the rest of the book she's trying to make it right, learn from her mistake, and decide whether or not to trust the 'good guys'.
Alright. That was a pretty straightforward superhero comic storyline. And it was ok. There wasn't much new there, but it wasn't awful or anything. Of course, this is only the first volume, and with indie titles you usually have to give them time to grow because they don't have established characters, origins, or plot lines to fall back on.
Alright. I'm not sure if this is a good representation of a what a young person might go through while trying to transition or not. I honestly have no idea what that would be like, so my opinion on the subject would be meaningless but do I think it's a good thing that we're seeing more diverse heroes these days.
At any rate, Chalice is still living at home with her parents and brothers. She's dressing like a boy at home and work even though she's already started taking hormones. In the beginning of the volume, the only people who knew she was transitioning were the people in her support group, so a big part of the story is the relationship with her family, her reluctance to tell them what she's doing, and the reasons she's dragging her feet a bit.
I thought it was an interesting angle to see her changing because she now has powers, while also changing her outside to match her inside.
I don't know what normal is. In fact, I'm not sure that it actually exists. But I know that everyone (who isn't a serial killer) deserves to be treated like a human being. So, I hope characters like this one will eventually be considered...normal. No muss, no fuss. Just your everyday average trans hero.
November 18, 2017
I gave this graphic novel a high rating because of how I like original the story is. Chalice, the protagonist, is a trans-woman and possessed extraordinary powers just like the other Alters or superheroes. It is unknown what is the cause of their abilities as it was not reveal in this volume.
I might check the development on the succeeding issue because I'm curious if it would get better. I liked this, but not to the extent that I would consider following the comic series.
I might check the development on the succeeding issue because I'm curious if it would get better. I liked this, but not to the extent that I would consider following the comic series.
November 25, 2017
Quite the interesting parallel. Charlie is transitioning to female while at the same time she has recently gained superpowers and become one of the Alters, basically mutants. The larger world building is reminiscent of Mark Waid's Irredeemable but quite frankly that didn't interest me nearly as much as Charlie's personal dilemma of how to tell his family and friends of the changes she was going through. She'd already started taking Estrogen so wasn't going to be able to hide the change much longer. I loved the relationship between Charlie and his brother Big Ted who suffers from CP. The moment where they reveal to each other their big secrets is fantastic. Looking forward to volume 2.
December 9, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
This is maybe more of a 3.5 but I rounded up because it's just such a great concept and really it's about time! I really loved Chalice and the parallels that were made between her transitioning as a woman and then also getting her superpowers. There are a lot of great pieces of particularly gendered dialogue where you can see how people treat her differently in her civilian identity where she still presents as a boy versus her superhero identity where she presents as a girl. While the overall plot is potentially interesting, I just feel like more could have been explained about the background of the world / how the powers work before we got off the ground with everything else. Still, it was a good time and the art was really good too, so I'll definitely be checking out the next volume.
This is maybe more of a 3.5 but I rounded up because it's just such a great concept and really it's about time! I really loved Chalice and the parallels that were made between her transitioning as a woman and then also getting her superpowers. There are a lot of great pieces of particularly gendered dialogue where you can see how people treat her differently in her civilian identity where she still presents as a boy versus her superhero identity where she presents as a girl. While the overall plot is potentially interesting, I just feel like more could have been explained about the background of the world / how the powers work before we got off the ground with everything else. Still, it was a good time and the art was really good too, so I'll definitely be checking out the next volume.
August 30, 2022
This was not a redefining of the superheo genre as I hoped it would be. The pacing felt like any DC or Marvel superhero origin story and followed a similar formula.
I liked some of the different rep that was thrown in but it wasn't enough to stay memorable with some of the amazing LGBTQ+ graphic novels out there.
This might be more appreciated by readers who have some love and nostalgia for superhero stories. It would be a great way to introduce these readers to another trans experience in a way they are comfortable and familiar with.
I liked some of the different rep that was thrown in but it wasn't enough to stay memorable with some of the amazing LGBTQ+ graphic novels out there.
This might be more appreciated by readers who have some love and nostalgia for superhero stories. It would be a great way to introduce these readers to another trans experience in a way they are comfortable and familiar with.
November 25, 2017
Alters, Volume 1
Chalice is a teenage female superhero, an Alter, in a world of Alters, persons with extraordinary powers that emerge during adolescence. Her powers, exceptionally strong even among other Alters, have only just begun to emerge. She learns to navigate them, and the world of the Alters and superheroism, at around the same time as she is first beginning to take hormones as part of her transition. In her civilian life, Chalice still presents as a male, the gender she was assigned at birth. Chalice is a transwoman.
The premise of this comic is intriguing, to say the least. Beyond the possibilities for character and theme, this is truly a groundbreaking book. This is the first comic written by a mainstream comics writer - Jenkins has written for major titles on all the major publishers - with a transgender lead character. Chalice is not the title character, perhaps unfortunately. By the title, I anticipate that the world Jenkins is trying to create here is one into which he intends to introduce many characters, of which Chalice may be only the first.
Readers will notice quickly that the premise is very similar to the world of X-Men from Marvel Comics. The illustration is also similar to something one might see in Marvel, and it improves a great deal over the course of the first five issues in this first arc. By the end, it reminded me a little of how Invincible is sometimes drawn. It isn't of the quality of mainstream superhero comics, nor of Invincible, but it is serviceable. It does its job. Between this standard superhero illustration and familiar world, the book feels like a Marvel title to me, perhaps too much so. Jenkins did write for X-Men. One wonders if this was an idea first pitched there that he just wasn't allowed to do. Or perhaps he was just seeking the freedom offered by a creator owned title. But with so many familiar details, the book actually feels surprisingly safe. Only the premise really sets it apart.
I believe this book has a really good idea. The challenges of adolescence combined with emerging superpowers is an idea that has been used for many decades. However, the added element of emerging gender identity, and dual secret identities, potentially breathes new life into what has essentially become a subgenre within the genre of superhero comics. For this reason alone, and because of its groundbreaking status, I believe this book deserves some support. I hope to see a lot more of this from the tired genre of superheroes in comics in the future. However, as the first, I'm happy to finally see it here.
Unfortunately, for all its potential, I don't think this comic ever quite becomes everything it could have become. Instead, outside of a very few pages of subplot detailing the protagonist's unique struggles as a transgender person, plus the simple fact of Chalice's existence as a Trans superhero, the story we get is very cliche, predictable, and boring. It fails in the ways that most stories with superpowers or magic do. Powers and weaknesses appear conveniently to move the plot forward. Everything is fantastic and nothing is clearly defined, therefore anything can happen, therefore tension is nearly impossible to create or maintain. This makes a bad story.
The book also suffers from feeling like a thinly veiled education comic. It frequently takes the tone of a sitcom's "very special episode". Instead of just letting the story be a good story whose main character happens to be Trans, the agenda of the writer to educate and inform weighs the whole thing down. I personally think it could have been more powerful in its message were it less preachy. Instead, it marginalized its message by making the message itself the excuse for its existence. This was worst at the beginning, and did all but disappear by the fifth and final chapter. However, as a whole it was pretty heavy, hard to miss, and only distracted and dragged down the story, undermining its own value.
I'm glad this book exists. I hope it continues, and improves, and inspires bolder choices in mainstream comics. If this premise intrigues you, offends you, or challenges you, I recommend this book. If you feel you are plenty woke without it, I doubt the very elementary ideas in this book would have much to offer you. Maybe instead you could recommend it to a young person in your life who could be encouraged or challenged by the message.
Otherwise, keep your eyes out for this continuing title. If all goes well, it might just become something really cool, even despite these faltering first steps.
Chalice is a teenage female superhero, an Alter, in a world of Alters, persons with extraordinary powers that emerge during adolescence. Her powers, exceptionally strong even among other Alters, have only just begun to emerge. She learns to navigate them, and the world of the Alters and superheroism, at around the same time as she is first beginning to take hormones as part of her transition. In her civilian life, Chalice still presents as a male, the gender she was assigned at birth. Chalice is a transwoman.
The premise of this comic is intriguing, to say the least. Beyond the possibilities for character and theme, this is truly a groundbreaking book. This is the first comic written by a mainstream comics writer - Jenkins has written for major titles on all the major publishers - with a transgender lead character. Chalice is not the title character, perhaps unfortunately. By the title, I anticipate that the world Jenkins is trying to create here is one into which he intends to introduce many characters, of which Chalice may be only the first.
Readers will notice quickly that the premise is very similar to the world of X-Men from Marvel Comics. The illustration is also similar to something one might see in Marvel, and it improves a great deal over the course of the first five issues in this first arc. By the end, it reminded me a little of how Invincible is sometimes drawn. It isn't of the quality of mainstream superhero comics, nor of Invincible, but it is serviceable. It does its job. Between this standard superhero illustration and familiar world, the book feels like a Marvel title to me, perhaps too much so. Jenkins did write for X-Men. One wonders if this was an idea first pitched there that he just wasn't allowed to do. Or perhaps he was just seeking the freedom offered by a creator owned title. But with so many familiar details, the book actually feels surprisingly safe. Only the premise really sets it apart.
I believe this book has a really good idea. The challenges of adolescence combined with emerging superpowers is an idea that has been used for many decades. However, the added element of emerging gender identity, and dual secret identities, potentially breathes new life into what has essentially become a subgenre within the genre of superhero comics. For this reason alone, and because of its groundbreaking status, I believe this book deserves some support. I hope to see a lot more of this from the tired genre of superheroes in comics in the future. However, as the first, I'm happy to finally see it here.
Unfortunately, for all its potential, I don't think this comic ever quite becomes everything it could have become. Instead, outside of a very few pages of subplot detailing the protagonist's unique struggles as a transgender person, plus the simple fact of Chalice's existence as a Trans superhero, the story we get is very cliche, predictable, and boring. It fails in the ways that most stories with superpowers or magic do. Powers and weaknesses appear conveniently to move the plot forward. Everything is fantastic and nothing is clearly defined, therefore anything can happen, therefore tension is nearly impossible to create or maintain. This makes a bad story.
The book also suffers from feeling like a thinly veiled education comic. It frequently takes the tone of a sitcom's "very special episode". Instead of just letting the story be a good story whose main character happens to be Trans, the agenda of the writer to educate and inform weighs the whole thing down. I personally think it could have been more powerful in its message were it less preachy. Instead, it marginalized its message by making the message itself the excuse for its existence. This was worst at the beginning, and did all but disappear by the fifth and final chapter. However, as a whole it was pretty heavy, hard to miss, and only distracted and dragged down the story, undermining its own value.
I'm glad this book exists. I hope it continues, and improves, and inspires bolder choices in mainstream comics. If this premise intrigues you, offends you, or challenges you, I recommend this book. If you feel you are plenty woke without it, I doubt the very elementary ideas in this book would have much to offer you. Maybe instead you could recommend it to a young person in your life who could be encouraged or challenged by the message.
Otherwise, keep your eyes out for this continuing title. If all goes well, it might just become something really cool, even despite these faltering first steps.
August 24, 2018
Kind of like X-men, but with 100% more LGBT. I also like how getting powers doesn't automatically fix anyone's problems, like having a disability or being born in the wrong body. You still have all your same issues to deal with as before, plus some kind of super power. Also a trans-chick punches a dude-bro into a cactus. Good stuff.
May 10, 2017
If you want to see a level of progression in terms of what superheroes should represent in our day and age, you could always read stories that show an optimistic light, such as G. Willow Wilson’s current run of Ms. Marvel. Fortunately, under the publication of indie comics publisher AfterShock, Alters by Paul Jenkins and Leila Leiz explores subject matters that uniquely fit into the superhero genre.
Please click here for my full review.
Please click here for my full review.
April 12, 2018
I love the idea behind it. A transgender superhero. But the story was super goofy. You just know in the next volume the kid in the wheelchair with cerebral palsy is suddenly going to transform and team up with a blind Muslim lesbian or something silly like that.
January 27, 2022
This is a tough book to review. It's an average quality superhero tale that focuses on a trans character, and it's written by a cis-white guy. It could be awful but it's not. Jenkins addresses who he worked with to get the proper tones in his afterword, and I think he ended up doing a really good job portraying a realistic trans superhero.
I also believe his overall concept, a world where many of the people getting superpowers can't really control them but a select few, like Chalice (the protagonist) and Matter Man (the antagonist), are ridiculously overpowered near gods.
I liked the family angle, where you have a conservative family with a disabled son and, unbeknownst to them, a trans daughter. The mother seems very open minded. The father has a drunk problematic rant about alters in the middle of the story but later shows a progressive view of a new alters spokesperson.
There is a lot I liked about this book. So why just three stars instead of four or five?
It was mostly a rote beginning of a superhero universe that happens to include a trans character, and will probably also feature a disabled superhero. Every time the stakes seemed high the villain was easily thwarted or defeated. There is no period of adjustment for the protagonist to adapt to their powers. I never questioned any character's actions or motivations because they were obviously about to do a thing that every character in every average superhero book does. It was a completely predictable superhero story at every turn.
If it were ridiculously wholesome, I think that would be fine. You could get away with not doing anything shocking or unexpected. But there are moments where this book tries to be edgy, and they fall flat. Never problematically. Never in a way that I'm disappointed with Jenkin's writing. They just didn't engage me.
I liked this enough that I"m going to read volume two but I didn't enjoy it enough that I know who I would recommend it to. Sure, if you're looking for more trans representation in comics, this is a decent story with a trans protagonist. And while the author isn't trans, some members of the creative team are. It never felt exploity or out of touch. It just wasn't as great or intriguing as I'd hope a trans superhero comic would be.
I also believe his overall concept, a world where many of the people getting superpowers can't really control them but a select few, like Chalice (the protagonist) and Matter Man (the antagonist), are ridiculously overpowered near gods.
I liked the family angle, where you have a conservative family with a disabled son and, unbeknownst to them, a trans daughter. The mother seems very open minded. The father has a drunk problematic rant about alters in the middle of the story but later shows a progressive view of a new alters spokesperson.
There is a lot I liked about this book. So why just three stars instead of four or five?
It was mostly a rote beginning of a superhero universe that happens to include a trans character, and will probably also feature a disabled superhero. Every time the stakes seemed high the villain was easily thwarted or defeated. There is no period of adjustment for the protagonist to adapt to their powers. I never questioned any character's actions or motivations because they were obviously about to do a thing that every character in every average superhero book does. It was a completely predictable superhero story at every turn.
If it were ridiculously wholesome, I think that would be fine. You could get away with not doing anything shocking or unexpected. But there are moments where this book tries to be edgy, and they fall flat. Never problematically. Never in a way that I'm disappointed with Jenkin's writing. They just didn't engage me.
I liked this enough that I"m going to read volume two but I didn't enjoy it enough that I know who I would recommend it to. Sure, if you're looking for more trans representation in comics, this is a decent story with a trans protagonist. And while the author isn't trans, some members of the creative team are. It never felt exploity or out of touch. It just wasn't as great or intriguing as I'd hope a trans superhero comic would be.
December 14, 2019
It only took me half the story to figure out what the theme is: the superpowered individuals are a parallel for the transgender movement. It's to encourage them to be strong and adopt their preferred lifestyle with no fear of the consequences. Too bad it advocates invasive therapy and surgery. I mean, if that's your thing, fine. I barely support tattoos, let alone hormone therapy or cosmetic surgery. I suppose it does take courage to alter you body so dramatically. Hence the comic's name.
Charlie is a superpowered individual called an Alter. In a world were new Alters are attacked by a feared maniac and terrorist like Matter Man, it's dangerous to go at it alone. Octavian runs the organization named Gateway Army that challenges Matter Man, but isn't strong enough to face him directly. Oh, and Charlie is transgender, just going thrugh the hormone treatment. He hasn't told his family about it yet. I wonder how his personal life will affect the story. I sure hope it's not just a frilly and useless detail to gratuitously confuse me with proper pronoun use.
Charlie is a superpowered individual called an Alter. In a world were new Alters are attacked by a feared maniac and terrorist like Matter Man, it's dangerous to go at it alone. Octavian runs the organization named Gateway Army that challenges Matter Man, but isn't strong enough to face him directly. Oh, and Charlie is transgender, just going thrugh the hormone treatment. He hasn't told his family about it yet. I wonder how his personal life will affect the story. I sure hope it's not just a frilly and useless detail to gratuitously confuse me with proper pronoun use.
June 17, 2018
I struggled with the disco-ball-esque pacing in this but otherwise really enjoyed this complete-arc of a story telling us the origins of the trans superhero: Chalice. It's a world very similar to ours. Except the terrorist du-jour is an "Alteration" or; as they call them more frequently, an "Alter". Matter Man seeks to add any newly powered up Alter to his gang and oh yeah, also wants to destroy the world. Chalice is a trans woman who has not yet come out to her family, who loves baseball and her family (mother, father, younger brother, and older brother with cerebral palsy), and who finds out she's also an Alter who can see it as new Alters are coming into their powers. It covers a lot of ground in this arc but it doesn't feel like "A book about coming out; and also there's super powers". Instead; it nicely reads like "A super hero book where, about damn time, the lead hero is trans". So it balanced really well between being just a fun action comic without hiding OR over-emphasizing the issues Chalice is dealing with as a transitioning trans woman. Highly recommend.
August 31, 2018
some writing around trans terminology was clunky - however, the writer (as he states in the editorial) has 6+ sensitivity readers per issue so i am not bothered. also, i appreciated that disabilities are not erased after one gains superpowers.
on to the story.... this comic was super fun!!!! it's similar to xmen in world building. i found charlie to be a well written character that i got heavily invested in immediately. less so with the supporting cast, but that changed through the volume. i'm excited for arc two!
on to the story.... this comic was super fun!!!! it's similar to xmen in world building. i found charlie to be a well written character that i got heavily invested in immediately. less so with the supporting cast, but that changed through the volume. i'm excited for arc two!
June 13, 2018
Maybe more like 3.5 stars. Solid superhero book with a good heart. This series features transgender and physically challenged superheroes in lead roles. A refreshing change and an interesting, if generally familiar, setting; a world of emerging “alters,” humans gifted with strange and unique powers, a bit like Marvel comics mutants, or the characters from the TV series Heroes. Overall an enjoyable book, and like I said, one I can strongly appreciate for it’s efforts towards inclusiveness.
October 26, 2018
Wow, growing into your super powers in a world that hates and fears "alterations" is difficult enough. Transitioning into your true self as a woman who just happened to be born with XY genes at the same time? Jeepers.
This is a beautiful story that how difficult is is to be your true self, in all of the ways.
This is a beautiful story that how difficult is is to be your true self, in all of the ways.
December 30, 2018
Let's say 3,5. I love the concept and it looks beautiful, but the story is a bit thin and hard to follow
August 26, 2017
I rarely get a chance to see a Trans superhero narrative. Superhero narratives tend to be dominated by cis-gender, straight, able-bodied, white men, and they tend to disregard queer or other Othered identities. There are some really powerful realist Trans comics out there, but I also enjoy some fun, escapist Trans stories. I was extremely excited to finally encounter the Alters series, a series whose focus is on a Trans woman named Chalice who has grown up in a household with a dominant father and only male-identified siblings. She has been keeping it a secret that she has been taking estrogen and is undergoing two simultaneous transitions, one of which is into the most powerful superhero her world has known thus far.
Alters plays with the resonances between Trans identity and superhero identities, exploring the idea of change and the interrelated narrative of secrecy. Chalice lives in a world that doesn’t accept Trans people, but also doesn’t accept “Alters”, groups of people that spontaneously develop superheroic powers. There is discrimination against both groups, and Chalice has to hide her identity as an Alter at the same time as her family has made it unsafe for her to come out as Trans. Superhero identity and passing narrative tie together in complex ways in this narrative, highlighting the classic superhero divide between superhero identity and civilian identity. This duality in Chalice is expressed on the level of her superpowers as well, with the ability to split herself in two in order to teleport.
Chalice’s arch nemesis is a constellation of toxic masculinity traits, treating her as though she is lesser because she is a woman, threatened by and threatening any identity that defies his ideologies of normativity (even though he, himself, is an Alter), and engaging in casual acts of violence to support the maintenance of his own power. The only female on Matter Man’s team of villains is a girl who literally has no mouth, a symbolic representation of the silencing of women.
Alters doesn’t focus exclusively on Chalice’s dual role as an Altar and someone subject to social ostracism, the comic also focusses on Chalice’s brother, who has had to keep his own identity as an Alter secret from his family. Teddy is a self-described cripple who has the power to move things with his mind. This is a problematic, and all-too-common trope of disability in comics, having a superpower that partially negates the disability in the first place. Teddy isn’t able to move objects with his own body, but is able to move them through his superpower. Teddy, like Chalice, is in a position of being part of two different oppressed groups, and, like Chalice, Teddy has to deal with a family that wants normalcy above anything else, and has a narrow definition of normalcy.
Alters is a comic about the threat that normalcy poses, the allure that it exerts upon us and the damage it does to those of us who don’t fit within its narrow confines. As much as this is a battle between superheroes and supervillains, it is also a battle between normalcy and those that it Others.
January 8, 2019
This is not the first trans superhero story I've read (see Dreadnought), so it doesn't feel entirely original, but it was enjoyable. And I liked that Charlie's powers didn't magically give her the body that she wants (again, see Dreadnought).
I didn't love the art, but I liked the story. I could read the next volume, but this one is a self-contained story arc.
I didn't love the art, but I liked the story. I could read the next volume, but this one is a self-contained story arc.
September 5, 2017
Wonderfully imaginative. Important.
December 28, 2017
I really wanted to like this comic. I'd never heard of it before, and I love finding little queer gems to sink my teeth into. But this one was just...painfully average.
In a world where it's basically the X-Men (I'm sorry, "Alters", but you could swap out almost every character with a Marvel Mutant and be in the same story), Charlie is Chalice - a trans woman who's discovered her own reality-warping powers and is trying to become a superhero. The problem is that another alter - Matter Man - has been terrorizing the world and demanding that all Alters either submit to him, or risk them and their families being murdered by him and his cronies.
The comic is poised to say interesting things about gender and identity and the masks one wears, but never seems to commit. It's weirdly paradoxical - it shines a huge light on the protagonist being trans, but never enough to make the character feel real. In fact, none of the characters felt that real and I completely failed to connect to them.
There are also a lot of weird and concerning creative choices. Matter Man is your standard queer-coded villain from soooo many other stories. I thought it was an interesting choice at first, but as I went on I felt like it wasn't meant to symbolize anything and was just sort of there. Also, Chalice's brother has Cerebral Palsy, and I do have to question how some of that stuff is handled. Terms like cr*p and sp*s are thrown around easily, and do the creators really have the authority to use them? Not to mention Chalice chooses not to come out yet because her parents are still dealing with Ted being "stricken" by it. Huh? I'm sure others ave pointed out that CP doesn't just happen; it's from birth. Not to mention we need to stop pitting disability issues and queer issues against each other. This review started as three stars, but reflecting on this (I'm sure accidental, but still) ablism brought it down to two.
I do respect the creators for what they're trying to do. Jenkins spends a lot of time ensuring us that he's not pulling the story out of no where; he has gone to other trans creators to ensure everything is presented respectfully. And I truly believe that he highlights these continuously not as any kind of posturing, but because he really wants to reassure trans readers that they are being represented. I don't have a squad of trans women to back me up in this review. I like to say that I know enough to know that I don't know much about these things; still, as a story I feel like it was so milquetoaste and boring that it's hard to see anyone being represented.
Ultimately I'd like to see Chalice's story continued. Maybe from another creator, maybe from Jenkins again - failings aside, I'm sure he means well and can learn. But this first outing was lacking the nuance and the simple entertainment value that I want to see from a comic. If you want good trans rep in comics, go to Kim & Kim or Lumberjanes. Chalice and Alters as a whole is still, in my opinion, a work in progress.
In a world where it's basically the X-Men (I'm sorry, "Alters", but you could swap out almost every character with a Marvel Mutant and be in the same story), Charlie is Chalice - a trans woman who's discovered her own reality-warping powers and is trying to become a superhero. The problem is that another alter - Matter Man - has been terrorizing the world and demanding that all Alters either submit to him, or risk them and their families being murdered by him and his cronies.
The comic is poised to say interesting things about gender and identity and the masks one wears, but never seems to commit. It's weirdly paradoxical - it shines a huge light on the protagonist being trans, but never enough to make the character feel real. In fact, none of the characters felt that real and I completely failed to connect to them.
There are also a lot of weird and concerning creative choices. Matter Man is your standard queer-coded villain from soooo many other stories. I thought it was an interesting choice at first, but as I went on I felt like it wasn't meant to symbolize anything and was just sort of there. Also, Chalice's brother has Cerebral Palsy, and I do have to question how some of that stuff is handled. Terms like cr*p and sp*s are thrown around easily, and do the creators really have the authority to use them? Not to mention Chalice chooses not to come out yet because her parents are still dealing with Ted being "stricken" by it. Huh? I'm sure others ave pointed out that CP doesn't just happen; it's from birth. Not to mention we need to stop pitting disability issues and queer issues against each other. This review started as three stars, but reflecting on this (I'm sure accidental, but still) ablism brought it down to two.
I do respect the creators for what they're trying to do. Jenkins spends a lot of time ensuring us that he's not pulling the story out of no where; he has gone to other trans creators to ensure everything is presented respectfully. And I truly believe that he highlights these continuously not as any kind of posturing, but because he really wants to reassure trans readers that they are being represented. I don't have a squad of trans women to back me up in this review. I like to say that I know enough to know that I don't know much about these things; still, as a story I feel like it was so milquetoaste and boring that it's hard to see anyone being represented.
Ultimately I'd like to see Chalice's story continued. Maybe from another creator, maybe from Jenkins again - failings aside, I'm sure he means well and can learn. But this first outing was lacking the nuance and the simple entertainment value that I want to see from a comic. If you want good trans rep in comics, go to Kim & Kim or Lumberjanes. Chalice and Alters as a whole is still, in my opinion, a work in progress.
December 18, 2017
Goodreads Synopsis:
As the world struggles to accept the emergence of a new kind of human species known as alterations, or “Alters,” a young woman must navigate the path to becoming her true self, while struggling with the complications of her civilian life and the responsibilities of her newfound power.
This groundbreaking series--years in the making--begins the saga of a young woman who can only really be herself…whenever she is not herself.
My Review:
I received a copy of this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly the description really is what made me want to read this book. I looked at it a few times before I downloaded it, because I was unsure if I would like it or not. It begins with the main character, writing to her diary about who and what she is, an Alter. That means basically they have abilities and powers that regular people don't, and most hid themselves until someone stepped up and showed the world what he could do. Basically people who'd undergone altercations started to get power hungry and pretty much created a lot of disasters. I think the art fits well with the story.
The main character, Chalice, can fly and project theoretical sub-atomic particles, whatever that means. She basically has three lives, two of which are spent being a boy and living at home with two brothers and a mother and father. Being an Alter is hard enough without also being transgender and living with someone with Cerebral Palsy. The story basically takes Chalice through daily life with a little adventure, working through the beginnings of transitioning and telling the family, and then there's Matter Man. He's taken over and sending out broadcasts about unregistered Alter's and executing them live on the air. He needs to be stopped.
Overall I thought that although it reminded me a lot of X-Men, that wasn't a bad thing. The story was really inclusive, and up to date. I liked getting to know the characters and the world around them. Definitely check out this book if you get a chance.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Alters-Vol-1-Pa...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
As the world struggles to accept the emergence of a new kind of human species known as alterations, or “Alters,” a young woman must navigate the path to becoming her true self, while struggling with the complications of her civilian life and the responsibilities of her newfound power.
This groundbreaking series--years in the making--begins the saga of a young woman who can only really be herself…whenever she is not herself.
My Review:
I received a copy of this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly the description really is what made me want to read this book. I looked at it a few times before I downloaded it, because I was unsure if I would like it or not. It begins with the main character, writing to her diary about who and what she is, an Alter. That means basically they have abilities and powers that regular people don't, and most hid themselves until someone stepped up and showed the world what he could do. Basically people who'd undergone altercations started to get power hungry and pretty much created a lot of disasters. I think the art fits well with the story.
The main character, Chalice, can fly and project theoretical sub-atomic particles, whatever that means. She basically has three lives, two of which are spent being a boy and living at home with two brothers and a mother and father. Being an Alter is hard enough without also being transgender and living with someone with Cerebral Palsy. The story basically takes Chalice through daily life with a little adventure, working through the beginnings of transitioning and telling the family, and then there's Matter Man. He's taken over and sending out broadcasts about unregistered Alter's and executing them live on the air. He needs to be stopped.
Overall I thought that although it reminded me a lot of X-Men, that wasn't a bad thing. The story was really inclusive, and up to date. I liked getting to know the characters and the world around them. Definitely check out this book if you get a chance.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Alters-Vol-1-Pa...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
December 8, 2018
A young person who is faced with revealing to her non-welcoming parents the fact that she's transitioning into a woman gets a further complication--she's also a Mutant--er, Alter. Alters are feared because one of them is so powerful he bullies the entire world. There's a small resistance factor, but where does our main alter, Chalice, fit in, either within the world of superpowers or her own family?
It's a neat concept--heroes aren't worshipped, problems don't get solved, and hey, a protagonist who has a very real problem with their family, not the contrived "must keep my life secret" crap that clones Peter Parker, either.
The problem is it's Paul Jenkins at the helm, and while he's not bad here, I can't help but wish someone else had been the writer, who could handle the family drama with more subtlety and who doesn't find a convenient solution to the villain, either. He does okay here, and takes pains to make the trans storyline a strong one. But that means shunting the heroics into convenienceville, and that brings the overall storyline down.
Leila Leiz and Tamra Bonvillain do a good job with the art--Tamra's colors are bright and bold, as usual, and the facial work by Leiz is pretty good. But the panels suffer from too many close-ups and there's no room for the characters to breath between tight panels and too many words.
Overall, I liked this story, enough to get Vol 2 from ILL, but it's not a must-read.
It's a neat concept--heroes aren't worshipped, problems don't get solved, and hey, a protagonist who has a very real problem with their family, not the contrived "must keep my life secret" crap that clones Peter Parker, either.
The problem is it's Paul Jenkins at the helm, and while he's not bad here, I can't help but wish someone else had been the writer, who could handle the family drama with more subtlety and who doesn't find a convenient solution to the villain, either. He does okay here, and takes pains to make the trans storyline a strong one. But that means shunting the heroics into convenienceville, and that brings the overall storyline down.
Leila Leiz and Tamra Bonvillain do a good job with the art--Tamra's colors are bright and bold, as usual, and the facial work by Leiz is pretty good. But the panels suffer from too many close-ups and there's no room for the characters to breath between tight panels and too many words.
Overall, I liked this story, enough to get Vol 2 from ILL, but it's not a must-read.
October 25, 2020
(Esta es mi opinion sobre la serie completa, o sea, del #1 al #10)
Muchas veces veo libros que forzan una agenda de extrema izquierda en la gente, principalmente por libros de Marvel y más reciente de DC. El hecho de que la premisa de este libro es de una superheroína transgénero despertó me escepticismo, pero que Paul Jenkins lo haya escrito me hizo darle una oportunidad.
Y no me arrepiento. Déjale a Jenkins el trabajo de hacer cualquier premisa una historia con muchas capas que esconden muchos temas que nos preocupan a todos. Todo sobre vivir como quien en realidad eres y el concepto del superhéroe desde su sentido más básico y elemental.
El trabajo visual del resto del equipo es muy detallado. El ritmo de las secuencias fue de regular a excelente en cada capítulo. Principalmente el trabajo de colores fue más me llamó. Todo fue tomado en serio con el uso de luces y sombras y la representación de cómo los poderes se manifestaban hacia un ligero enlace de lo realista y lo mágico que espero de los cómics. Los diseños de los personajes fueron todos únicos, pero faltó un poco de exageración en las proporciones anatómicas. Lo cual es algo que siempre busco en un relato en este género literario.
La historia me dejó extremadamente satisfecho por lo que leí, y emocionado por lo que posiblemente venga más adelante.
Muchas veces veo libros que forzan una agenda de extrema izquierda en la gente, principalmente por libros de Marvel y más reciente de DC. El hecho de que la premisa de este libro es de una superheroína transgénero despertó me escepticismo, pero que Paul Jenkins lo haya escrito me hizo darle una oportunidad.
Y no me arrepiento. Déjale a Jenkins el trabajo de hacer cualquier premisa una historia con muchas capas que esconden muchos temas que nos preocupan a todos. Todo sobre vivir como quien en realidad eres y el concepto del superhéroe desde su sentido más básico y elemental.
El trabajo visual del resto del equipo es muy detallado. El ritmo de las secuencias fue de regular a excelente en cada capítulo. Principalmente el trabajo de colores fue más me llamó. Todo fue tomado en serio con el uso de luces y sombras y la representación de cómo los poderes se manifestaban hacia un ligero enlace de lo realista y lo mágico que espero de los cómics. Los diseños de los personajes fueron todos únicos, pero faltó un poco de exageración en las proporciones anatómicas. Lo cual es algo que siempre busco en un relato en este género literario.
La historia me dejó extremadamente satisfecho por lo que leí, y emocionado por lo que posiblemente venga más adelante.
July 25, 2018
Chalice is the badass superhero I needed in my life! She is witty, psychologically complex, and powerful without being boringly overpowered (I'm looking at you, Superman).
Alters reminds me of the X-men universe with the rising tensions between mutated individuals with powers (alters) and non-mutated individuals. The premise is intriguing, and equal parts familiar and unique. Matter Man seems a little ridiculously evil at this point, but his flatness as a character by no means ruins the rest of the comic.
Unlike many superhero comics out there, Alters has the added bonus of having a main character, Charlie/Chalice, who is trans, without boiling down her story to just being about her gender. I was also pleased to see that her brother Teddy, who has cerebral palsy, is given a story that so far includes his disability without falling into the trap of stereotyping or flattening his character. Also, I am so hecking happy to see that his disability is not part of his superpower (that trope is overdone and I think we can all collectively agree that it should be put in a box and tossed into the deepest ocean).
In short, Alters is awesome so far. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Alters reminds me of the X-men universe with the rising tensions between mutated individuals with powers (alters) and non-mutated individuals. The premise is intriguing, and equal parts familiar and unique. Matter Man seems a little ridiculously evil at this point, but his flatness as a character by no means ruins the rest of the comic.
Unlike many superhero comics out there, Alters has the added bonus of having a main character, Charlie/Chalice, who is trans, without boiling down her story to just being about her gender. I was also pleased to see that her brother Teddy, who has cerebral palsy, is given a story that so far includes his disability without falling into the trap of stereotyping or flattening his character. Also, I am so hecking happy to see that his disability is not part of his superpower (that trope is overdone and I think we can all collectively agree that it should be put in a box and tossed into the deepest ocean).
In short, Alters is awesome so far. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
July 24, 2020
Paul Jenkins is a mixed-bag. I'm a huge fan of his Revelations and Sentry comics. He generally does a great job with single-issues and one shots, but I'm not a fan of his longer runs (Hellblazer non-withstanding).
In addition to this, I don't suspect he's the best person to write this subject matter. The book is kind of a standard superhero fare, other than a person dealing with transitioning AND being a superhero. (INSERT FORCED SECRET IDENTITY METAPHOR). Jenkins isn't one know for his subtlety.
I know this is well-intentioned, but also pretty sure it wouldn't be taken well by many readers. It's the double-edge sword of wanting diversity, but not necessarily wanting it to come off possibly as pandering (see Marvel NOW! Which I honestly really enjoyed the intent, but found the execution a little lacking--I already suspend disbelief enough, but you expect me to believe Cap, Thor, Iron Man AND Hulk are all out at the same time).
Sure, it's going to get more viewers than an original character such as with Alters. But also, you should probably have transgender creators as the front-talent.
In addition to this, I don't suspect he's the best person to write this subject matter. The book is kind of a standard superhero fare, other than a person dealing with transitioning AND being a superhero. (INSERT FORCED SECRET IDENTITY METAPHOR). Jenkins isn't one know for his subtlety.
I know this is well-intentioned, but also pretty sure it wouldn't be taken well by many readers. It's the double-edge sword of wanting diversity, but not necessarily wanting it to come off possibly as pandering (see Marvel NOW! Which I honestly really enjoyed the intent, but found the execution a little lacking--I already suspend disbelief enough, but you expect me to believe Cap, Thor, Iron Man AND Hulk are all out at the same time).
Sure, it's going to get more viewers than an original character such as with Alters. But also, you should probably have transgender creators as the front-talent.
January 10, 2019
This book was phenomenal! I had no idea what it was about but grabbed it because I like dthe artwork. Having an amazing kickass trans superhero trying to figure out her new role in life is a privilege to see. While the author is cisgendered he speaks about the research and the counsel he keeps to make sure he is honoring Chalice's story and I think he does a damn fine job of it!
The editorials at the back are also informative and wonderful! Jenkins does this great thing where he talks about something significant he learned during the creation of that issue and I really appreciate them!!
Every month, I'm going to sign off by describing something significant I have learned during the research or writing of ALTERS. One of the most important things I've learned so far is the specific damage done when we mis-gender someone who has gone to the trouble of telling us who they really are. Mis-gendering is more than just rude, it can also be dangerous: it suggests that the person in question is merely "dressing up," and it can lead to direct attacks, both emotional and physical."
The editorials at the back are also informative and wonderful! Jenkins does this great thing where he talks about something significant he learned during the creation of that issue and I really appreciate them!!
Every month, I'm going to sign off by describing something significant I have learned during the research or writing of ALTERS. One of the most important things I've learned so far is the specific damage done when we mis-gender someone who has gone to the trouble of telling us who they really are. Mis-gendering is more than just rude, it can also be dangerous: it suggests that the person in question is merely "dressing up," and it can lead to direct attacks, both emotional and physical."
Want to Read
November 14, 2017I'm recommending Anne's review because she helped convince me of the merits of Paul Jenkins' Alters. I find myself drawn inevitably towards this comic because the storyline, circumstances and Hot Topic Issues are unique (especially in comics,) and they need an open forum. We, as a collective society, tend to sweep transgender beneath the surface, as if said individuals don't exist; as if their rights don't matter; as if they're somehow inferior to us. If we ever wish to have equality, I think we need to talk about these things as civil human beings.
Thank you, Anne.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 31, 2018
Such a clever idea for a superhero! While transitioning from male to female, Charlie gains superhero powers, and takes the name Chalice. Narrated as part of a diary, Charlie/Chalice struggles with telling their family that they are transgender, and also with finding a place with the others like them, the Alters. I love that Charlie's difficult time of life should be endowed with superhero action, and that the superhero family of Alters is a welcoming group. Family life is dramatic, but we don't actually know if they will accept Charlie because the realism gets busted wide open when the Alters and Chalice fight the bad guys. Dramatic comic art in deep colors is the perfect vehicle for this exciting coming of age/LGBTQ/superhero story.
September 2, 2024
Quick easy read. Pretty standard comic book with fun tropes and a character exploring her trans-identify in conjunction with her super powers. There isn't any new super-hero things. This is a great example of "people be. trans," where the trans-identiy is part of the story but not the whole story. People be...kind of thinking is stories is where an identity like gayness or transness or some other marginalized identity is part of the story but the writers does not harp on it or make it that persons entire identity. In this case Chalice is also very concerned with defeating the villain, and working with a new team of superheros.
There are tons of interviews at the end where the author, who is cis-white dude, explains all his research.
There are tons of interviews at the end where the author, who is cis-white dude, explains all his research.
January 2, 2018
Not my style. I don't mind superhero comics if they have significant personal involvement like "Powers" from Bendis and Oeming. But it the superheros just fight each other, I'm not really interested.There was potential in a superhero who is undergoing a sex change, and there was a little about inner feelings regarding this sex change as well as family conflicts around it. But overall, the characters were one dimensional. And when confrontations began and the two main foes confronted each other and just taunted each other and didn't even fight, I lost interest. And of course, it ended with one superhero beating up another. So this one is finished for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews