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America (Collected Editions)
America, Vol. 2: Fast and Fuertona
It begins with the story you’ve been waiting for: the origin of America Chavez! But everyone’s favorite no-nonsense powerhouse soon meets her match — in the form of the deadly and exotic Exterminatrix! Can America stand against this vile villainess, backed by the full power of the ominous Midas Corporation? America gains all-new but untested abilities — and she’ll need them against the oncoming horde! But what does Exterminatrix want with Sotomayor University? With America in lockup, it’s up to Prodigy to find out — and that won’t be easy when campus queen X’Andria is working for the enemy! As the Midas Corporation reignites a decades-old danger, America’s newly discovered home comes under threat — but they’re about to learn that you don’t mess with a Fuertona. And you definitely don’t mess with a Chavez!
COLLECTING: AMERICA 7-12
COLLECTING: AMERICA 7-12
136 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2018
27 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
About the author
Gabby Rivera
46 books978 followersGabby Rivera is a Bronx-born, queer Puerto Rican author on a mission to create the wildest, most fun stories ever.
She’s the first Latina to write for Marvel Comics, penning the solo series America about America Chavez, a portal-punching queer Latina powerhouse. Rivera’s critically acclaimed debut novel Juliet Takes a Breath was called “f*cking outstanding” by Roxane Gay and was re-published in September 2019 by Penguin Random House. Currently, Gabby is the writer and creator of b.b. free, a new original comic series with BOOM! Studios. Stay tuned for her podcast joy revolution coming in 2020!
When not writing, Gabby speaks on her experiences as a queer Puerto Rican from the Bronx, an LGBTQ youth advocate, and the importance of prioritizing joy in QTPOC communities at events across the country.
Gabby makes magic on both coasts, currently residing in California. She writes for all the sweet baby queers, and her mom.
She’s the first Latina to write for Marvel Comics, penning the solo series America about America Chavez, a portal-punching queer Latina powerhouse. Rivera’s critically acclaimed debut novel Juliet Takes a Breath was called “f*cking outstanding” by Roxane Gay and was re-published in September 2019 by Penguin Random House. Currently, Gabby is the writer and creator of b.b. free, a new original comic series with BOOM! Studios. Stay tuned for her podcast joy revolution coming in 2020!
When not writing, Gabby speaks on her experiences as a queer Puerto Rican from the Bronx, an LGBTQ youth advocate, and the importance of prioritizing joy in QTPOC communities at events across the country.
Gabby makes magic on both coasts, currently residing in California. She writes for all the sweet baby queers, and her mom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 4, 2018
This book left me feeling like it was trying too hard to be on trend. It was a little incoherent in places; it felt like superhero comics for the Twitter generation. I'm probably not the target audience, though; as a 42 year old, it made me feel oooooollllld.
Still, I can't give it less than three stars, as the artwork, for the most part, was gorgeous... and I do like the character.
Still, I can't give it less than three stars, as the artwork, for the most part, was gorgeous... and I do like the character.
July 13, 2018
An incomprehensible poorly written blob of a book.
World: The art is fine, it’s the best thing in the series and it’s colourful and bright and the characters are full of personality. That being said the art is also very weak overall because the story is incomprehensible and things happen on screen that are so choppy that the art itself is also choppy and does the story no favours. I’ve read books where the art helps the writer express what he/she can’t write well but that’s not the case here the art is just as choppy and janky as the writing. I don’t even know the rules of the world, the powers and the people that inhabit it, it’s barely developed, people show up out of nowhere with no preplanning things just happen cause and that’s why this world is broken, the writer can’t write.
Story: The story is incomprehensible, it’s choppy and janky and I don’t even know what it’s trying to do and say and what is actually happening. Things happen out of nowhere and then there’s a scene jump and we are suddenly doing something else. People know things they should not, they solve problems suddenly, get into situation for no reason and dialog makes no sense at all, I feel like someone took a screwdriver and jabbed it into my brain and I’m suppose to understand why and appreciate it but I can’t. The writing is horrid and written like there is no short term or long term memory and planning what so ever, things suddenly are and it’s schizophrenic and I don’t even know what I just read, it’s like someone bash together Legos and said “here look what I made” but in reality what was made was nothing. This is a terribly written story and book I’m sorry but it’s true.
Characters: The characters are inconsistent, America is loving and kind and understanding in one and then suddenly ragey, judgey and selfish in another. I don’t know if she’s suppose to be bipolar but this is what she feels like to me. The dialog is janky and makes no sense the banter and chemistry is not there cause there is no character development we get scene to scene of things that don’t connect and are expected to feel something when readers can’t cause they can’t even understand why a character acts the way they do cause it’s so fracture.
I am sorry, I really wanted this book to be good, America is a wonderful character and we need more of characters like this for representation and diversity but when it’s written this poorly this series needs to end and thankfully it did. America deserves a better writer and this series failed her.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is fine, it’s the best thing in the series and it’s colourful and bright and the characters are full of personality. That being said the art is also very weak overall because the story is incomprehensible and things happen on screen that are so choppy that the art itself is also choppy and does the story no favours. I’ve read books where the art helps the writer express what he/she can’t write well but that’s not the case here the art is just as choppy and janky as the writing. I don’t even know the rules of the world, the powers and the people that inhabit it, it’s barely developed, people show up out of nowhere with no preplanning things just happen cause and that’s why this world is broken, the writer can’t write.
Story: The story is incomprehensible, it’s choppy and janky and I don’t even know what it’s trying to do and say and what is actually happening. Things happen out of nowhere and then there’s a scene jump and we are suddenly doing something else. People know things they should not, they solve problems suddenly, get into situation for no reason and dialog makes no sense at all, I feel like someone took a screwdriver and jabbed it into my brain and I’m suppose to understand why and appreciate it but I can’t. The writing is horrid and written like there is no short term or long term memory and planning what so ever, things suddenly are and it’s schizophrenic and I don’t even know what I just read, it’s like someone bash together Legos and said “here look what I made” but in reality what was made was nothing. This is a terribly written story and book I’m sorry but it’s true.
Characters: The characters are inconsistent, America is loving and kind and understanding in one and then suddenly ragey, judgey and selfish in another. I don’t know if she’s suppose to be bipolar but this is what she feels like to me. The dialog is janky and makes no sense the banter and chemistry is not there cause there is no character development we get scene to scene of things that don’t connect and are expected to feel something when readers can’t cause they can’t even understand why a character acts the way they do cause it’s so fracture.
I am sorry, I really wanted this book to be good, America is a wonderful character and we need more of characters like this for representation and diversity but when it’s written this poorly this series needs to end and thankfully it did. America deserves a better writer and this series failed her.
Onward to the next book!
June 5, 2018
I like this even more than the first one! I really felt like I got a better sense of the world, and I liked seeing America grow from volume 1 to 2. Wish this was ongoing.
June 29, 2020
The conclusion of America's solo run is somewhat fun, but not enough to overcome how nonsensical and illogical it is the more thought you give it. Exterminatrix overtaking the Sotomayor school for interdimensional domination is as eye-roll inducing as it sounds, with several unnecessary filler issues that made the whole thing lag, as well as a huge missed opportunity to give Prodigy and X'iandra any further character depth. America was strongest when paired with her grandmother, but then the plot quickly devolved into weird scifi/fantasy with celestial beings, sentient crystals, and a *very* silly conclusion to the "La Legion" villains.
Oh, and also, America wasn't *nearly* queer enough. No character's sexuality should be the one defining factor of who they are, of course, but it's frustrating when queer women of color are given flirty chats and not much else to work with.
Joe Quinones and Jordan Gibson do phenomenal art here with saturated colors and a very modern look. I was less a fan of how the art changed in later issues, though it's unclear what changed hands according to the credits in the Marvel Unlimited issues.
Not the worst comics I've ever read, but America deserved far better - and two medicore volumes should not have meant the end of her series. It sucks that Marvel gave her the axe, when there have been far more, say, terrible Captain America or Superman storylines, yet cancelling them is just out of the question. She's a damn great character and I hope this isn't the last of her solo adventures.
Oh, and also, America wasn't *nearly* queer enough. No character's sexuality should be the one defining factor of who they are, of course, but it's frustrating when queer women of color are given flirty chats and not much else to work with.
Joe Quinones and Jordan Gibson do phenomenal art here with saturated colors and a very modern look. I was less a fan of how the art changed in later issues, though it's unclear what changed hands according to the credits in the Marvel Unlimited issues.
Not the worst comics I've ever read, but America deserved far better - and two medicore volumes should not have meant the end of her series. It sucks that Marvel gave her the axe, when there have been far more, say, terrible Captain America or Superman storylines, yet cancelling them is just out of the question. She's a damn great character and I hope this isn't the last of her solo adventures.
June 22, 2018
So much improvement over volume one! (Which is already enjoyable, so that's saying something.) I loved getting learn more about America's past and I'm sad so see this series end.
April 4, 2024
Es triste que esta serie nunca agarró fuerza. América es un personaje impresionante.
https://www.neapoulain.com/2019/04/ha...
America Chavez es uno de mis personajes favoritos de Marvel. No sé, me gusta. Por mucho que me queje de la forma en que le construyeron una identidad latina ya desde Young Avengers, creo que tiene potencial. O lo creía. Porque todo en 12 issues, este comic me hizo perder mi fe en la humanidad repetidas veces por lo caótico que es el storytelling, la sensación de no estarme enterando de absolutamente nada. Me enoja no enterarme de que esta pasando, especialmente cuando logré entender Tsubasa en una leída (comic que mantiene, sin lugar a dudas, el puesto por la trama más extraña que he leído jamás). Me enoja que los escritores y los ilustradores no logren comunicar el punto. Y me enoja más porque le tenía mucha fe a esta serie. La empecé a leer poco después de haberme atragantado con Ms. Marvel y Civil War II y le tenía bastante fe porque creo que America tiene potencial.
Efecticamente. Tiene potencial. Que lo aprovechen es otro asunto.
Y ya está. Todo el potencial está desperdiciado en cuarenta hilos narrativos caóticos e inconexos que se distribuyen en poco más de 300 páginas de dos volúmenes. El caos aumenta al llegar hacia el final, supongo que por las prisas de acabar el arco narrativo en menos issues de las planeadas por la cancelación y eso es siquiera entendible, pero el resto no. Si CLAMP puede contar una historia en la que puedas entender el núcleo, espero eso de todo el mundo. Aquí el problema es que pasan cosas. Y ya. No hay un núcleo narrativo en ningún momento a lo largo de todo el run de Gabby Rivera. Una pena para el personaje.
Lo mejor es el arte de Joe Quiñones, a quién no conocía, pero le reconozco que hizo un muy buen trabajo con un guion un poco de mierda. Espero que en el futuro America tenga una buena serie, porque, de verdad, se la merece.
https://www.neapoulain.com/2019/04/ha...
America Chavez es uno de mis personajes favoritos de Marvel. No sé, me gusta. Por mucho que me queje de la forma en que le construyeron una identidad latina ya desde Young Avengers, creo que tiene potencial. O lo creía. Porque todo en 12 issues, este comic me hizo perder mi fe en la humanidad repetidas veces por lo caótico que es el storytelling, la sensación de no estarme enterando de absolutamente nada. Me enoja no enterarme de que esta pasando, especialmente cuando logré entender Tsubasa en una leída (comic que mantiene, sin lugar a dudas, el puesto por la trama más extraña que he leído jamás). Me enoja que los escritores y los ilustradores no logren comunicar el punto. Y me enoja más porque le tenía mucha fe a esta serie. La empecé a leer poco después de haberme atragantado con Ms. Marvel y Civil War II y le tenía bastante fe porque creo que America tiene potencial.
Efecticamente. Tiene potencial. Que lo aprovechen es otro asunto.
Y ya está. Todo el potencial está desperdiciado en cuarenta hilos narrativos caóticos e inconexos que se distribuyen en poco más de 300 páginas de dos volúmenes. El caos aumenta al llegar hacia el final, supongo que por las prisas de acabar el arco narrativo en menos issues de las planeadas por la cancelación y eso es siquiera entendible, pero el resto no. Si CLAMP puede contar una historia en la que puedas entender el núcleo, espero eso de todo el mundo. Aquí el problema es que pasan cosas. Y ya. No hay un núcleo narrativo en ningún momento a lo largo de todo el run de Gabby Rivera. Una pena para el personaje.
Lo mejor es el arte de Joe Quiñones, a quién no conocía, pero le reconozco que hizo un muy buen trabajo con un guion un poco de mierda. Espero que en el futuro America tenga una buena serie, porque, de verdad, se la merece.
May 8, 2018
'Never met a fight I couldn't win.'
All in all, I think this series achieved what it set out to achieve which was to shine a light on America's unknown backstory after she left the Utopian Parallel at age 6 and make her aware of her roots. I LOVED the idea of Berraca and Sanar, two cosmic entities creating a planet together full of women. Really, it's like Themyscira in space Marvel styles. However, the whole thing with the La Légion ended up being quite unbelievable and unrealistic.
The concurrent storyline of America having to fight the system à la a big bad corporation and Exterminatrix the 'fascist Barbie' (LOL true). Exterminatrix using her power to control the masses by turning them against each other is all well and good except it fell flat. Simply put, the stakes were never that high to begin with and it all came out of the left field. However, I loved that Prodigy, X'Andria and the rest of America's friends got to play a part in taking her down.
So while I can appreciate that America now has a backstory and the found family aspect of the series, everything about this series is much more about America and her unexplored vulnerabilities than portal-punching her way through the bad guys which was a nice change of pace. However, that's pretty much it and I'm ready for more serious and less flashy storylines for her now (especially after having read what Laura Kinney has to deal with on a weekly basis).
My favorite art in the volume was obviously Jen Bartel's and I'm so glad she got to draw space and the cosmic entities that she's known for. The rest of it also blends seamlessly well and is never jarring like it was in volume one which I appreciated.
All in all, I think this series achieved what it set out to achieve which was to shine a light on America's unknown backstory after she left the Utopian Parallel at age 6 and make her aware of her roots. I LOVED the idea of Berraca and Sanar, two cosmic entities creating a planet together full of women. Really, it's like Themyscira in space Marvel styles. However, the whole thing with the La Légion ended up being quite unbelievable and unrealistic.
The concurrent storyline of America having to fight the system à la a big bad corporation and Exterminatrix the 'fascist Barbie' (LOL true). Exterminatrix using her power to control the masses by turning them against each other is all well and good except it fell flat. Simply put, the stakes were never that high to begin with and it all came out of the left field. However, I loved that Prodigy, X'Andria and the rest of America's friends got to play a part in taking her down.
So while I can appreciate that America now has a backstory and the found family aspect of the series, everything about this series is much more about America and her unexplored vulnerabilities than portal-punching her way through the bad guys which was a nice change of pace. However, that's pretty much it and I'm ready for more serious and less flashy storylines for her now (especially after having read what Laura Kinney has to deal with on a weekly basis).
My favorite art in the volume was obviously Jen Bartel's and I'm so glad she got to draw space and the cosmic entities that she's known for. The rest of it also blends seamlessly well and is never jarring like it was in volume one which I appreciated.
March 27, 2019
Drugi vol serii jest bardziej skupiony, co przekłada się na lepsze tempo. Generalnie czyta się lepiej niz pierwsze sześć zeszytów. Kreska wróciła do ładnej, całe szczęście :D Nie da się ukryć, że to seria robiona pod nową generację fanów, wychowanych na tumblrze. To nie zarzut, tylko fakt. Seria jest polityczna, nawet jeśli w bardzo hasłowy sposób (nazywanie Americi "nielegalną"). Jest mocno osadzona w określonym kontekście kulturowym i nie wiem, na ile będzie on czytelny za kilkanaście lat. Ale teraz i tutaj? Naprawdę dobrze bawiłam się czytając kolejne części. Przesłanie jest klarowne, opowiada o rozwoju, o wsparciu i miłości, o możliwościach, o tym, że nosimy w sobie całe wszechświaty czekające na odkrycie, na zakorzenieniu w kulturze i rodzinie. Plus, babcia Ameryci ma strój, który przypomina meksykańskich zapaśników i kocham to. W ogóle sposób rysowania postaci kobiecych i niebinarnych jest cudowny. I podoba mi się callout Young Avengers, kiedy na samym końcu America stwierdza, że w tej drużynie ona i Prodigy mieli najmniej kwestii (mówi jak jest!). Disclaimer: wciąż kocham Young Avengers.
Myślę, że ta seria dostała o wiele zbyt surowe recenzje. Vol 2 to autentycznie dobry komiks, bardziej w stylu Image niż Marvela, co naprawdę szanuję. Jasne, konflikty są przesadzone i aż śmieszne, na koniec poleciało Grą Endera, ale ej, nie mam pretensji, nie oczekiwałam nic innego w tej konwencji. W każdym razie, jeśli podobało wam się Young Avengers, obczajcie solowy run Americi. To moje przesłanie dla planety Ziemia. Over and Out.
Myślę, że ta seria dostała o wiele zbyt surowe recenzje. Vol 2 to autentycznie dobry komiks, bardziej w stylu Image niż Marvela, co naprawdę szanuję. Jasne, konflikty są przesadzone i aż śmieszne, na koniec poleciało Grą Endera, ale ej, nie mam pretensji, nie oczekiwałam nic innego w tej konwencji. W każdym razie, jeśli podobało wam się Young Avengers, obczajcie solowy run Americi. To moje przesłanie dla planety Ziemia. Over and Out.
dnf
August 18, 2018America Series Ratings:
America, Vol. 1: ★★★
America, Vol. 2: Lost Interest in Series
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I read this book as part of my 2018 Library Love binge, where I read as many library books as possible to take advantage of my great local library network before I move interstate! To follow my binge reading adventure just visit my 2018 Library Love shelf! I'll also be posting about it in my monthly wrap ups on my blog
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I keep trying with Marvel and DC and it just never lives up to my expectations. I think sometimes it's my problem though, as is the case with America. I just don't think the writing style of superhero comics is for me. I don't know, it always feels disjointed and flat for me.
It's a it's me, not you, kind of review.
___
│Blog│Instagram│Twitter│Tumblr│
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America, Vol. 1: ★★★
America, Vol. 2: Lost Interest in Series
__
I read this book as part of my 2018 Library Love binge, where I read as many library books as possible to take advantage of my great local library network before I move interstate! To follow my binge reading adventure just visit my 2018 Library Love shelf! I'll also be posting about it in my monthly wrap ups on my blog
—
I keep trying with Marvel and DC and it just never lives up to my expectations. I think sometimes it's my problem though, as is the case with America. I just don't think the writing style of superhero comics is for me. I don't know, it always feels disjointed and flat for me.
It's a it's me, not you, kind of review.
___
│Blog│Instagram│Twitter│Tumblr│
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Read
September 7, 2018At its best, this is a joy. As in the first issues here, where America gets to bond with the grandmother she never knew, hearing stories of her mothers and of their world before them - especially its lesbian creation myth, which is pretty much Steven Universe minus the infuriating title character, and thus awesome. Elsewhere, it still feels a little too prone to letting the joy of affirmation overtake the story - and I know I'm very much not the target demographic here, but I find that sort of thing a bit bothersome even when I am (mentioning no names, Ian Edginton and Pat Mills). Exterminatrix in disguise as Sotomayor University's new head is brilliantly hissable, very reminiscent of Nicole Kidman in villain mode - but then almost the whole student body comes together to defeat her with community and ingenuity and yeah, it's cheering, but it just feels that bit too easy to quite land. Still, at least my reservations about whether the art style was quite right in the first collection were less of an issue here – even if that is because there are five different art teams across six issues, meaning I never quite had time to form an opinion on any of their work.
December 2, 2018
Basically nonsensical but not unreadable. I liked bits of this book and the character and the setting has potential. But so much of it was just surface coolness. The relationship between America and her grandmother worked pretty well. And I liked the university. But I'd want a better idea on what the university is about and how it relates to the wider Marvel Universe. This book was basically a multi-plane space book - which usually puts me to sleep - so better than that.
January 31, 2021
Slightly better than the 1st volume, at least there was a plot here although still somewhat flimsy.
I love the character, her origin and universe have a lot of potential, the characters' design and art were fine overall, but I found the execution lacking... which is a pity because I feel that this could have been a great story.
I love the character, her origin and universe have a lot of potential, the characters' design and art were fine overall, but I found the execution lacking... which is a pity because I feel that this could have been a great story.
January 23, 2023
This felt much more cohesive plot-wise than the first America TPB, so that’s awesome. I definitely see why America’s origin ended up being retconned later on though, because her origins here are pretty convoluted/odd to me lol. All the same, I still enjoyed this solo run for America and I’m really glad I decided to ignore the many negative reviews and read it anyway! 4 stars.
August 11, 2018
Really loved this. Whole new back story, whole new Marvel mythos. Bringing diversity and providing an icon for a new era.
Fighting fascism and punching Nazis (...but with a plan of course).
What’s not to love?
Fighting fascism and punching Nazis (...but with a plan of course).
What’s not to love?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2021
Layers upon layers upon layers of parallels between America Chavez’s fictional story and the very real experience of many queer bipoc people. I don’t want to give too much away so suffice it to say : This book is Medicine.
September 1, 2021
Beautiful art as always, and I absolutely love America Chavez! Unfortunately the last two issues felt very rushed, I feel like everything was at a constant breakneck pace and it could have benefited from some fixes to the pacing.
May 13, 2018
The story's heart is in the right place, but the plotting is just too loopy and jumbled for me. America is a genuinely great character, and I look forward to seeing her return in the future.
April 12, 2019
3 stars for the story, bumped up to 4 for freshness and for the gorgeous illustrations.
May 10, 2022
I still have no idea what just happened
May 13, 2018
Gabby Rivera does amazing words.
April 3, 2018
I read issues 8 through 12 all at once, because they were kind of confusing and too convoluted to review individually. But America is my favorite and this gets political, so 3.5, rounding up.
Issue 7: Jen Bartel's art in this is BEAUTIFUL. She's the perfect artist to have done this beginning section about the universe/planet (love the queerness, also).
"Sometimes, when their absense becomes hard to bear, I remind myself that my daughter and her wife, your mothers, exist in every particle3 of the multiverse. They are nowhere and everywhere."
Listen, I can't handle mom stuff rn, and this issue affected me as much as issue 3 did. (Glad I've quit all other social again, since I can't talk about this crap with anyone anyway.)
Issue 7: Jen Bartel's art in this is BEAUTIFUL. She's the perfect artist to have done this beginning section about the universe/planet (love the queerness, also).
"Sometimes, when their absense becomes hard to bear, I remind myself that my daughter and her wife, your mothers, exist in every particle3 of the multiverse. They are nowhere and everywhere."
Listen, I can't handle mom stuff rn, and this issue affected me as much as issue 3 did. (Glad I've quit all other social again, since I can't talk about this crap with anyone anyway.)
July 29, 2018
Read july 2018: 4.5ish stars. I appreciated everything this volume— this series— set out to do. I love America, love her backstory, and can’t wait for her future. Thank you Gabby Rivera for giving us this amazing fuertona.
Pre-read: Haven’t read this yet but have to offset the fucker who preemptively gave it one star?? Quién te crees??
Pre-read: Haven’t read this yet but have to offset the fucker who preemptively gave it one star?? Quién te crees??
September 3, 2020
I enjoyed the colorful characters created in this Marvel multiverse. America is bold, as it's the writer/creator of her story. I hope her story can be expanded even more in the future, beyond the two volumes available now.
May 15, 2018
The second volume of America is out, and even though I didn’t love the last volume I knew I had to give this one a try anywhere. America just has so much potential, and what I felt the first volume really lacked was a solid and longer term plot. I waffled a little bit on giving this one a try, when the time came, but the artwork ended up selling me (again).
I will say that volume two does in fact have a more solid plot for most of the volume, so that’s a refreshing change from the first (which really felt like a bunch of one-shots more than anything). I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement on this series, but I’ll take what I can get.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
I will say that volume two does in fact have a more solid plot for most of the volume, so that’s a refreshing change from the first (which really felt like a bunch of one-shots more than anything). I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement on this series, but I’ll take what I can get.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
February 7, 2018
So, Miss America Chavez is one of my favorite characters of the past decade--as she's starred in three of my favorite Marvel works (all of whom tend to be a bit idiosyncratic of the writer/artist team).
These include;
1.) Vengeance (by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta (East of West))
2.) Young Avengers (by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie)
3.) Ultimates^2 (by Al Ewing and Travel Foreman)
I've unfotunatley not read "A-Team". But in each team book Miss Chavez is the team badass and "heavy" and often the Defacto leader.
As such, I was extremely intrigued to see how her solo book would pan out--and it's with mixed results. This was part of Marvel's noble "diversity" initiative, which I actually enjoyed. While I don't buy a ton of book--it was a nice (but failed) try. Part of the failure was on how "blunt" and inorganic the initiative felt. I tend to like to see a few odd ducks existing at a time (i.e. the above works mentioned, Ron Wimberly on She-Hulk, etc.). Regardless this felt like a false start (especially when Joe Casey had announced plans to do a Image series loosely based off her).
I think part of it--I hope the disconnect is the writer was writing for her base, and not for me. She wrote Miss America Chavez as still a badass, but much more vulnerable than the previous story-lines. Instead of gallivanting the universe (she still does)--it focuses a bit on the college experiences and love life of a queer latinex. It also did feel like the writers first comic and as such it was more character building and less punching a previous sentient itineration of the universe in the face.
Ultimately it was more of a character piece, than plot-driven affair, which was probably the point and needed. However, books like this, I think would be better serviced as limited series, in my opinion rather than open-ended ongoings. As such the resolution with Midas/Exterminax felt rushed.
I still love the character and hope to see her further adventures.
These include;
1.) Vengeance (by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta (East of West))
2.) Young Avengers (by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie)
3.) Ultimates^2 (by Al Ewing and Travel Foreman)
I've unfotunatley not read "A-Team". But in each team book Miss Chavez is the team badass and "heavy" and often the Defacto leader.
As such, I was extremely intrigued to see how her solo book would pan out--and it's with mixed results. This was part of Marvel's noble "diversity" initiative, which I actually enjoyed. While I don't buy a ton of book--it was a nice (but failed) try. Part of the failure was on how "blunt" and inorganic the initiative felt. I tend to like to see a few odd ducks existing at a time (i.e. the above works mentioned, Ron Wimberly on She-Hulk, etc.). Regardless this felt like a false start (especially when Joe Casey had announced plans to do a Image series loosely based off her).
I think part of it--I hope the disconnect is the writer was writing for her base, and not for me. She wrote Miss America Chavez as still a badass, but much more vulnerable than the previous story-lines. Instead of gallivanting the universe (she still does)--it focuses a bit on the college experiences and love life of a queer latinex. It also did feel like the writers first comic and as such it was more character building and less punching a previous sentient itineration of the universe in the face.
Ultimately it was more of a character piece, than plot-driven affair, which was probably the point and needed. However, books like this, I think would be better serviced as limited series, in my opinion rather than open-ended ongoings. As such the resolution with Midas/Exterminax felt rushed.
I still love the character and hope to see her further adventures.
November 19, 2022
Though Gabby Rivera started to find her feet in the latter six issues of America but it was too little, too late. Some of the try-hard slang was reduced, but I still felt like America was a little off.
To start with, the villain, Exterminatrix, despite a fun character design and camp villain theatrics was way too quickly revealed and dispatched with. There could have been a couple of strong issues dealing with speaking out on campus and being shut down, trying to fight against institutional power that can't just be punched and dispatched.
I was worried that I would find the constantly changing artists - sometimes even within one issue - distracting, but it wasn't as disjointed as I thought. It helped that the colour artists kept the colours uniform, bright and saturated, just the way I like it.
Things I did like:
- the colours
- my boy Prodigy getting some respect. Prodigy is such an under-appreciated member of the Young Avengers and I love him getting to shine in his own right
- Jen Bartel's art of Planeta Fuertona and America's birth
To start with, the villain, Exterminatrix, despite a fun character design and camp villain theatrics was way too quickly revealed and dispatched with. There could have been a couple of strong issues dealing with speaking out on campus and being shut down, trying to fight against institutional power that can't just be punched and dispatched.
I was worried that I would find the constantly changing artists - sometimes even within one issue - distracting, but it wasn't as disjointed as I thought. It helped that the colour artists kept the colours uniform, bright and saturated, just the way I like it.
Things I did like:
- the colours
- my boy Prodigy getting some respect. Prodigy is such an under-appreciated member of the Young Avengers and I love him getting to shine in his own right
- Jen Bartel's art of Planeta Fuertona and America's birth
May 24, 2019
This was a story with vibrant graphics and a plotline that balanced a situation where America Chavez and her worlds are believably imperilled, to the point of sustained tenseness and explosions of desperate action, with room for some origin exploration and an emotional journey of discovery as America connects with lost family in the form of her abuela - as well as exploring the connections she has to her found family.
In terms of plot and character development this is a graphic novel that would be graded more highly than the 3 stars I have given it, however the dialogue does lack the vibrancy, sharpness and/or humour that marks some of my favourite graphic novels and this is the only reason I have not given it a 4. This can also be a subjective thing so the 3 grade is highly personal rating and to a different reader it could easily be higher. I did really like the philosophy and world building behind and am curious enough to go search for book 1.
In terms of plot and character development this is a graphic novel that would be graded more highly than the 3 stars I have given it, however the dialogue does lack the vibrancy, sharpness and/or humour that marks some of my favourite graphic novels and this is the only reason I have not given it a 4. This can also be a subjective thing so the 3 grade is highly personal rating and to a different reader it could easily be higher. I did really like the philosophy and world building behind and am curious enough to go search for book 1.
April 19, 2018
Amazing
I know this comic may confuse some readers, since Rivera used a lot of current slang and cultural references, but it was fun, action packed and filled in the gaps for America. It helps if you've read The Dandelion Insurrection, which is quite timely right now, but Google things that you don't know right off - like LeeluMultipass, which is from the movie Fifth Element. The art is a bit cartoony, but most of the Marvel comics from its time period were, too - can't escape that. Although it was canceled as part of the Marvel meltdown of buyers, I would love to see a more serious series for America in the future.
I know this comic may confuse some readers, since Rivera used a lot of current slang and cultural references, but it was fun, action packed and filled in the gaps for America. It helps if you've read The Dandelion Insurrection, which is quite timely right now, but Google things that you don't know right off - like LeeluMultipass, which is from the movie Fifth Element. The art is a bit cartoony, but most of the Marvel comics from its time period were, too - can't escape that. Although it was canceled as part of the Marvel meltdown of buyers, I would love to see a more serious series for America in the future.
July 12, 2018
These last few issues feel really rushed. I despise seeing Exterminatrix or being reminded she exists. In the letter afterward, the author says she didn't know much about America coming into the project, and it really feels like that. Things aren't consistent with her powers or history, and the whole thing with Planet Fuertona is a major shakeup for the character with lots of ramifications that should be explored, and it feels like this series wasn't prepared to give that the time it fully needed to feel like more than a plot point for the drama
But all that aside, God I love these characters, and I will read the shit out of (almost) anything David and America are in
But all that aside, God I love these characters, and I will read the shit out of (almost) anything David and America are in
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