Written by Marguerite Bennett & G. Willow Wilson.
Art by Jorge Molina; Craig Yeung; Walden Wong; Laura Martin; Matt Milla; & VC’s Cory Petit.
Collection Cover Art by Jim Cheung & Laura Martin.
SUMMARY:
Released by Marvel Comics in 2015, this 112-page trade paperback compiles the original A-Force # 1-5 mini-series from that same year.
Per an opening Star Wars-like crawl, Marvel’s brief Secret Wars introduction specifies that, in this reality, the multiverse was destroyed, leaving remnants of various Earths transformed into the makeshift Battleworld. Now divided into secluded domains/kingdoms, Battleworld is under Doctor Doom’s supreme rule. Among these turfs is the idyllic island of Arcadia where Marvel’s heroines reside. Their chosen leader is She-Hulk, who is both Baroness of Arcadia and A-Force’s commander.
A seemingly routine patrol pits A-Force against a prehistoric shark-like Megalodon. America Chavez’s angry dispatching of this aquatic predator violates Battleworld law and forces She-Hulk to permanently exile her. Though comforted by a female Loki, Sister Grimm is devastated at losing her best friend.
At She-Hulk’s behest, a trio of Sub-Mariners: Namor, Namora, and Namorita investigate an underwater extradimensional portal that then vanishes. Meanwhile, Sister Grimm meets and hides a mysterious new friend – who later reveals her name as Singularity.
Overriding Medusa’s criticisms, She-Hulk insists the team continue probing these extradimensional breaches. One of them brings a Sentinel to Arcadia to battle its defenders. Due to Singularity’s powers, She-Hulk subsequently lands in a decimated New York City where she faces multiple Sentinels and three female Thors: Valkyrie, Sif, and Gamora.
She-Hulk is now convinced that a traitor exists on Arcadia and is responsible for these extradimensional intrusions. More so, she believes that Singularity is being framed for the subsequently dangerous repercussions. Following She-Hulk home to Arcadia, the three Thors ensure that one defiant A-Force member meets death.
Grieving, She-Hulk and her team at last confront A-Force’s power-hungry traitor. In retribution, the culprit disables Battleworld’s impenetrable shielding, which allows a mass invasion of dead male villains (now zombies) to attack Arcadia. Despite A-Force’s vast firepower, they are forced to mount a desperate counterattack. Still, it’s up to perhaps Arcadia’s most emotionally innocent resident to make an ultimate sacrifice.
Assuming Arcadia survives, She-Hulk must determine the futures of both A-Force and Arcadia itself.
Note: This title is also available digitally.
REVIEW:
It’s a great premise that falls far short of a potentially fun read. Between this art squad’s generally above-average visuals (there are some mediocre panels) and Marvel’s female star power, neither can salvage a nonsensical plot lacking surprises. Let’s just concede that the traitorous culprit’s identity isn’t a shocker whatsoever.
Still, seeing She-Hulk in command conveys intriguing potential. Her lead role, unfortunately, is sabotaged by a contrived storyline evidently taking a round-trip to nowhere. Case in point: exactly how She-Hulk gains insight in deducing an Arcadian traitor and, soon afterward, that culprit’s identity isn’t revealed. Co-writers Marguerite Bennett and G. Willow Wilson eventually have She-Hulk disclose one ‘gotcha’ clue later on, but, by then, it’s a few too many eyerolls late.
Among such eyerolls is why no one (not even stalwart X-Men like Dazzler, Jean Grey, or Storm) recognizes a vintage Sentinel – such continuity (or lack thereof) doesn’t make sense. Even more so is why ‘A-Force,’ in most scenes, consists of She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Jessica Drew’s Spider-Woman, Sister Grimm, Dazzler, and only a few others. Seemingly dozens of other members (essentially, all the Marvel heroines and some men: i.e. Bucky Barnes, Luke Cage, Black Bolt, Commander Steve Rogers, and a white-haired Hulk), otherwise, conveniently vanish for long stretches without explanation until needed.
This enormous plot hole alone clinches why A-Force, Volume 0 can’t muster a worthwhile storyline. Exacerbating the matter is that Marvel skimps on readers by not supplying any reprints to compensate for such mediocre storytelling. Adding a reprint of 1982’s original Avengers # 221 (where She-Hulk is first recruited in an A-Force-like plot), for instance, would have surely boosted this book’s flimsy page count towards a more respectable number.
That said, due to its flawed gimmickry, the weak A-Force, Volume 0: War Zones! should be deemed at best as a library find.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Each full-page primary cover precedes its story. The primary cover artists include Issue # 1 (Jim Cheung & Laura Martin); and then Issues # 2-5 (Jorge Molina). Make no mistake: these primary covers make for some dynamite visuals.
The cover variants consist of: Issue # 1 (artists: 1. Russell Dauterman & Matthew Wilson – full page; 2. Skottie Young – full page; 3. Jorge Molina – 1/3 page; 4. Adam Hughes – 1/3 page; & 5. Stephanie Hans – 1/3 page); Issue # 2 (artist: Kris Anka – 1/3 page); Issue # 3 (artist: Kevin Wada – 1/3 page); and Issue # 4 (artist: Toshirou Chiba – 1/3 page). The Samnee Kirby ‘monster’ variant cover for Issue # 5 isn’t included.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars
