Marvel goes outside of the box, for adventures that are at the very least, odd…
Written by Sam Humphries
Illustrated by Mike Del Mundo• From the pages of SECRET WARS, now in the ALL-NEW MARVEL U!
• Imagine, being trapped in a world of sword and sorcery.
• With no sword and sorcery experience to speak of.
• This is the story of BECCA, a girl stuck in WEIRDWORLD, with only one mission: get home alive!
• Marvel’s own twisted fantasy realm comes alive before your eyes! Barbarians! Wizards! And tricked out sports cars!
I will be up front, I have not read any of “Secret Wars” or any of the tie-ins. I know that sounds blasphemous, but I am not a huge fan of event series. At the risk of sounding bitter, I think Marvel & DC rely way too much on them to move units. To that point, there are many who do enjoy these crossovers and that is perfectly fine. For me, I like to explore it later, regardless of how many changes take effect. While this does put me at a disadvantage most times, I do get lucky every once and a while.
“Weirdworld” begins with Becca Rodriquez, a girl torn from earth and thrown right into the middle of Weirdworld. Becca is already having a not so good day, but this is making matters even worse. While she isn’t sure where she is exactly, Becca is determined to get home. Along her journey she meets Goleta, a bad-ass wizard slayer who is both ferocious and hilarious. The two bond quickly, with Goleta agreeing to take Becca on as a squire, for now. Meanwhile, the two are being observed by Morgan Le Fay, who has a vested interest in the outcome of their journey.
As noted above, this was a book I got lucky with. The only connective tissue between this and the previous “Weirdworld” is Mike Del Mundo’s art. Sam Humphries’ decision to add a new character in the mix is a very interesting choice. For one, he seems to understand that readers might be coming to the book without reading the previous volume. In my case, I did do a little research prior and the tone is very different. Humphries takes the classic fish-out-of-water trope to get inside of Becca’s head. Ironically, Becca is already have a “weird” moment prior to her arrival in Weirdworld. Without spoiling, the reason she wants to get home is both tragic and heartwarming. Giving Becca a deep rooted reason for her journey is exactly what this book needed to invest my interest in her. Humphries also doesn’t play the heavy hand with the doom & gloom, he keeps things playful. Granted, this has been done before, but it works for “Weirdworld” for the same reason Spider-Man works, it feels authentic. Becca’s human nature shines through, especially relieved when her phone isn’t broken after a fall. She however, quickly forgets this when she sees Earth in the foreground of her sight. Little moments like that add to her personality and make Becca instantly likable.
The MVP of “Weirdworld” is Mike Del Mundo. As mentioned earlier, he had already been in this area before with the previous volume. While he is prominently known for his cover work, Del Mudo’s style is a lot like reading a fantasy book. When Becca falls deeper into Weirdworld, Del Mundo draws things indicative of Alice in Wonderland. There are fine details like eyes in the shadows, pastel colors lighting the way and odd objects filling up the panels. This trend continues as Becca & Goleta make their way further into Weirdworld, allowing Del Mundo to create fun distractions. Another great moment is during the introduction of Morgan Le Fay. Del Mundo’s page prior to that add a little bit of slapstick comedy to things. The next page is right out of the evil queen from Cinderella, giving some very real unseen danger to the book. The eventual showdown between Becca and Le Fay, should be a fun moment to watch, given how much depth Del Mundo gave both characters already.
Continued belowThere is not a lot of things to dislike about “Weirdworld.” It is a quick read, which one could see as a problem, but there is not a huge “info dump.” Meaning, the reader gets a clear view of who Becca is, what she is doing and what her goal is. There is not a lot of setup outside of that, which is a great way to introduce her. Le Fay is made out to be the clear threat without a lot of confusion as to why. I also want to applaud Humphries, and Del Mundo by proxy, for taking a humorous approach to things. I have never been a fan of fish-out-of-water meets gloomy kind of stories I suspected this would be. It was a nice surprise to see that both Humphries & Del Mundo separated this from the previous volume with just that little change.
Far too often in these post-event series, retreads slow down any momentum gained from the original event. Naturally, having Del Mundo back on the book did not quell my fears, at least initially. This might turn off fans of the “Secret Wars” incarnation, but I think that attitude is misguided. If I may pose a question, why have the same thing happen again? The intent of Marvel’s new universe, at least from what I can tell, is to tell stories that are fresh. Sure, “Weirdworld” was just done, but not like how this was executed. I have long been a fan of things progressing, even if some backtracking is required to make pieces fit. It would be boring if the same characters came back to go on similar paths, that is not new. I do not want to sound like I am a crotchety old man here, but I am not a purist like so many of my fellow comic fans are. Change keeps things interesting, even if it is a little unoriginal at times.
The success of “Weirdwold” is predicated on the fact that is is different. I have commented on a few Marvel books now, that have taken risks and this is no different. My hope here is, with this new volume, new readers will look into the previous one as a stepping stone. As well, Marvel has been going into the “fantasy” realm that is outside of the caped hero box. With so many ideas and characters over the years, it was time to go in this direction. For me, it worked out perfectly. Let’s see what other weird things are in store for Becca going forward.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – A fun and light take that distances from the original, “Weirdworld” #1 is a winner. Sam Humphries adds a nice human touch and Mike Del Mundo’s perfectly fit art are wonderful additions to the expanded Marvel U. For fans of fantasy and fun stories. Recommended.
