This is a modern retelling of Stephen's origins for the new reader (thanks in part to Marvel rolling out their Marvel NOW! program). I loved it. I think it did a fair job in showing the evolution of his character and emergence of his moral code, though the abruptness of Mordo's introduction through me off.

I enjoyed the art, especially the large panels with the Vishanti and Mordo's conjurations. It's nice to see a female artist working in this boy's club and holding her own.

As far as the inclusion of Defenders #1 goes - jumping straight from an origin story to one where Stephen's fully in Supreme Sorcerer mode (as it appears) would be a little jarring for a new comic reader or one who is unfamiliar with his character. Still, points for Namor because I love that asshole.

Why did I read this on my lunch in the breakroom? I knew it was going to make me cry, memoirs about animals always make me cry.

Don't worry, I passed it off as really bad allergies.

This author has a weird obsession with her version of manliness. It's mentioned a few times throughout the book and it just sticks out as very strange to me (not to mention odd to see in a story about a cat!)

New nicknames for every single state? Boring.

Wow, I loved everything about this team. The humor, the pacing, the dialogue was absolutely fantastic. Starling is not a character I knew very much going into the series, but man do I love her now.

I like the idea of a male character who is a scrapper - used to doing bad things but still has the decency and sensitivity to feel ill after doing them. It really makes Ray feel more like a real person instead of a two dimensional being going through the motions.