I read Book 2 of Ta-Nehisi Coates' Black Panther run soon after reading Book 1, and let me tell you, this series just got more gorgeous, more thoughtful, and more awesome.

While Book 1 focused more on the Black Panther's enemies forming and T'Challa himself realizing how lost and disconnected he is with kingship, Book 2 lasers in on counter-attack. It almost feels like the American Revolution set in East Africa, but I'm rooting for the British to reform and win. The interplay of T'Challa as godly tyrant and T'Challa as the noble, true soul of the Wakandan nation is fascinating. Even though it's a comic book, I feel like I'm reading a well-plotted, perfectly paced novel. The ethical discussion of terrorist revolution alone is so deep, you'll think it's a novel. The writing and art are exactly synced, and the character's arcs come shining through. Speaking of characters, I punched the air at the cameos. Super nice.

Overall, this series continues to take my breath away. Like HOT DAMN this is brilliant art and writing. Literally everyone should read this and learn. Other Marvel writers who deal with countries and people at war, read this and learn. Maybe this isn't a punchy-punch-and-say-a-one-liner kind of action story, but, stars and garters, A NATION UNDER OUR FEET is a fantastic story.

With this fifth Volume of Ms. Marvel, G. Willow Wilson continues to be my favorite. SUPER FAMOUS delivers all the awesome, playful art, lessons about Islam/Pakistani culture, and intersectional feminist happenings that made me love the series so much. In addition to all that though, Wilson manages to writerly embody a concept that I haven't seen elsewhere in Marvel ever: gentrification.

A reader from my background is more unfamiliar with gentrification and its perils. I know the concept, and I've pounded the sidewalk of Park Slope, Brooklyn (After taking the wrong subway 3x, I decided to just freakin' walk to my destinations). Wilson's creativity takes a genius-level Night Vale-esque turn to explain gentrification and how it disrupts set communities. Since the only thing better than a Ms. Marvel comic would be a Ms. Marvel/Night Vale crossover comic, I was delighted throughout. More important than delight though, I felt more conscious of how economics can be used to break neighborhoods apart.

In addition, there was commentary on the line between symbol and person, and who owns the imagery of the symbol: the person who bears it or the people who benefit from it? It was waaaaaaay better conveyed and less ham-fisted than a Black Mirror episode. I didn't even have to doubt my faith in humanity or have cheer-up pie afterwards.

Overall, Ms. Marvel, Kamala, and G. Willow Wilson remain absolutely awesome in Volume 5, and literally everyone on the planet should read this series.

WOW.

That was my gut reaction to this comic: an awe tinged with an excitement for more. While Ed Brubaker is lauded for bringing thrilling political intrigue to his Captain America comics, his Cap run seems to me more of aiming the overly muscular super soldier at a more realistic target. Captain America doesn't struggle personally the way a human does: instead he acts more like a testosterone-high symbol going through the motions of mystery.

I bring all this up, because Ta-Nehisi Coates absolutely frickin' nails everything Brubaker was trying to do. HERE is a political thriller comic. HERE is the story of a man weighed down to the breaking point. HERE is some fantastic art, both with visuals and storytelling. There's a lot less punching and a lot more talking, which I think throws some readers off, but I found the pacing perfect. And, just in case that wasn't enough, there's avenging warrior lesbians. I am signed up for this series, and I'm reading Book 2 today.

SOOOOOO, I heard a lot about this comic and how wonderful it is and I outright bought it because of the whole "give me space lesbians or give me death" tweet will not leave me and lemme tell you...

IT WAS FREAKING EPIC I LOVED EVERY PAGE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SOMEONE STOP ME FROM BUYING EVERYTHING BENNETT HAS EVER WRITTEN ABOUT THESE TWO oooooooHHHHHH MMMMyyyy gOOOOOOOODDDDDDD

*ahem*

Angela: Queen of Hel is blatantly out of order in Angela and Sera's story together, so I had some catching up to do. Luckily, Sera & Angela's penchant for cuddling mid-battle gave me some space to breathe and unboggle the massive amount of world-building I missed. The diverse cast was indeed a #squadgoals moment all around, and, while Sera is a bit damselled by the whole premise, she kicks enough butt and is in enough control later to forgive it. Plus, the happy ending. How can I say no to that?

The art was action packed with gorgeous (kissing) shots interspersed. While it's a similar style of more testosterone-fueled stories, instead the high action was focused on how it helped Sera & Angela's relationship and personal goals. There's no random rocket gorillas here, and I'm grateful. The motif of queens and kingdom is much better than that.

Overall, beautiful art and beautiful story of revenge, redemption, freedom, forgiveness, and love. Space lesbian murderfloof, guys. It's space lesbian murderfloof.

G. Willow Wilson is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Though the pacing was overwhelming at times, I continued to be fascinated and emotionally compromised by Wilson's world. The art style is stupendous; the characters shinning and real; the baby steps provided for this newbie to Islamic Pakistani culture well thought out; storytelling cliches are expertly avoided and upended. Kamala is a wonderful, stand out hero of today and long may she reign!

PRICELESS confirmed Angela and Sera's story as one of my all-time favorites. The art, the plot, the pacing, the representation... This creative team is now my #1 recommendation for queer Marvel.

*deep breath*

Not only does this book contain space lesbians, but also they are Jacobean space lesbians. 1602: WITCH HUNTER, ANGELA is such a perfect cross-section of my areas of interest that the 5 stars are practically guaranteed. But then this book went on to be soooooo drop dead gorgeous in its art and allusions and storytelling that I kind of want to send Bennett fanmail now. Like, really.

Angela and Serah are fast becoming my favorite Marvel couple. I wasn't even mad that they murdered one half of my other favorite couple because I would willingly let them murder me too. My little diverse character loving heart was all aflutter constantly, with Jacobean England looking just as it should, with plenty of people of color present. In fact, the fusion of Marvel elements into Jacobean England worked surprisingly well. In real life Jacobean literature, there is running theme of the fading away of Faeire and the belief in the Gentle Folk, and Bennett wondrously mixes that in to her work with added spices of the queen and queendom motifs that are so present in the next comic book, Angela: Queen of Hel.

To summarize, this book was full of delight and delightful elements. If you like me, you'll like this book. And yes, I did order Angela: Asgard's Assassin from Barnes & Noble, thanks for asking.

Another entry in THE SANDMAN series, another 5 star review. A GAME OF YOU is another one where a side-character from a previous story is opened up to occupy a whole world: in this case, almost literally. Barbie, from the Barbie & Ken couple of A DOLL'S HOUSE, has divorced Ken, and found a new home amongst the LGBTQ community of New York City. We finally learn what her dreams were about.

I was quite excited about the diversity in the story. Not only is Wanda trans, but an interracial lesbian couple feature. A black woman shows her true colors, and an eons-old witch schemes. The twists and turns of betrayal and trust shake the story to its foundations, and even I couldn't believe the ending. Now, given the rare diversity of the characters, any ending is going to be brutal. I thought this ending was especially so.

However, I did appreciate this one quirk of the narrative, and it saved the story from being outright depressing for me. In other Gaiman stories, those who spout cliches end up being bad guys. In this one, this ones who don't fully accept Wanda are. The moral of the story is don't be transphobic. Huzzah! I would have still preferred an "And they all lived happily" ending, but this is SANDMAN and it's meant to be a dreamy horror.

I...I may be a Deadpool fan now??? I always love Spidey. He's my first superhero love. I'd heard that Spideypool was a ship, and this comic made it abundantly clear why: the jokes. As noted in other reviews, both Spiderman and Deadpool are known for their quips, and this comic has a joke contest in in the middle of every battle. Escalation is inevitable: Peter goes PG, Deadpool goes R; Peter says, "okay, we can team up" and Deadpool says, "let's beat up an entire crime syndicate;" Peter says, "let's hang out," Deadpool has them strip-dancing for Thor, goddess of thunder. I ate it up while reading and laughed quite a lot.

In between all the jokes, the writers and artists fit in some breathtaking character development, especially for Deadpool. As a newbie, I felt welcomed into his life and struggles. Plus, Deadpool is unashamedly pansexual, and we even get a peek at his Sexceptions list with his wife, which includes Spiderman. It's actual TEXT, not just subtext. He even recognizes potential queerness in others as he tries to figure out the relationship between Spiderman and Peter Parker.

In summary, SPIDERMAN/DEADPOOL is super great and super gay and I super recommend.