Reviews

America by Gabby Rivera

bibliotexmex's review against another edition

4.0

Engaging and unique. A superhero mythos that combines tradition and modernity into a fun narrative.

mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition

3.0

I'm okay with not being the targeted audience. But this book tried so hard and it was just off. Part of it is the lack of a straightforward story. And part like Squirrel Girl is the need to tell the reader hey you know this character is cool over and over and over again. Throw in the inconsistent art and the weird setup and setting. And umm kind of no. But there is a good story and character here trying to get out. Hopefully that story will get told some day. Not bad though. Just no Ms. Marvel.

momentum262's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

misosoupp31's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

lyriid's review against another edition

3.0

2.75

Love the character, love the art and I especially love her relationship with Kate.

Everything other than that was a bit of a mess unfortunately, I found the plot boring and all over the place. Also what was with the dancing, rapping, fighting sorority? Not for me.

America is an awesome character though so hopefully her other issues are better.

iffer's review against another edition

3.0

I love the character of America Chavez, but there's something about the execution of this series that kept me from loving this. It could just be that I don't love Gabby Rivera's writing (which I know from reading one of her novels). America comes off as as a slightly bland brick character to me. I definitely enjoyed the last two issues of this collection best, with the friend dynamics between America and Kate.

cm_kayla's review against another edition

3.0

3.5, art is gorgeous, story is confusing at best. I love America, she kicks ass but the plot gets lost in exposition and jumps too easily I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening. Like the idea of her and Kate being bffs and obviously love seeing her with romantic female interests. Wishing for more.

mrsthrift's review against another edition

America Chavez is the hero of my life. She's badass, nearly invincible, and smart as hell. She has incredible friendships and a complicated love life. She likes road trips. America is the brown queer feminist super hero I've been waiting for.

rouver's review against another edition

2.0

I really really wanted to love this series, but it just kind of fell flat for me. I found America's personality a bit grating and the story line didn't flow very well. I loved that this was about a powerful lesbian Latina and that it was well illustrated, but I just couldn't get into it.

spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition

1.0

The art is AMAZING! Unfortunately, the writing felt very juvenile. Gabby Rivera has my eternal respect for being the first(!!) Latina to write for Marvel comics, an accolade that is SERIOUSLY overdue, but... hmm, I think I'm just too old to be the target audience for this? I'm so conflicted because the art is incredible and I love America Chavez with my whole heart and soul, but overall I wasn't at all impressed by the story or dialogue—far too much exposition, nobody talked like real people, the backstory and worldbuilding were poorly developed, there were too many snappy comebacks and witty quipping, and the slang was pretty cringey (not to mention guaranteed to be outdated within a year or two).

There were moments that gutpunched me, though! Like this bit from issue #3:

After my moms died, I left the parallel. I found spaces on earth where little brown girls blended into the scenery and became part of the family. Once Abuela Santa offered me that first plate of arroz on gandules, I was one of hers. No questions asked. Didn't even know what a Puerto Rican was. I just knew these folks looked like me and let me in. [...] Still, I was a tourist everywhere. Lifting language and culture from the love of people who weren't my kin but held me as their own. Dove fists first into being a super hero 'cuz it felt right. Like I was honoring my moms, you know?

I'm delighted that Gabby Rivera was able to explore cultural identity in this collection, I really am! Positive representation is super important, and I hope that Latine kids reading this comic are able to connect to America's journey.

I also hope we get better comics starring America Chavez, because she's awesome and I love her.