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A review by fifteenthjessica
DC Comics: Bombshells, Vol. 1: Enlisted by Marguerite Bennett
4.0
Bombshells, Vol 1. is a fun jaunt into an alternate DC Universe, mostly focusing on the female characters (already, Steve Trevor and Lex Luthor have had a major role). Marguerite Bennett is determined to squeeze as much story as possible out of a series of 1940's Pin-Up style statuettes, as the story follows several characters through the war. It's not necessary to have an in depth knowledge of the DC Universe (I, an intermittent reader, was able to follow it well) but new fans would probably be better picking up some comics following one of the leading ladies instead. This is partially because there are loads and loads of characters here. In just the first issue of this trade paperback, we have:
-The vigilante Batwoman being recruited by Amanda Waller for the Bombshells program, with her first mission to make contact with Catwoman, an Italian countess and thief.
-Diana of Themyscira rescues pilot Steve Trevor from a dog fight.
-Foster sisters Kara Starikov and Kortni Duginova attempt to join the Soviet Night Witches, but are declared traitors when Kara reveals her superpowers to save Kortni.
And eventually this volume will add runaway Princess Mera helping the British navy, Harper Row starting her own band of vigilantes in Gotham, Pamela Ivy and Harley Quinn's Nazi bashing murder spree, and Zatanna forced to perform for a very evil Joker's Daughter to hide her Jewish ancestry.
The characters are great, although Harley seems...much odder here. She's initially introduced as skilled doctor Harleen Quinzel, but during a conversation with a patient, something snaps and she's suddenly wearing clown makeup. Here, Harely Quinn is very hyperactive (and possibly a bit dim--she askes Poison Ivy if she turned green because she ate too much Christmas candy) and at one point pulls a cardboard camel out of no where to use as a weapon and eventually rides a bomb into Poison Ivy's greenhouse.
The first scene does a good job of setting up the story. It starts with a flashback of the Batwoman (Kate Kane) saving Bruce Wayne and his parents from a gunman, then returns to the present day, where Kate and her cousin are at their day job as masked baseball players. A radio announcer gives some information on what's happening in 1940, for those who don't know their history. When some armed men attack the fans, Kate leads the players in defeating the would-be robbers with baseball equipment, puns, and an upskirt shot (for better or worse this story definitely embraces its origins as series of pin up statuettes) before running from a group of cops lead by her girlfriend.
Most of the women are drawn with hourglass figures (although fortunately very few in the infamous "boobs and butt" category of poses), but this isn't a total wash on the diversity front. There's some lesbian representation, with Kate Kane and Maggie Sawyer's relationship, although it often times straddles the line between tasteful and meant to titillate straight guys. Jewish people are also well represented among the heroes and during our brief time at Themyscira, we see some dark skinned Amazons (including one with an eye patch and another Amazon with a large facial scar.) It could be better, while a few woman of color have appeared, none of them have had a very big role yet.
The art for the entire first issue is done by Marguerite Sauvage, but DC decided to change around artists several times. While it's difficult to tell Supergirl and Stargirl apart when dressed similarly at the beginning, Sauvage's style is very distinct and helps sell the idea that this is an alternate universe from most of the DC Comics. The other artists, while skilled, have a style more typical of modern comic books.
-The vigilante Batwoman being recruited by Amanda Waller for the Bombshells program, with her first mission to make contact with Catwoman, an Italian countess and thief.
-Diana of Themyscira rescues pilot Steve Trevor from a dog fight.
-Foster sisters Kara Starikov and Kortni Duginova attempt to join the Soviet Night Witches, but are declared traitors when Kara reveals her superpowers to save Kortni.
And eventually this volume will add runaway Princess Mera helping the British navy, Harper Row starting her own band of vigilantes in Gotham, Pamela Ivy and Harley Quinn's Nazi bashing murder spree, and Zatanna forced to perform for a very evil Joker's Daughter to hide her Jewish ancestry.
The characters are great, although Harley seems...much odder here. She's initially introduced as skilled doctor Harleen Quinzel, but during a conversation with a patient, something snaps and she's suddenly wearing clown makeup. Here, Harely Quinn is very hyperactive (and possibly a bit dim--she askes Poison Ivy if she turned green because she ate too much Christmas candy) and at one point pulls a cardboard camel out of no where to use as a weapon and eventually rides a bomb into Poison Ivy's greenhouse.
The first scene does a good job of setting up the story. It starts with a flashback of the Batwoman (Kate Kane) saving Bruce Wayne and his parents from a gunman, then returns to the present day, where Kate and her cousin are at their day job as masked baseball players. A radio announcer gives some information on what's happening in 1940, for those who don't know their history. When some armed men attack the fans, Kate leads the players in defeating the would-be robbers with baseball equipment, puns, and an upskirt shot (for better or worse this story definitely embraces its origins as series of pin up statuettes) before running from a group of cops lead by her girlfriend.
Most of the women are drawn with hourglass figures (although fortunately very few in the infamous "boobs and butt" category of poses), but this isn't a total wash on the diversity front. There's some lesbian representation, with Kate Kane and Maggie Sawyer's relationship, although it often times straddles the line between tasteful and meant to titillate straight guys. Jewish people are also well represented among the heroes and during our brief time at Themyscira, we see some dark skinned Amazons (including one with an eye patch and another Amazon with a large facial scar.) It could be better, while a few woman of color have appeared, none of them have had a very big role yet.
The art for the entire first issue is done by Marguerite Sauvage, but DC decided to change around artists several times. While it's difficult to tell Supergirl and Stargirl apart when dressed similarly at the beginning, Sauvage's style is very distinct and helps sell the idea that this is an alternate universe from most of the DC Comics. The other artists, while skilled, have a style more typical of modern comic books.