America

I really like this character and her powers. She has some interesting things going on,but I feel like this volume was just pieced together? I felt kinda lost half the time and found myself skimming ahead to the end. She seems like such an interesting person, but I just could not connect with her story. Not a great way to start off, if I have time I might read the next volume. The art (especially in the first half or so) Is really nice, so giving some props to that and some other super hero cameos!

Give this a read for yourself! ~Ashley

To be fair, I was warned about the book. I mean, just look at the average rating here at Goodreads. This comic anthology has not been well received. I willfully chose to ignore all the people that said this wasn't a very good book. Also, to be fair, the most commonly stated problem - the writing - was, probably, the least of my problems.

(Yeah, the writing is goofy and kind of stupid at times, but, as much as I love comics, that's kind of ... not unusual.)

Problem #1: The Art
The first four volumes have one artist, the next two have a different artist. I didn't like either. The first artist was okay, barely. The faces are often really off putting: the eyes are nothing but black circles for irises, the noses are...not quite right, and the artist has absolutely no idea how lipstick works. None at all. The second artist had a much more scribble-y art style that kind of reminds me of old Archie comics - only I think the hair in those comics look better than it does here, because here it's nothing more than a stringy, wet looking mess.

Problem #2: The Plot
For the first four volumes (I wonder if this had anything to do with the artist change...) the plot is on crack. Or LSD. Or something. Look, I don't like trippy sci-fi and this was trippy sci-fi. (If you liked the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie, you could probably disregard this.) The last two volumes ... were like a slice of life, girl gets blackmailed and possible (lesbian) love interest has to save the dad. I mean day. Also, I do not understand the college that America is going to. ... At all.

Problem #3: America Chavez.
(Interesting how the reason I read the book can be a major problem when not done... how I expected.) I was first introduced to America Chavez in A-force. (She didn't really stand out for me there, I was too busy being taken by Lady Loki. And She-Hulk. But mostly Lady Loki.) Then, in my quest for diverse comics, I really feel like I met her in Young Avengers. And sort of fell in love with her. She was badass and take no prisoners and would sooner kick you than hug you. ... That America is not this America. That's fine. People grow, develop, change. But when everything that made me love her is taken out and replaced to make her more weepy female hero (TM) ... I am not happy.

Which, kind of sums this whole thing up: I am not happy.

3.5 stars for sure. I am honestly torn. I want to pick up Volume 2... but the art work for the last 2 comics in this volume was horrible. Read my review here for the first issue. America #1 review.

Slight spoilers ahead! The story picks up for sure around issue 3. By then we are seeing more about America, where she is from, and how she came to be. I am not understanding why she is constantly deflecting when it comes to people, its like she's angry? But why is she so angry? I also don't get why she broke up with Lisa? She can open portals, thats the best power to have when you're in a long distance relationship. That made no sense. The story isn't that captivating, I feel like I am trying to understand America too much, and the plot slips away from me. Then in issue 5 the artwork changes, and to me that changes the entire tone of the comic. It went from vibrant and new to 1992 grit real quick.

I don't know if I will get volume 2.

Love Gabby Rivera and am looking to keep growing our graphic section, but this was a bit of a mess. A fun mess, though. Threads kind of went nowhere and none of them wove together into one throughline arc. Haven't read any Young Avengers so this was my first intro to character. She's kinda cool.

Yeah, I don't read much superhero stuff, but that doesn't turn me off of reading Clint, Kate, or Kamala (I love Kamala). I was excited to read America. But I was just confused. Some of the others are a bit more new-user-friendly, but I was baffled by things that happened in this book and confused by Marvel references. That's my bad, but it made it difficult to get through the first book or two.

I have no prior knowledge of America's personality, but I was fine with her being gruff and a bit hotheaded. Maybe I should check out other things with her in them.

As a comics reader I'm used to embracing a certain amount of confusion of “is this a new character or just a character I haven't seen before? Is this college in a different dimension or like what's happening here?” But basically I really enjoyed it! I especially loved seeing her interact with Peggy Carter and 80s Storm <3

A fun start to a series, I'll definitely continue to follow it.