By Brian Reed (Writer), Guiseppe Camunculi (Pencils), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Inks), and Andres Mossa (Color)
The Story: This Ms. Marvel one-shot centers around the return of Gavin, a boy given the ability to alter reality using his imagination as the result of A.I.M. experimentation. He is currently holding a friend named Rich within his storybook reality and it’s up to Ms. Marvel to not only rescue Rich, but also help Gavin understand the dangerous nature of his power.
What’s Good: I found Gavin to be an interesting addition to the Marvel universe when he was first introduced, so it’s nice to see him back in action. And even though this is a Ms. Marvel issue, Gavin and his imagination are really the star of the show. His story is well told and visually interesting, even if it doesn’t necessarily live up to the awesome cover the one-shot sports.
What’s Not So Good: For as dynamic and fun as the artwork is in concept, I find that it falls a bit short in execution. Some scenes look downright sloppy and the character work throughout leaves a lot to be desired. In short, I expected a whole lot more than I got from a visual standpoint.
As for the story as a whole, its biggest flaw is that it doesn’t do enough to explore Gavin as a character concept. There are so many possibilities, yet the plot for this basically boils down to a pretty generic story about how to treat others with respect. While the story is well told, as with the visuals, I expected a bit more than I got.
Conclusion: As a long-time fan of the series, I can’t help but find Ms. Marvel: Storyteller a bit disappointing. The visuals are lackluster and the plot doesn’t exactly go far enough in showcasing a character loaded with potential. That said, there is no denying that it is still a solid, entertaining read. As such, it’s worth it for those able to keep their expectations in check.
Grade: C
-Kyle Posluszny