(Editor’s note: Normally we wouldn’t combine 2 different titles in one review, but being that I MAKE BOYS CRY #1 ties in with the WHITE WIDOW series, we decided to make an exception.)
WHITE WIDOW #s 1-5
- Creator and Artist: Jamie Tyndall
- Co-Creator, Writer, and Letterers: Benny Powell
- Penciler and Inker: Iwan Nazif, and Jamie Tyndall
- Colorist: Fahriza Kamaputra, Bryan Argel Magnaye, and James Brown
- Editor: Jenna Powell
I MAKE BOYS CRY #1
- Creator and Designer: Jamie Tyndall
- Co-Creator, Writer, and Letterers: Benny Powell
- Penciler and Inker: Ronilson Freire
- Colorist: Fahriza Kamaputra
- Editor: Jenna Powell
Thanks to Absolute Comics for the review copy!
Our friends at Bird City Comics had exclusive covers for WHITE WIDOW #5 and I MAKE BOYS CRY #1 all of which have cover art that I really like.
WHITE WIDOW has been a wild ride of excitement, discovery, action, and retribution. So, the premise is fairly straight forward: a young woman named Gabrielle Garcia (Gabby) is secretly gifted superpowers to save her from a dilapidating disease by her scientist parents that work for a covert organization known as ‘The Group’. Her healing powers start to degrade, and require a boost to keep her alive, so of course her parents take every step to save their daughter. The covert organization discovers the betrayal and ‘misuse’ of their technology.
The Group use their nefarious organization’s assets to ‘acquire’ Gabby to reclaim their technology and add her skills to their arsenal. What are her skills? Well, so far, all that we’ve learned is that Gabby has become something of a cross between Spider-Man, Iron Man and Venom. However, there are still more questions about her abilities than answers.
Blood and carnage abound in the first issue, but that eases up as Gabby learns to control her bloodlust, and instincts. In White Widow #1 she quickly kills three agents from The Group but restrains herself and spares the last agent. The Group however, does not forgive failure, and the lone survivor is terminated.
Gabby continues to work to unravel the mystery of where her powers came from, why her parents were killed, and why The Group wants to eliminate her. Each issue has a supercharged battle between the White Widow and a more competent foe. How she works to overcome her lack of training in each battle adds to the character development.
Here we can jump into the I MAKE BOYS CRY #1 issue. Gabby, while gifted with killer fighting instincts lacks any true training in combat or strategy. Pulling on a thread of evidence left by her now dead parents, she visits a private school, only to be told she was not welcome. Not to be dissuaded she returns to the school at night, only to be met with a fight beyond her capabilities. After a brief ‘superhero chat’ during the fight does the fighting stop. And no, her mother’s name is not Martha. She is then invited into the school to find another secret organization named ‘I Make Boys Cry’ (IMBC). They recognize her capabilities and offer to train her in the ways of the assassin. If she will accept the offer and stay has yet to be seen. I guess we’ll have to wait for IMBC 2.
Overall, this was a really fun read, and worth checking out. The art is very clean, and well-drawn. Action is illustrated extremely well. The dialog was real, and the supporting cast of college friends provides great comedic perspective to the changes occurring in Gabby’s life. As is obvious from the cover art, the artists have fun with evocative imagery here and there. Nothing lewd, but they are absolutely playing up the beautiful coed super charged heroine angle. There is an entire beach volleyball sequence, with bikinis. This continues into IMBC 1 as the artists play on the short private school plaid skirts.
This series looks like it will evolve into a superheroine/spy series. That opens many avenues for plot and character development, offering considerable promise. I look forward to seeing where they will take the WHITE WIDOW story, and the evolution of her character.
WHITE WIDOW #s 1-5 & I MAKE BOYS CRY#1 are now available.
Are you a fan of the titles? Let us know in the comments below!
