Ripley Ryan is an ordinary and severely traumatised woman, and a former fake superhero, and an abuse victim, who after her "death" is inexplicably bonded to an Infinity Stone that's somehow lodged in her chest. She hates superheroes, hates the kind of world she lives in, and her morals and how she goes about things are very questionable; this combined with the power to control reality however she wants it, which she is still new and amateurish at, makes her a threat to the entire Marvel universe.
But despite, for all intents and purposes, being a villain, can this abuse and trauma survivor ever be bought back from the brink, to not be the destructive, deadly dragon of limitless and endless power she is sorely tempted to be, out of fear, and a yearning for freedom from that fear and suffering and helplessness?In this short comic there is also Captain Marvel, who Ripley, aka Star, hates and fears the most for understandable reasons (and not just because Carol punched a hole through her chest and apparently killed her to stop her from killing all of New York - I mean, yikes!); Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, another reality warper who's had her own share of deep trauma throughout her whole life, and who sees herself in Ripley and wants to save her from herself; Jessica Jones; and the Black Order, including Black Swan and Proxima Midnight, who are Thanos's former lackeys. Loki and Titania cameo in the beginning, too.
'Star: Birth of a Dragon' is an entertaining read overall, full of action and emotion. I and many others are intrigued by Star's character. The horror she went through was no fault of her own, of course, but it doesn't excuse her current actions, nor her choice to be destructive - externally, to allegedly help herself internally - even though you know where she is coming from with that. She merely wants freedom, and to protect herself, to not be afraid anymore. I hope this victim-turned-villain receives the help, care and support she needs in the future, so she can truly heal and save herself, and not want to destroy anything and anyone.
I wish Carol had been more compassionate towards Star/Ripley, and not so gung ho about beating her up, when she is clearly afraid and traumatised, because of Carol, no matter Ripley's past crimes and the current threat she is while she has the Reality Stone. I haven't read the preceding comics about Captain Marvel and Star, but Carol Danvers, while I get everything she's gone through in recent years (thanks, Marvel), nevertheless needs less anger and more thought and heart again. Her issues are making her almost as much of a danger as Star at this point. Carol, and everyone else, definitely needs therapy.
In a comic filled with potent female characters, displaying varying degrees of trauma and understanding of others' trauma, Jessica Jones sadly doesn't get to do much, and she is at best an extended cameo.
At least 'Star' manages to achieve one momentous thing I didn't think was possible before: it made me care about the Scarlet Witch. Her big, expanded role, and the understanding of her character (as a good guy, and a good person) are a huge plus. I might finally read a comic starring her - a solo comic, starring the Scarlet Witch, but not Vision. I'm all for ultimate power couples and iconic, unconventional romances, but sheesh, let Wanda, who is one of if not the most powerful woman in all of Marvel, define herself for a change, without the too-many men in her life.
The art is very good, if iffy and crooked in the faces and facial expressions a few times.
For a quick, action-packed read about complex, damaged women, with an unorthodox ending, give 'Star: Birth of a Dragon' a go.
Final Score: 3.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment