Graphic Novel Review - 'The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel' by Ryan North (Writer), Erica Henderson (Artist), Various

Sometimes, you've got to read a 'Squirrel Girl' comic, just to cheer yourself up.

So much for me giving up on Marvel entirely. I guess anything about Squirrel Girl/Doreen Green is worth your time, as I've yet to be disappointed in an appearance by her.

She, and her stories, are just so cute, funny, wholesome and positive (the ones I've read are, at any rate). 'The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Powers of a Squirrel' collects her first starring volume by Ryan North and Erica Henderson, plus a few subsequent issues - all entertaining and fun. I whizzed through it all, even while also reading the extra humorous footnotes at the bottom of nearly every page.

Squirrel Girl talks to bad guys and acts as their therapist (including Galactus), as well as beats them up. She is super strong, super agile, and has a big bushy tail. But most importantly, she is body positive, super smart, worldly, adaptable, unflinchingly optimistic and altruistic, effortlessly hilarious, and freaking adorable. Surprisingly human and down-to-earth, too, for a squirrel mutant hybrid who is literally unbeatable in the Marvel universe. I love her best normie friend and college roommate, Nancy Whitehead; she truly is the best. The comedic duo really work well together.

This comic contains Squirrel Girl reimaginings/tales, squirrel squad armour (the furriest sentient armour!), an Iron Squirrel suit, Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boi, Thor (the female version, so she should actually be called the Mighty Thor), Spider-Man, Captain America, Black Widow, a mind controlling space squirrel from Asgard, and Loki with a cat head, as Cat Thor. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

It's fun, cute, cartoony, harmless, self-aware, and consequence-and-tie-in-free Marvel material. An astronomical breath of fresh air. From the innocent, relaxed, happy time of 2015. Starring one of the greatest superheroines ever created. No joke.

It's Squirrel Girl. Nothing more needs to be said.

Look at all the squirrels! So many squirrels! So much squirrel love present. And Squirrel Girl's own Spider-Man-like theme song sounds genuinely cool and clever and funny.

Final Score: 3.5/5