Advance Review: Phoenix Song Echo #1 (of 5)

As I am a card carrying Ol’ Timer, I remember when Phoenix first arrived on the scene. I also remember the second Phoenix. Since then she has had more lives than Jean Grey! After recent events in the Avengers book, I have to ask, do I really care anymore?

Phoenix Song Echo follows Maya Lopez as she tries to live with the powers of the Phoenix. This is on top of her regular photographic memory that makes her an awesome fighter and dancer! She is also one of the few deaf characters in the Marvel universe. Now that she has these powers, there are those that want to either stop her or take them, and as we have learnt in the past, if power corrupts then absolute power corrupts absolutely. Will Echo have the strength of character and control of her powers to prove she has what it takes to harness the power of the universe itself?

This book is written by Rebecca Roanhorse an award wining sci-fi and fantasy writer which feature Navajo characters. It is this sort of serendipity that marvel like to utilise in telling their stories. I remember when Ann Nocenti took over Spider-Woman as the first female writer to write a female character. That didn’t work out too well for Jessica Drew! Back to Echo, Roanhorse shows a level of understanding the Marvel universe characters and their previous interactions with the Phoenix force, tackling the issue in a logical manner. Of course Echo is going to need help and as such with that help comes more question. The dialogue works fine, with passing comments about need to reading lips the only way her deafness is recognised.

The art is provided by Luca Maresca who delivers a well worked style, that meets the criteria of a Marvel hero book. The opening pages are especially well done (no pun intended….. this is the advance review, you may get the joke when you read the book!), as are some of the close-up facial elements. There is a fantastic smug look from Echo in one panels which screams of her arrogance, though I am curious how she heard the person in question as they were behind her. Still that’s for the editor to sort. Maresca can drop a few wooden poses in place and there seemed to be a lack of pace to the guest-starring X-Man. But overall I enjoyed most of the art. Colors were supplied by Carlos Lopez who has to use plenty of red and even more yellow. The rest of the spectrum is well used to show, at least at times, so nuances colors, though certain environs seems to lack the punch of others. VC’s Ariana Maher get to have some fun with a few fonts, emphasising Echo’s transitions. Finally, I would like to give a mention to Jay Bowen for the logo design; I love how the palm print is utilised. Very clever!

Not being a big Echo fan, I don’t have the history with the character for context or a preconceived idea about her. I think this worked in the books favour to be honest; coming in with a blank state, I could just enjoy it for what it is, despite more Phoenix shenanigans.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 4 -Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; Rebecca Roanhorse
Art by; Luca Maresca
Colors by; Carlos Lopez
Letters by; VC’s Ariana Maher
Logo by; Jay Bowen
Published by; Marvel Worldwide

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network