Alpha Flight True North #1
Nicolas Duncan
Recap
Alpha Flight is the main Canadian super-hero adventure team in the Marvel Universe. They were created by John Byrne circa and first appeared in X-Men #120. The Canadian prime-minister of Department H wants Wolverine caught and instructed Vindicator the task of organizing a team to bring him home. After much pressure from Marvel’s editorial, they debuted in their own book in 1983. Byrne being at the height of his fame, Alpha Flight sold like gangbusters.
Many fans enjoyed a 130-issue long series running from 1982 through 1994 and is well worth revisiting! There are some awesome stories, however, it was a mess plot-wise and gradually faded, eh? In recent years, Alpha Flight has been in the background at best, disbanded, and even dead! Now come on writers, this is an awesome team and deserves a more interesting future!
Review
Weather if you are a longtime fan or new to these courageous Canadian Superheroes, Alpha Flight: True North #1 by Marvel Comics brings readers three brand-new adventure stories. Each story explores some classic characters and gives a modern touch to Snowbird, Talisman, Marrina, Northstar, Aurora, Puck, Vindicator and Guardian!
We begin with “Mired in the Past” by Jim Zub along with artists Max Dunbar and Jim Charalampidis. A disturbing spirit is haunting the townspeople and there is a strong connection with Snowbird. Zub provides a well-balanced meal for those who crave a slightly dark, horrific, and psychodynamic story. Dunbar and Charalampidis bring magic to this story through outstanding visuals and the down-to-earth human emotional moments. This team delivers one hell of a story and leaving the reader wanting more! There is much to unpack, but it is laid out gracefully throughout this short story. Get acquainted or reacquainted with two our heroines up North!
The second story, “Monsters” by Jed MacKay with Djibril Morissette-Phan and Ian Herring has Puck tell a story of guilt that could tear him and Marrina apart for good. This is a side of Puck that life-long fans may never have seen before and definitely build the character. Quaint and short, I do have to say that I am disappointed with the lack of representation of Northstar and his sister Aurora. Newbies of Alpha Flight may immediately wipe these two heroes from their mind without any interest in seeking any back stories. The art and dark shades are cool within Puck’s storytelling, but other that that, it wasn’t too appealing.
The third and last storyline “Illegal Guardians” is written by Ed Brisson teaming up with Scott Hepburn and Jim Charalampidis. Wow! I hurt for Vindicator, like never before. The realism in this short story is “uncanny”, along with extreme non-fiction to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting to know what her husband, Guardian, will do next! Brission nicely slips in a reference of a previous Alpha Flight issue and mentioning Department H connects to this team’s history as well as current Marvel titles.
But wait! These three short stories are missing a major Alpha, Susquatch! Recently, in Al Ewing’s Immortal Hulk #21 and #22, it seems that Susquatch is dead for good. Will we see Greg Pak’s Weapon H replace Susquatch in the next Alpha Flight series? I am torn between yes and HELL NO! I’m selfish and want both on the team! And, when are we going to have an Alpha flight movie?!!!
Final Thoughts
Alpha Flight: True North #1 is a good introduction for new readers and something new for long-time Alpha Flight fans!
Alpha Flight True North #1: Three Stories High
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 7/107/10
- Art - 7/107/10
- Color - 7/107/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10