Storm LifeDream #1: I dreamed a little dream…

Storm: LifeDream, a one-shot dedicated to Storm in honor of her 50th anniversary since her first appearance since Giant Size X-Men #1 in 1975! This special is an anthology from some of today’s hottest creators, as well as some young up and comers to keep your eyes on, where each chapter gives us a run down of Ororo’s trials and tribulations, detailing some of her darker days, and the events that helped shape her from a young girl, to this omega level mutant goddess that we see today. So let’s get on with this review…

The prologue is by John Jennings and Edwin Galmon sets the stage for the rest of the special. The team introduces an intergalactic sect of archivists who focuses on a different era through the long, storied history of Storm’s life. Each chapter is a different touchstone on important moments in Storm’s life. The prologue sets the stage for the rest of the issue, and Galmon’s art is exceptionally well here. His depiction of Storm gets more and more gorgeous with each page, panel by panel, setting the rest of the issue up.

The first chapter and epilogue are by Angelique Roche & Alitha Martinez, and we see an older Storm who runs into a younger version of herself, as well as a younger version of herself, that the archivists are putting together in an impromptu heart to heart, but it appears that the other versions of Storm might be a simulation stuck in this program that the archivists are putting her through. The art here is beautiful. Martinez has been the artist on several other projects, but it was her work on the Nubia minis that catapulted her into superstar status for me. Her Ororos, both real and simulated, each serving such beauty and grace. The art here is the biggest star of the show. Alitha is giving us a  master class in comic artistry.

The second chapter is by Britney Morris and Charles Stewart III, and it’s the chapter where the simulation tries to take on Storm, and become, well, like a real girl. It’s giving me Pinocchio vibes, mixed with a horror vibe like the movie Us to it too. This chapter also includes some darker points in Ororo’s life, like her death and rebirth during the original Brood saga, as well as when she lost her powers at the hands of the United States government. Both pivotal moments that would be the catalyst for character defining arcs in the 80’s. Stewart’s art unfortunately wasn’t quite what I needed in this book. It was just too much of a departure from the previous two chapters that took me out of this chapter.

The third and final chapter is by Curtis Baxter and Karen S Darboe, and we’re given a look at Storm during her time in Asgard, when with Loki’s scheming would return Storm to a weather goddess, complete with her own hammer, trying to rule Asgard while Odin was in his sleep after his battle with Surtur, and Thor was on Earth. We also see a time that looks like it took place during the Inferno affair from the late 80’s. This chapter doesn’t have the same emotional impact as the rest of the book for me, but Karen S Darboe’s art here is the MVP. Her figure work, and the kinetic action each panel stood out the most for me. I can’t wait to see where she turns up next.