So imagine my excitement when Marvel Comics canceled UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL and relaunched it with a fresh UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL two months later!!! Actually, it seems silly that they relaunched the book with fresh numbering, but with the same exact creative team and characters. Then again, I really liked the old series so I'm willing to forgive this foolishness!
UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #1 (Volume #2) shifts eight months after the events of UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #8 (Volume #1). Doreen Green (AKA Squirrel Girl) is now a second year college student at Empire State University and now lives in an apartment off-campus with her BFF Nancy Whitehead (who now has read hair!). They still hang out with Chipmunk Hunk and Koi Boi and they still do their best to fight against the powers of evil!
Incidentally, I'm getting major gaydar vibes in this issue from Chipmunk Hunk and Koi Boi. I can't pinpoint anything in particular (outside of Chipmunk Hunk's credit description). In other words, I'm just putting that theory out there for future reference. You heard it here first!!
Anyway, here are four great reasons to love UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #1!!
1. Welcome to the New Avengers!: Did you know that Squirrel Girl is a charter member of the newest incarnation of the NEW AVENGERS? It's financed by Sunspot (formerly of the New Mutants and X-Men) and based out of Avengers Island (FKA AIM Island). I'm not sure if I will be reading that book. Obviously, I love Squirrel Girl, plus Wiccan, Hulkling, and Songbird are members. But I don't like the artwork and I'm not sure if I can handle the finances of yet another comic book! Still, it's good to remind folks that Squirrel Girl isn't a free agent anymore!
2. Not a Mutant!: We are introduced to Maureen Green in this issue of the book. That's Squirrel Girl's mom. We also learn that -- contrary to previous assertions -- Squirrel Girl is NOT a mutant. We don't know exactly what she is, but she is not a mutant and she never has been a mutant even though she's been called a mutant before!
It's possible that Marvel Comics wants to prevent Fox Studios from stealing the character for a future X-Men movie. And it's possible that they want to protect her from the Terrigan Mists that are presently covering the Earth and poisoning the mutants. Or both.
But Squirrel Girl is not a mutant. Or as the comic book observes: "The doc couldn't say for sure whether it was the squirrel bite or the cosmic rays in the forest or the experimental nut serum or the radioactive tree or what that caused the changes. Maureen's pregnancy was... a pretty eventful nine months, actually."
3. Nancy Hearts Maureen!: I cannot praise UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL's hidden gem enough! Nancy Whitehead is one of the best things to happen to this comic book. I really enjoy her friendship with Doreen -- and I love that she loves Doreen's mom! Such fun!!
4. Brain Drain!: I really like Brain Drain -- this issue's villain. He is a former Nazi whose brain survived World War II. He eventually gained a robot body and attacked Alpha Flight. It's possible that he's been around since the early 90s, but I haven't seen him.
As always, Squirrel Girl eventually comes up with a unique way to neutralize this elderly villain. Rarely do her punches do the trick. Instead, she uses her brain and her heart to save the day -- and to offer her foes new direction in life! Check out the book to see what I mean!
You really need to pick up UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL if you aren't already reading it. This is one of the most different superhero books that's currently being published by a mainstream comic book publisher. My mood was pretty messed up yesterday. I fetal-curled up in my bed with my copy of this book and immediately got my attitude turned around with laughter and enjoyment. It's that good.
"The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1" is written by Ryan North, penciled and inked by Erica Henderson, colored by Rico Renzi, and lettered by VC's Clayton Cowles. Plus, the "Trading Card" art is by Joe Morris!