REVIEW: Read Every Story in Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1
In Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1, the most recent entry in the Marvel’s Voices anthology series, you get eight stories that spotlight Asian American voices in Marvel Comics! All eight stories are awesome, so get ready to run through all of them, Marvel Blog True Believers!
Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1. Photo: Marvel Comics
Featuring food, classic Marvel characters, and lots of variety, these stories have something for everyone. Each of these stories was lettered by Joe Sabino, and the issue has a main cover by Jim Cheung & Romulo Fajardo Jr. (although I picked up the variant cover featuring Nico Minoru by Peach Momoko, which if you follow the speculation market was apparently a bit of a score).
1. “What Is vs. What If” by Gene Luen Yang & Marcus To, and Sunny Gho
In this story, written by the top winner of the 2021 Eisner Awards, Shang-Chi meets a Order of monks that bears a striking resemblance to a certain Uatu the Watcher, and much like the animated series on Disney+, this story uses the concept of The Watcher to bring in references from all corners of the Marvel Multiverse.
“What Is vs. What If.” Photo: Marvel Comics
By drawing on references throughout the multiverse, this story uses duality to great effect, including in its page composition. For people who are familiar with older depictions of Shang-Chi, this story visually juxtaposes the two versions of the character almost as a short form guide to the evolution of the character.
Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1. Photo: Marvel Comics/PicsArt
2. “That One Thing” by Christina Strain & Jason Loo
This story is a quiet, personal moment for Jubilee, that shows how she is working to connect the next generation (her child) with her heritage (by following the traditions of her parents, even if she hasn’t always embraced them). A quiet and thoughtful story.
Photo: Marvel Comics
3. “Jimmy Woo 1959” by Greg Pak & Creees Lee, with Brian Reber
This story gives the secret hero of WandaVision a chance to prove that he has what it takes no matter what he’s facing off against, including a rampaging Venusian!
“Jimmy Woo 1959.” Photo: Marvel Comics
But perhaps the best weapon in Woo’s arsenal is his compassion, which was on full display in this story. Best of all, you can basically hear Randall Park reading every line Woo says.
“Jimmy Woo 1959.” Photo: Marvel Comics
4. “Seeing Red” by Sabir Pirzada & Mashal Ahmed, with Neeraj Menon
This is another more personal story that sees Kamala Khan dealing with complicated feelings in Karachi, Pakistan. There isn’t much resolution here… but there doesn’t need to be! Sometimes feeling like you belong in two places makes you feel like you don’t belong anywhere, and I applaud this comic for letting Kamala sit in that emotion.
Photo: Marvel Comics
5. “Personal Heroes” by Alyssa Wong & Whilce Portacio, with Jay David Ramos
This super cute story lets legendary X-Men character Bishop meet one of his heroes: Wave of Agents of Atlas! Sometimes, Marvel anthologies offer the perfect opportunity to tell a small story, or share a moment that might otherwise be cut from a script.
“Personal Heroes.” Photo: Marvel Comics
Letting these two heroes meet one another (and then share a meal) is just such a moment!
Food in Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1. Photo: Marvel Comics
6. “Singular/Plural” by Jeremy Holt & Alti Firmansyah, with Irma Kniivila
What’s in a name? A whole lot! It’s clear that the creators behind this story understand that. This was an intriguing tale that combined the all-too-real experience of legally changing one’s name with the concept of superhero names… with amazing effect!
“Singular/Plural.” Photo: Marvel Comics
No surprise that the writer of Made in Korea, a currently ongoing comic from Image, delivers such an incredible story here.
“Singular/Plural.” Photo: Marvel Comics
7. “Traditional Pink Sushi” by Ken Niimura
This adorable story uses substitute sushi ingredients to examine how traditions are constantly reborn throughout their history. ‘Nuff said!
“Traditional Pink Sushi.” Photo: Marvel Comics
8. “New York State of Mind” by Maurene Goo & Lynne Yoshii, with Sebastian Cheng
A story featuring Silk by Silk writer Goo? Be still my heart! This conclusive comic delivers with a story that lets Cindy Moon and Amadeus Cho fight an angry old straw man (that’s right, a wicker man in comics)!
“New York State of Mind.” Photo: Marvel Comics
Plus… you just can’t beat that title, Marvel Blog True Believers. I turned on the song – not the Billy Joel version, the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys version – to read this story, and it worked great as a soundtrack to the comic… check it out!
Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1
Did you get a chance to pick up Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1? Which one of the stories was your favorite?
We’re waiting to hear from you! Let us know in the comments.
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