As I’ve written before, I don’t expect a Y/A graphic novel featuring a comics character to worry about continuity but the character should still resemble the prototype. BARDA by Ngozi Ukazu does that very well and I really enjoyed it.
This takes us back to when Barda was a loyal soldier of Apokalips, trained by Granny Goodness for absolute ruthlessness and blind obedience. She’s surrounded by her team, the Female Furies, constantly battling Orion of New Genesis (she’s so excited by these clashes — is this what people call love?), and unnerved by that strange prisoner Scott Free, who seems determined to escape Granny’s X-Pit and then flee Apokalips itself.
The surprising thing is that Uzaku’s book works as a standalone while staying mostly true to Jack Kirby’s original continuity (the events would all take place in Mister Miracle #8). The changes are to make Barda more vulnerable and uncertain, and to give the Female Furies more personality. It’s an excellent job.
DOCTOR STRANGE: The Oath by Brian K. Vaughn and Marcos Martin has Dr. Strange show up at the clinic of the Night Nurse, a mystery woman who at the time this came out (early 2000s) worked to patch up superheroes, no questions asked. She learns Dr. Strange got seriously injured trying to find a cure for Wong’s brain tumor, a cure someone does not want found; who is it? Why? Strange is determined to get the miracle medicine back; Night Nurse shows herself equally determined to come along before her patient winds up reopening his sutures. As I thought the last time I read it, the Stephen/Night Nurse shipping comes across forced — I can see them having a date, not yet making out — but overall this was a good one.
#SFWApro. Cover by Ukazu, all rights remain with current holder.
