Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1 continues Marvel’s Voices project where diverse creatives put together an anthology about Marvel characters. Heading this project is veteran artist Jeffrey Veregge who writes and illustrates the “Watcher” introduction to Marvel’s indigenous characters.
Following this is “Echo: Hitting Back” with Rebecca Roanhorse as writer, Weshoyot Alvitre as artist, and Lee Loughridge as colorist. Then comes “Mirage: Multifaceted” by writer Darcie Little Badger, artist Kyle Charles, and colorist Felipe Sobreiro. Finally, my favorite of the bunch, “Silver Fox: Blue Moon” features writer Stephen Graham Jones, penciler David Cutler, inker Roberto Poggi, and colorist Cris Peter.
As a bonus, there is an afterword and a look at SkyView Way owners Taboo and B. Earl’s project featuring Sorcerer Supreme/Ghost Rider Kushala. The anthology is now available after November 18.
Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1 On Representation
Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1 features Veregge using his art and the Watcher to showcase Marvel’s numerous Native American characters. It makes the Watcher’s omnipresence feel like he touches every part of the Marvel Universe. After the intro, it’s a little disappointing that only three of these characters get segments, especially since half of the characters on the cover don’t appear at all. The ones that do appear feature each writer bringing out some of their authentic experiences through these characters.
Roanhorse talks about multiculturalism through Maya Lopez, and how that makes you open to experiences. Maya has faced a lot of loss. Loss that can’t just be fixed by a few familiar faces. So when Maya meets with people who have rituals for confronting tough pasts, it reminds her of the friends she once had in a unique way.
Little Badger uses Dani Moonstar to talk about community. She helps those like her hopefully find extended homes. Despite how the X-Men have been keeping their distance from the rest of humanity, Dani’s never been about assimilation. She is still Cheyenne and is willing to help out a fellow American Indian mutant without coercing him into Krakoa.
Jones, through Silver Fox, shows the struggle of these various communities to be more than victims of history. Silver Fox and her husband are fighting for their future, even as it becomes apparent to the husband that it’s a losing battle. Being able to see into the future can do that to a person.
That’s why Taboo and B. Earl take the time to tell the story on how they met and came to work with Veregge, at the end of Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1. Now they create and expand Native American characters like in Werewolf By Night and Doctor Strange’s Kushala. There are things to look forward to after Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1.
Art
These artists all get a chance to show how they present themselves in Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1. Veregge naturally opens big with his distinct S’Kallum art style for covers. The abstract nature of it presents a surreal and unique introduction to the matters at hand. While it makes the subjects seem mythical, the art following shows how human these characters are.
Weshoyot Alvitre showcases Echo: her acrobatic movements and how small she feels among the stars. And Lee Loughridge makes space look like a gigantic ocean.
Kyle Charges shows the scales of what Mirage faces through angles and closeups. These make explanations and questions feel important when it comes to Dani’s character. Coloring from Felipe Sobreiro makes these points more authentic as, during a talk, Dani looks likes she’s part of the background until she speaks up.
David Cutler puts a big emphasis on displaying emotions in the Silver Fox comics, through facial expressions. The inking by Poggi enhances the struggles. Dark patches forewarn of death. The cool to cold coloring of Cris Peter is neither friend nor foe to Silver Fox.
United Under Lettering
Ariana Maher of VC is both professional and creative in the lettering of Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1. The dialogue takes up just the right amount of space. Other elements like captions and text messages have a more creative touch to them. The Silver Fox story, in particular, has stylized captions that look like old timey paper, which adds to the atmosphere. It tells of Silver Fox’s age while the crinkling appearance suggests some brooding. It gives more atmosphere to the story.
Consider Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1
Within Marvel Voices Indigenous Voices #1 is a hopeful beginning for creatives of less represented cultures to appear in the mainstream. With representation being something to strive for, it’s going to take a number of people from different backgrounds to make it authentic. Whether it’s the story potential of future releases, evocative art, and creative supplementary elements, there’s bound to be something for readers to enjoy. Enough for readers to look forward to future releases of more comics by these creators and other voices in the industry.
