Longbox Review #2: Dazzler vol. 3 #1

 

Dazzler vol. 3 #1

Release Date: September 18, 2024

Cover Date: November 2024

Credits: (w) Jason Loo; (p) Rafael Loureiro; (i) Rafael Loureiro; (c) Java Tartaglia ;

(l) VC's Ariana Maher; (e) Martin Biro; (eic) C.B. Cebulski

Title: "Out and Proud"

I just read Dazzler #1, part of Marvel's new X-Men reboot, From the Ashes.

First, I want to say that I hate when people call it a reboot and it isn't really a reboot.  This isn't really a reboot, but I'm calling it that because I think Marvel wants it to be a reboot but doesn't want people to think it's a reboot.  Make sense?

So the book... Dazzler was very enjoyable.  

We have a supporting cast of Jamie Madrox, Guido the Strong Guy, Domino, Shark Girl, and Wind Dancer and they make up the band and road crew for Dazzler's new world tour.  Apparently, her new album has been at #1 for eight weeks, which means she's on top of the world right now, and her manager, Wind Dancer, is trying to get Dazzler to be aware how her influence as a mutant affects the world.  This is pretty timely considering we're heading into the most important election of our lifetime and Taylor Swift has just endorsed a candidate.  We, in real life, get to see how strong the concept of celebrity can be.  Anyway, Dazzler is told not to use her powers combatively during the concert.  Dazzler's powers convert sound into light and it's kind of her thing to create a light show.  What management was telling her was, "An attack is expected.  You have security.  Let them handle it.  You're not an X-Man anymore."  Of course, an attack happens.

This is where my issue with the book really comes into play.

The concert starts and Dazzler is shining bright.  She's on top of it for sure.  And some D-list villain comes out of nowhere to kill Dazzler.  It'll ruin the show if security has to take this villain out, and Dazzler was told not to fight, so she makes it look like the attack is part of the show.  She defeats the villain and removes her from the stage then before the next song opens, she tells everybody that she's a mutant and some of the people she works with are mutants and that she loves all of her fans.  

Not once during this issue, did I feel like Dazzler was in danger.  The book was fun and flashy and colorful and the art was good but it felt super cartoony.  This, like most of the X-Men books I've read recently, feels like Marvel is trying to cut back on the serious content.  It feels like they want to appeal to a younger audience.  And where I think having a broader appeal is a fantastic idea, I feel like they're trying to erase all of the interesting adult elements of the stories.  I'm still scratching my head over the claim that there was no throuple and what happened to Jubilee's son, Shogo?  It's a situation that I think Marvel may regret in the end.  Then again, maybe Dazzler wasn't written for me.  I'm not the only fan and there are people out there who don't like the kind of stories I like.  

Overall, this is a fun book.  It's beautifully illustrated, well written, and they put the Multiple Man to good use (I love me some well used Madrox).  Don't confuse my criticism for any dislike here.  I'll continue to read Dazzler even though I'd really like a little more meat.  It could very well be that the meat is on the way.  I'm giving it 6 out of 10 stars.  Fun to read, pretty to look at, just not as serious as I'd like.