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Mockingbird (2016) #1
Mockingbird, Vol. 1: I Can Explain
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Bobbi Morse, the former Avenger known as Mockingbird, goes solo in her own incredible adventures! With a scientific mind and a lethal mastery of martial arts, she's one of the most versatile, in-demand assets at Maria Hill's disposal - that makes her ideal for investigating strange goings-on in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own medical and recovery network. And when Lance Hunter's undercover gig at the London Hellfire Club goes south, Mockingbird sets off, battle staves at the ready, to save him - and the Queen of England! From helping out a teen driven bonkers by her own new powers, to doing a little dog-sitting, Bobbi shows that she's a woman of many talents as bestselling author Chelsea Cain and artist Kate Niemczyk make Mockingbird sing!
COLLECTING: MOCKINGBIRD: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1, MOCKINGBIRD 1-5
COLLECTING: MOCKINGBIRD: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1, MOCKINGBIRD 1-5
136 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2016
50 people are currently reading
2630 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Cain
88 books3,795 followersChelsea Cain is the New York Times bestselling author of the Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell thrillers Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill You Twice, and Let Me Go. Her next book One Kick (August, 2014) will be the first in her Kick Lannigan thriller series. Her book Heartsick was named one of the best 100 thrillers ever written by NPR, and Heartsick and Sweetheart were named among Stephen King's Top Ten Books of the Year. Her books have been featured on HBO's True Blood and on ABC's Castle. Cain lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
February 5, 2023
A superbly crafted golden five issues of a truly female led and centric hero book that blows all previous incarnations of Mockingbird out of the water! Without doubt one of the best female led Marvel books ever written, which says a lot about Marvel's history, and not good things!
Chelsea Cain like quite a few big writers before her, came to Marvel with her own non-corporate led agenda, hers being one of truly empowering a female character in the Marvel universe and not at all subtlety, which is why I liked this work so much :D It's quite painful reading for Marvel fans as it overtly exposes the male lens this reality is seen through, but I still didn't expect the backlash from some fanboys, which just further underlined the points she was making. An easy 9 out of 12, Four Star read.
2016 read
Chelsea Cain like quite a few big writers before her, came to Marvel with her own non-corporate led agenda, hers being one of truly empowering a female character in the Marvel universe and not at all subtlety, which is why I liked this work so much :D It's quite painful reading for Marvel fans as it overtly exposes the male lens this reality is seen through, but I still didn't expect the backlash from some fanboys, which just further underlined the points she was making. An easy 9 out of 12, Four Star read.
2016 read
September 21, 2017
According to the author, the neat-o thing with this comic is that you read the 1st issue (which, while fun, makes not a whole lot of sense), then read the next 3 issues, then go back and read the first issue - because now you'll get the inside jokes - then read issue #5 for the grande finale!
So, of course, that's what I did.
Ok, so the 1st issue is a bit of nothing in particular, but it has a silly sort of goodness to it. Bobbi is basically showing up for doctor's appointments at a S.H.I.E.L.D. clinic and odd things happen at said visits.
The next 3 issues are all stories of the missions she's going on inbetween those doctor's visits. The best was the underwater reunion with ex-husband Clint (Hawkeye), but I also enjoyed the stuff at the Hellfire club with whatshisname in the Union Jack undies.
The last issue was a bit of a letdown, though. It felt chaotic and not in a good way. The ending was...
Well, I don't know whether it was cheesy or awesome. But I'm interested in seeing what happens next, so I'm willing to call that a win. Besides, the title is mostly character driven and I genuinely liked the characters. Especially Bobbi, who I knew next to nothing about before this.
Visually, I thought it was fabulous! Very expressive faces, and (bonus!) Bobbi was beautifully drawn without looking ho-ish.
This was a good first volume that introduced me to a cool character I might otherwise have ignored.
Definitely recommended!
So, of course, that's what I did.
Ok, so the 1st issue is a bit of nothing in particular, but it has a silly sort of goodness to it. Bobbi is basically showing up for doctor's appointments at a S.H.I.E.L.D. clinic and odd things happen at said visits.
The next 3 issues are all stories of the missions she's going on inbetween those doctor's visits. The best was the underwater reunion with ex-husband Clint (Hawkeye), but I also enjoyed the stuff at the Hellfire club with whatshisname in the Union Jack undies.
The last issue was a bit of a letdown, though. It felt chaotic and not in a good way. The ending was...
Well, I don't know whether it was cheesy or awesome. But I'm interested in seeing what happens next, so I'm willing to call that a win. Besides, the title is mostly character driven and I genuinely liked the characters. Especially Bobbi, who I knew next to nothing about before this.
Visually, I thought it was fabulous! Very expressive faces, and (bonus!) Bobbi was beautifully drawn without looking ho-ish.
This was a good first volume that introduced me to a cool character I might otherwise have ignored.
Definitely recommended!
January 8, 2019
Barbara “Bobbi” Morse, aka Mockingbird, got dead.
Nick Fury injected her with some juiced stuff, aka some Infinity Formula and Super-Soldier Serum, that he found in the back of the SHIELD breakroom fridge behind a carton of old Shrimp Egg Fu Yung, and now Mockingbird is all better.
Except for some quick to temper moments.
SHIELD is on top of it with weekly exams…
…and nothing escapes the crack SHIELD medical team.
So, no worries.
Kinda…
From here, Mockingbird gets to rescue the trussed up, semi-dimwitted men in her life.
Bottom line: Cain/Niemczyk do a nice job mixing the humor, including a meditation on what it’s like to want to grow up to be a superhero…
…and the requisite action.
The quibble I have is that these types of light weight approaches to capes and cowls (see where it all began with Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye run) have now become a formula – humor, action, some clever banter, some meta-hijinks and now the formula is starting to crack. With female super heroes it’s developed into a sub-formula, just insert addle-brained dude super hero. Marvel ran the Kate Bishop: Hawkeye title through similar paces. And it also includes Clint Barton as the aforementioned requisite addle-brained dude. Poor Clint, it must be all the blows to the noggin.
*sigh*
Still, this was a fun three and a half stars rounded up.
Nick Fury injected her with some juiced stuff, aka some Infinity Formula and Super-Soldier Serum, that he found in the back of the SHIELD breakroom fridge behind a carton of old Shrimp Egg Fu Yung, and now Mockingbird is all better.
Except for some quick to temper moments.
SHIELD is on top of it with weekly exams…
…and nothing escapes the crack SHIELD medical team.
So, no worries.
Kinda…
From here, Mockingbird gets to rescue the trussed up, semi-dimwitted men in her life.
Bottom line: Cain/Niemczyk do a nice job mixing the humor, including a meditation on what it’s like to want to grow up to be a superhero…
…and the requisite action.
The quibble I have is that these types of light weight approaches to capes and cowls (see where it all began with Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye run) have now become a formula – humor, action, some clever banter, some meta-hijinks and now the formula is starting to crack. With female super heroes it’s developed into a sub-formula, just insert addle-brained dude super hero. Marvel ran the Kate Bishop: Hawkeye title through similar paces. And it also includes Clint Barton as the aforementioned requisite addle-brained dude. Poor Clint, it must be all the blows to the noggin.
*sigh*
Still, this was a fun three and a half stars rounded up.
April 12, 2018
Bobbi Morse, aka Mockingbird, is a SHIELD agent. Part of her SHIELD insurance dictates that she go to the health clinic every week. So what's with the new super powers she's been exhibiting? And the zombies? And the Corgi?
After her appearances in The Unstoppable Wasp, I needed more Mockingbird. Once again, my Marvel Unlimited subscription was justified.
Mockingbird is a fun comic, the story told in an interesting way. The first issue details her various visits to the SHIELD health clinic. The subsequent four issues reveal what happened in between the visits and explain the weirdness.
Since my only previous exposure to Mockingbird prior to the Unstoppable Wasp was a fistful of West Coast Avengers issues, this was a pretty good intro to Bobbi Morse, biochemist/SHIELD agent turned super hero. In between her trips to the clinic, she encounters super villains, the Hellfire Club, and a frightened teenage girl with super powers.
Bobbi is a smart, funny character, far from the angry woman Hawkeye divorced years ago in West Coast Avengers. Hawkeye, in fact, makes an appearance. She's confident but still struggling to be a super hero in a world where most of the super heroes are men. There are jokes but I didn't feel like they detracted from the story like I did in Infamous Iron Man. The humor was natural, not forced, in other words.
It was entertaining but I might pass on the next volume since it looks like it probably got cancelled in mid-stream. Thanks again, Marvel. Three out of five stars.
After her appearances in The Unstoppable Wasp, I needed more Mockingbird. Once again, my Marvel Unlimited subscription was justified.
Mockingbird is a fun comic, the story told in an interesting way. The first issue details her various visits to the SHIELD health clinic. The subsequent four issues reveal what happened in between the visits and explain the weirdness.
Since my only previous exposure to Mockingbird prior to the Unstoppable Wasp was a fistful of West Coast Avengers issues, this was a pretty good intro to Bobbi Morse, biochemist/SHIELD agent turned super hero. In between her trips to the clinic, she encounters super villains, the Hellfire Club, and a frightened teenage girl with super powers.
Bobbi is a smart, funny character, far from the angry woman Hawkeye divorced years ago in West Coast Avengers. Hawkeye, in fact, makes an appearance. She's confident but still struggling to be a super hero in a world where most of the super heroes are men. There are jokes but I didn't feel like they detracted from the story like I did in Infamous Iron Man. The humor was natural, not forced, in other words.
It was entertaining but I might pass on the next volume since it looks like it probably got cancelled in mid-stream. Thanks again, Marvel. Three out of five stars.
December 7, 2016
Mock - yeah! Ing - yeah! Bird - yeah! YEAH! - yeah...
Bobbi Morse is Mockingbird, an Agent of SHIELD Barbie doll who does superhero stuff while having perfect hair. Honestly, I don’t know who this character is. I don’t read the SHIELD comic, I don’t watch the Agents of SHIELD TV show, maybe she’s in one of those, whatever. I has likes and dislikes about her character from what I’ve read in Chelsea Cain’s pretty decent comic but I would’ve liked a primer on Bobbi for readers like me who know nothing about her. There are references to her dying and coming back to life and some dude called Lance - I don’t know about any of that.
I’m getting pretty sick of every other Marvel character being a super genius scientist. I mean, really guys, can you at least attempt some originality for once? Bobbi is a super genius scientist who’s also psychic, has super strength (in one scene anyway), is a martial arts master, and can fly thanks to a pair of glowing wings that I’m guessing she made because she’s a super genius scientist/engineer? And she’s a knockout beauty. I know all of that junk is par for the course with superhero comics, but still, it’s fucking stupid that we seem to always get flawless protagonists. Gimme a break.
But I liked how Cain wrote Bobbi with a strong sense of humour which was similar to Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye. And speaking of Clint Barton (who’s Bobbi’s ex-hubby) he appears in the strongest issue as the two team up to fight underwater scientists. That issue was so funny with the flashbacks to Clint/Bobbi’s couples’ therapy, and the two characters have such great chemistry - kudos to Cain for the stellar dialogue.
There’s no real story to this volume though and the structure is unnecessarily complicated. The first issue is followed by three issues which are all prequels to the first issue, and then the fifth issue connects up to the first issue - I don’t know why it’s done like that or how it benefits the book.
And, besides the Hawkeye issue, I wasn’t wowed by the other stories: Bobbi having an S&M adventure at the London chapter of the Hellfire Club, saving some teen with powers in NYC, and fighting zombies. That last one is the wraparound story - SHIELD injected Bobbi’s DNA into corpses for some reason; the fuck was that supposed to accomplish!? It just seems like some people at SHIELD are just fucking around for shits and gigs!
Kate Niemczyk’s art was wunnerful, very cool-looking and creative, very clean lines. If you’re a fan of DC’s Grayson series, you might want to check out Mockingbird as there are a number of shredded guys walking around in just tight-fitting shorts for you to sploosh over! Joelle Jones’ covers and the special she drew were also excellent.
The art, the Hawkeye issue, and the overall characterisation of Bobbi were the highlights for me but the majority of stories were disappointingly weak. Mockingbird, Volume 1: I Can Explain isn’t an amazing book but for a relatively unknown character it was unexpectedly fun at times. It’s definitely not among the majority of crap that Marvel are publishing at the moment either - fans of Fraction/Aja’s Hawkeye run (and presumably the various SHIELD stuff out there) might especially enjoy this.
Bobbi Morse is Mockingbird, an Agent of SHIELD Barbie doll who does superhero stuff while having perfect hair. Honestly, I don’t know who this character is. I don’t read the SHIELD comic, I don’t watch the Agents of SHIELD TV show, maybe she’s in one of those, whatever. I has likes and dislikes about her character from what I’ve read in Chelsea Cain’s pretty decent comic but I would’ve liked a primer on Bobbi for readers like me who know nothing about her. There are references to her dying and coming back to life and some dude called Lance - I don’t know about any of that.
I’m getting pretty sick of every other Marvel character being a super genius scientist. I mean, really guys, can you at least attempt some originality for once? Bobbi is a super genius scientist who’s also psychic, has super strength (in one scene anyway), is a martial arts master, and can fly thanks to a pair of glowing wings that I’m guessing she made because she’s a super genius scientist/engineer? And she’s a knockout beauty. I know all of that junk is par for the course with superhero comics, but still, it’s fucking stupid that we seem to always get flawless protagonists. Gimme a break.
But I liked how Cain wrote Bobbi with a strong sense of humour which was similar to Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye. And speaking of Clint Barton (who’s Bobbi’s ex-hubby) he appears in the strongest issue as the two team up to fight underwater scientists. That issue was so funny with the flashbacks to Clint/Bobbi’s couples’ therapy, and the two characters have such great chemistry - kudos to Cain for the stellar dialogue.
There’s no real story to this volume though and the structure is unnecessarily complicated. The first issue is followed by three issues which are all prequels to the first issue, and then the fifth issue connects up to the first issue - I don’t know why it’s done like that or how it benefits the book.
And, besides the Hawkeye issue, I wasn’t wowed by the other stories: Bobbi having an S&M adventure at the London chapter of the Hellfire Club, saving some teen with powers in NYC, and fighting zombies. That last one is the wraparound story - SHIELD injected Bobbi’s DNA into corpses for some reason; the fuck was that supposed to accomplish!? It just seems like some people at SHIELD are just fucking around for shits and gigs!
Kate Niemczyk’s art was wunnerful, very cool-looking and creative, very clean lines. If you’re a fan of DC’s Grayson series, you might want to check out Mockingbird as there are a number of shredded guys walking around in just tight-fitting shorts for you to sploosh over! Joelle Jones’ covers and the special she drew were also excellent.
The art, the Hawkeye issue, and the overall characterisation of Bobbi were the highlights for me but the majority of stories were disappointingly weak. Mockingbird, Volume 1: I Can Explain isn’t an amazing book but for a relatively unknown character it was unexpectedly fun at times. It’s definitely not among the majority of crap that Marvel are publishing at the moment either - fans of Fraction/Aja’s Hawkeye run (and presumably the various SHIELD stuff out there) might especially enjoy this.
June 5, 2025
"Okay - zombies up ahead. Remember, they're dead. You can't hurt them . . . Just do what I do and don't ask questions, and don't breathe through your nose - and don't throw up on me." -- Bobbi Morse, a.k.a. 'Mockingbird,' ready to kick ass and take names
"Have you ever taught high school? You've got the disposition for it." -- Miles Morales. a.k.a. Spider-Man
After a few lackluster graphic novels last week (this one's for YOU, ever-plummeting The Mighty Avengers series) it is nice to fall back into a jaunt that is intelligently written but yet doesn't take itself too seriously. Wisely acquiring novelist Chelsea Cain to handle the writing responsibilities - a non-traditional angle of sorts, much like Rainbow Rowell doing a bang-up job penning a recent She-Hulk title - Mockingbird features the longtime S.H.I.E.L.D. field operative / former spouse of Hawkeye on an espionage-ish solo adventure. (For those unfamiliar with this character, the easiest shorthand is to combine those 'particular set of skills' per Marvel's Black Widow, then cross-match with the appearance of DC's Black Canary, and there ya go.) Anyway, as written by Ms Cain, Mockingbird - a first-rate action lady who is also a trained biochemist, so she's deadly but absolutely nobody's fool - ruminates on the increasingly ridiculous but potentially lethal situations with consistently humorous thought boxes and dialogue. (A cutaway segment gag - briefly noting 'other things that people thought might work' and listing hydrogen-powered airships, Apple's 'Newton' PDA device, subprime mortgages and Marxism - made me laugh out loud with its sudden but welcome appearance.) The ever-fluid tone / genre-hopping can be tricky things to capture, but it is done well here by Ms Cain. I had no problem imagining actress Jennifer Lawrence owning this role in a silver-screen adaptation.
"Have you ever taught high school? You've got the disposition for it." -- Miles Morales. a.k.a. Spider-Man
After a few lackluster graphic novels last week (this one's for YOU, ever-plummeting The Mighty Avengers series) it is nice to fall back into a jaunt that is intelligently written but yet doesn't take itself too seriously. Wisely acquiring novelist Chelsea Cain to handle the writing responsibilities - a non-traditional angle of sorts, much like Rainbow Rowell doing a bang-up job penning a recent She-Hulk title - Mockingbird features the longtime S.H.I.E.L.D. field operative / former spouse of Hawkeye on an espionage-ish solo adventure. (For those unfamiliar with this character, the easiest shorthand is to combine those 'particular set of skills' per Marvel's Black Widow, then cross-match with the appearance of DC's Black Canary, and there ya go.) Anyway, as written by Ms Cain, Mockingbird - a first-rate action lady who is also a trained biochemist, so she's deadly but absolutely nobody's fool - ruminates on the increasingly ridiculous but potentially lethal situations with consistently humorous thought boxes and dialogue. (A cutaway segment gag - briefly noting 'other things that people thought might work' and listing hydrogen-powered airships, Apple's 'Newton' PDA device, subprime mortgages and Marxism - made me laugh out loud with its sudden but welcome appearance.) The ever-fluid tone / genre-hopping can be tricky things to capture, but it is done well here by Ms Cain. I had no problem imagining actress Jennifer Lawrence owning this role in a silver-screen adaptation.
July 6, 2017
Bobbi Morse is a comic about the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. character by Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk, four issues, with the inclusion of the 50th Anniversary comic event by Cain and Joelle Jones. I read it because I am apparently attempting this summer to drown myself in strong girl/women comics, and it appears I might just be able to do it, there’s so much out there (though then Mockingbird would just save me from drowning).
We get little background on Mockingbird in this comic, so I imagine the second volume will take care of that, if I decide to stick around that long. What we do know is that she is this super genius math science whiz, with added psychic powers. Cain writes funny, which is also a good thing in a superhero comic for me, that it doesn't take itself too seriously.
“I'm a good person. I eat pretty well. I work out. I go to bookstores. I save people. For a living. I have better things to do than get hauled in for a medical checkup every week. Have I complained the last few months? Constantly. Was I a good patient? No. What can I say? When your primary care provider is a shadowy government agency, you have to be your own medical advocate.”
I dunno, I liked it, it felt fresh and funny, and since I am watching the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on Netflix, I like the connections there. Not great storylines, but it’s a good start! Hmm, maybe 3.5.
We get little background on Mockingbird in this comic, so I imagine the second volume will take care of that, if I decide to stick around that long. What we do know is that she is this super genius math science whiz, with added psychic powers. Cain writes funny, which is also a good thing in a superhero comic for me, that it doesn't take itself too seriously.
“I'm a good person. I eat pretty well. I work out. I go to bookstores. I save people. For a living. I have better things to do than get hauled in for a medical checkup every week. Have I complained the last few months? Constantly. Was I a good patient? No. What can I say? When your primary care provider is a shadowy government agency, you have to be your own medical advocate.”
I dunno, I liked it, it felt fresh and funny, and since I am watching the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on Netflix, I like the connections there. Not great storylines, but it’s a good start! Hmm, maybe 3.5.
January 8, 2019
This was a lot of fun. Mockingbird is filled with a sharp wit, martial arts skills, ...and psychic powers? Told in what the author calls a puzzle box format. The first issue is told over the course of the month while the next 3 issues are single issues which fill in the gaps. Followed by the last issue which wraps everything up. The series brings some of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show into the mix by bringing in Lance Hunter as a love interest. The art in the book is quite good.
April 8, 2020
I expected this mini-series being just a money-grabbing one to lure fans of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D show and its Marvel's Most Wanted cancelled before release tie-in, and Lance Hunter character appearing here seemed to confirm it initially, but this random read was a real good one instead.
Probably more a ☆☆☆-☆☆☆ 1/2 read but artworks were great ones, the Clint-Bobbi reunion issue was too much hilarious, and the puzzle-box format was a real nice touch: essentially after readin #1 you can read issues #2-#4 in sequence or not before re-reading first story to fully appreciate it.
Such a shame this title ended cancelled too like the overmentioned tv show.
Note for fans of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. show newbie to Marvel comics: the Lance Hunter character appearing here never been Bobbi's husband, she was previously married to Clint Burton/Hawkeye.
'Nuff said.
April 25, 2017
Wow another surprise. I guess maybe I should check out more books I had no interest in for marvel vs the big names.
So after enjoying Gwenpool I decided to try this one out. I really really had fun with this one once more. The negatives let's get out the way first. I didn't love the last issue. I felt it wrapped up to quickly. I also didn't love the plotline, I felt it was jumbled (on purpose but still) and didn't have a satisfying ending. I just didn't like Issue 5 too much.
Now issue 1-4? Super enjoyable fun time. The first issue does a great job of introducing you to Bobbi. I have no clue who this person is and I love comics. She's a Shield agent ready to whoop some butt. But as issue 2-4 show you it's not as simple as that. Some really fun twist and turns, a solid supporting cast, great dialog, and stellar art make this a ton of fun to read.
I'd rate it around a 3.5 because I did have a lot of fun. If only I enjoyed the final issue more and also the story structure it be damn great. But still very much worth the read!
So after enjoying Gwenpool I decided to try this one out. I really really had fun with this one once more. The negatives let's get out the way first. I didn't love the last issue. I felt it wrapped up to quickly. I also didn't love the plotline, I felt it was jumbled (on purpose but still) and didn't have a satisfying ending. I just didn't like Issue 5 too much.
Now issue 1-4? Super enjoyable fun time. The first issue does a great job of introducing you to Bobbi. I have no clue who this person is and I love comics. She's a Shield agent ready to whoop some butt. But as issue 2-4 show you it's not as simple as that. Some really fun twist and turns, a solid supporting cast, great dialog, and stellar art make this a ton of fun to read.
I'd rate it around a 3.5 because I did have a lot of fun. If only I enjoyed the final issue more and also the story structure it be damn great. But still very much worth the read!
February 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this one. Chelsea Cain told her first Mockingbird story in a refreshing way that I've not seen done before in superhero comicbooks (and, over the last forty years, I've read a LOT of superhero comics).
The book has a nice mix of action and humour and, best of all, I think it's one that will really reward multiple re-reads. I'm looking forward to volume two.
The book has a nice mix of action and humour and, best of all, I think it's one that will really reward multiple re-reads. I'm looking forward to volume two.
October 23, 2016
Also available on the WondousBooks blog.
Do you know what the best thing about Mockingbird is? It's just awesome. That's it. Literally.
I feel like this series is entirely too underrated. I know that it has been gaining popularity. But still, by no means is Mockingbird one of the characters that you would think of if someone put the words "badass, "female", "Marvel", and "character" together in a sentence. And that would be sad.
Bobbi is, quite simply put, a hero that I would aspire to be like. And by that I mean sarcastic. The thing about her is that as much as she kicks ass and saves the world, she does it with humor, a sense of irony, and so much sarcasm. She is fantastic. True, she goes crazy, but so do all of us. That's why I find her so easy to relate to. She is basically all of us, those who have ever wanted to be superheroes, but never really got the hang of it. Except that she did, which is what makes her the centerpiece of this entire review, obviously. And most of all, her Corgis. Everywhere. It's a series about a Corgi queen. I kid you not. On second thought, maybe that's why I can relate to Bobbi. I dream of having my own Corgi army.
Additionally, I loved the art of the first few issues of Mockingbird. Just as they ruined the Batgirl art for me, there came Mockingbird, which was just as awesome. I found everything about the art very pretty, yet simple, yet funny and full of hilarious little details, familiar faces, and Easter eggs. What more could one want? For them not to ruin it? Oh, oops, they did. I didn't really like the last part of the volume. Uh...
I am not giving this volume the full 5 stars because as good as each issue was as a singular entity of sorts, the story didn't add up to enough for me to be in awe. Sure, it was overall alright. Very much so. But I expected more. A bigger conclusion, as far as one would go for a first volume. I was left going "Now it's coming... Any moment now... Yep, this is it... Um?"
That's not to say that I'm not going to continue reading on. Quite the opposite.
P.S. In case you are wondering about how close this Bobbi is to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Bobbi, not that much, for me. This one is much better.Look-wise? Yeah, Adrianne Palicki NAILED IT.
Do you know what the best thing about Mockingbird is? It's just awesome. That's it. Literally.
I feel like this series is entirely too underrated. I know that it has been gaining popularity. But still, by no means is Mockingbird one of the characters that you would think of if someone put the words "badass, "female", "Marvel", and "character" together in a sentence. And that would be sad.
Bobbi is, quite simply put, a hero that I would aspire to be like. And by that I mean sarcastic. The thing about her is that as much as she kicks ass and saves the world, she does it with humor, a sense of irony, and so much sarcasm. She is fantastic. True, she goes crazy, but so do all of us. That's why I find her so easy to relate to. She is basically all of us, those who have ever wanted to be superheroes, but never really got the hang of it. Except that she did, which is what makes her the centerpiece of this entire review, obviously. And most of all, her Corgis. Everywhere. It's a series about a Corgi queen. I kid you not. On second thought, maybe that's why I can relate to Bobbi. I dream of having my own Corgi army.
Additionally, I loved the art of the first few issues of Mockingbird. Just as they ruined the Batgirl art for me, there came Mockingbird, which was just as awesome. I found everything about the art very pretty, yet simple, yet funny and full of hilarious little details, familiar faces, and Easter eggs. What more could one want? For them not to ruin it? Oh, oops, they did. I didn't really like the last part of the volume. Uh...
I am not giving this volume the full 5 stars because as good as each issue was as a singular entity of sorts, the story didn't add up to enough for me to be in awe. Sure, it was overall alright. Very much so. But I expected more. A bigger conclusion, as far as one would go for a first volume. I was left going "Now it's coming... Any moment now... Yep, this is it... Um?"
That's not to say that I'm not going to continue reading on. Quite the opposite.
P.S. In case you are wondering about how close this Bobbi is to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Bobbi, not that much, for me. This one is much better.Look-wise? Yeah, Adrianne Palicki NAILED IT.
July 27, 2016
I really like Bobbi Morse on Agents of SHIELD, but I've never seen her in comics, so when this series was announced, I was interested. I didn't expect much, though, and boy, was I wrong!
Chelsea Cain's Mockingbird is great. It's kinda like Fraction's Hawkeye and Kot's Secret Avengers, with much more Girl Power (literally!) and a great concept to go with the series. It is described as "puzzle box", which means you can read each issue individually, as a stand-alone, in any order (I would recommend reading it in order, though), and it would inform some things in other issues. It's pretty clever and actually works — there are a lot of easter-eggs and small winks in the background for you to discover on a second read. And it is actually even fun to re-read! The writing is really good. It's funny, light-hearted, the dialogue feels very natural and Bobbi is absolutely adorable.
Art-wise, the book looks nice, but nothing too special. There are several artists here, but the look is pretty consistent throughout — and it gets the job done.
Anyway, Mockingbird is a great book that nobody seems to read. If you want to read a funny and smart Marvel comic, check it out!
Chelsea Cain's Mockingbird is great. It's kinda like Fraction's Hawkeye and Kot's Secret Avengers, with much more Girl Power (literally!) and a great concept to go with the series. It is described as "puzzle box", which means you can read each issue individually, as a stand-alone, in any order (I would recommend reading it in order, though), and it would inform some things in other issues. It's pretty clever and actually works — there are a lot of easter-eggs and small winks in the background for you to discover on a second read. And it is actually even fun to re-read! The writing is really good. It's funny, light-hearted, the dialogue feels very natural and Bobbi is absolutely adorable.
Art-wise, the book looks nice, but nothing too special. There are several artists here, but the look is pretty consistent throughout — and it gets the job done.
Anyway, Mockingbird is a great book that nobody seems to read. If you want to read a funny and smart Marvel comic, check it out!
February 10, 2017
4 stars
February 14, 2018
This was really fun. Pleasantly surprised.
November 6, 2016
Hilarious, with lovely art that's full of fun easter eggs. And technically just brilliant. You can read the five issues in any order, and they'll tell the same story, but with different parts illuminated.
I'm reduced to frantic jazz hands about how good this is. IT'S REALLY GOOD.
"Don't you want to be cured?"
"I'm not sick."
I'm reduced to frantic jazz hands about how good this is. IT'S REALLY GOOD.
"Don't you want to be cured?"
"I'm not sick."
May 9, 2018
19th book read in 2018.
Number 81 out of 679 on my all time book list.
Very good; surprisingly funny.
Number 81 out of 679 on my all time book list.
Very good; surprisingly funny.
July 12, 2021
Bobbi Morse is Mockingbird, aka Hawkeye's ex wife, aka Avenger adjacent semi hero who now has the super soldier serum and infinity formula coursing through her veins. Bobbi was always hyper intelligent and hyper competent but now she also is Captain America level strong. Too bad she doesn't really use any of that in this story.
Mockingbird as a series occasionally gives Bobbi a means to demonstrate her intelligence but it shows off more of her sarcasm than anything else. And that's all Marvel needs, is another sarcastic hero. Enter my sarcastic tone.
to continue to the full review please visit https://amanjareads.com/2021/07/01/mo...
Mockingbird as a series occasionally gives Bobbi a means to demonstrate her intelligence but it shows off more of her sarcasm than anything else. And that's all Marvel needs, is another sarcastic hero. Enter my sarcastic tone.
to continue to the full review please visit https://amanjareads.com/2021/07/01/mo...
June 16, 2018
Convoluted for convoluted's sake.
World: The art is solid, it's full of character and that's what I like in the art. The sense of motion could be a bit better. The world building is pretty solid, I know next to nothing about her and S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world building taught me. No info dumps just very nonchalant and I like that.
Story: On paper the story us interesting cause it not only introduced an interesting concept for a villain and the message Bobbi was trying to express in her narrative and at the same time the entire 5 issue arc was character driven with each of the three middle issues dealing with a different aspect of her life. Really strong personal voice. That being said the end was a bit janky and fast and also the puzzle box format was overly complex for no apparent reason an when the puzzle box was opened nothing wonderful was waiting there to justify it being a box in the first place.
Characters: Very strong character work and top notch dialog. The personality of Bobbi just oozes out of the dialog and art making her immediately recognizable and relatable. Her interactions to the rest of the cast is great, from big action moments to quiet bedside banter, so good.
I liked it, I didn't love it. The overly complex structure didn't reward readers but rather just made for a janky read.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is solid, it's full of character and that's what I like in the art. The sense of motion could be a bit better. The world building is pretty solid, I know next to nothing about her and S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world building taught me. No info dumps just very nonchalant and I like that.
Story: On paper the story us interesting cause it not only introduced an interesting concept for a villain and the message Bobbi was trying to express in her narrative and at the same time the entire 5 issue arc was character driven with each of the three middle issues dealing with a different aspect of her life. Really strong personal voice. That being said the end was a bit janky and fast and also the puzzle box format was overly complex for no apparent reason an when the puzzle box was opened nothing wonderful was waiting there to justify it being a box in the first place.
Characters: Very strong character work and top notch dialog. The personality of Bobbi just oozes out of the dialog and art making her immediately recognizable and relatable. Her interactions to the rest of the cast is great, from big action moments to quiet bedside banter, so good.
I liked it, I didn't love it. The overly complex structure didn't reward readers but rather just made for a janky read.
Onward to the next book!
December 21, 2017
Solid start to the sassy Mockingbird series. Bobbi Morse has the super-soldier serum and the infinity formula making her a serious badass, she works with S.H.I.E.L.D but they are not featured very much in this book and I was kind of glad. This was my first intro in Mockingbird and it reminded me a lot of the newer Kate Bishop series, I think it was written around the same time. The story follows Bobbi as she is getting constantly evaluated by SHIELD for her powers because she is a bit unstable considering her superhero cocktail. As she gets evaluated we get some back story about her relationship with Hawkeye and Lance Hunter. After that the book comes full circle to her SHIELD evaluations and it opens up the story to a bigger plot. The writing is fun, humorous, and sharp. The art is detailed well done.
June 7, 2018
A weird one to review. The first issue was just a series of visits to the doctor. The next 3 issues were missions she went one, the one underwster with Hawkeye was the best and really was the star of the show. The final issue was a mess but I did enjoy it overall. Dont expect a linear story, and Cain does explain this after issue one. Cool art, some solid humor and ok story telling.
March 25, 2019
I love this graphic novel and then art style.
June 24, 2017
This book kicked up all sorts of internet snot when it started rolling out, being all "guys aren't the overlords of every story" and "chicks can do cool shit too". Which often makes me want to rage-read something like this just to make sure rub it in the internet's face, and "I'll show them". And it pays off most of the time, because whenever the red-pill brigade gets their tighty-whiteys in a knot, there's sure to be something a little close to home that actually touches one of their last functional nerves.
Bobbi is the kind of completely self-sufficient character we need more of in comics. Not that she wins everything with her eyes closed, but rather that she doesn't even pretend to think she needs anyone else to help her figure out a way to solve whatever is in front of her.
Bobbi is like Captain Marvel without the self-destructive impulsive streak. Or the awe-inspiring super-powers. Which makes Bobbi a little more relatable (if intimidating as hell for how smart she is).
I think it's fantastic that they gender-swapped the usual "she's skimpy and he's fully clothed" narrative:
Or played with it in other ways:
And I'm fully invested in how often Bobbi brings up here science background and relates to nearly everything through her Ph.D.
(Just a typical moment with Bobbi)
I'm less enthused about the often-weak sense of humour. And the art seems kinda rough in places.
Sweet in a slightly naive way though:
And subversive on the power dynamics in her previous relationship with Hawkeye:
Good, not mind-blowing, but a solid read and I'll be back for the second half of this too-short run.
Bobbi is the kind of completely self-sufficient character we need more of in comics. Not that she wins everything with her eyes closed, but rather that she doesn't even pretend to think she needs anyone else to help her figure out a way to solve whatever is in front of her.
Bobbi is like Captain Marvel without the self-destructive impulsive streak. Or the awe-inspiring super-powers. Which makes Bobbi a little more relatable (if intimidating as hell for how smart she is).
I think it's fantastic that they gender-swapped the usual "she's skimpy and he's fully clothed" narrative:
Or played with it in other ways:
And I'm fully invested in how often Bobbi brings up here science background and relates to nearly everything through her Ph.D.
(Just a typical moment with Bobbi)
I'm less enthused about the often-weak sense of humour. And the art seems kinda rough in places.
Sweet in a slightly naive way though:
And subversive on the power dynamics in her previous relationship with Hawkeye:
Good, not mind-blowing, but a solid read and I'll be back for the second half of this too-short run.
October 17, 2016
[Read as single issues]
This is a very clever book. I haven't had a chance to sit and re-read it again, but it begs to be re-read. The first five issues of the ongoing series collected here (alongside the 50th Anniversary special) are designed to be read in different orders, and you unlock more of the story each time as you notice more subtle things that only make sense in hindsight. It's literally a puzzlebox of comics, and that is amazing.
Bobbi contracts a mysterious illness, and must find out how and why this has happened to her - along the way she visits an undersea lab, the Hellfire Club, corgis, and a SHIELD medical clinic full of zombies. Yep.
There's also Mockingbird kicking ass, Clint Barton and Lance Hunter running around with no shirts on, and gorgeous artwork by Kate Niemczyk who invokes Frank Cho but without the creepy cheesecake-ness and dinosaur obsession.
You like spy stories? Check. Horror stuff? Check. Weird paranormal science? Double check. A story that slots together in different ways each time you read it, begging to be re-read? Triple, quadruple, mega-check. In short: Mockingbird should be on your radar.
This is a very clever book. I haven't had a chance to sit and re-read it again, but it begs to be re-read. The first five issues of the ongoing series collected here (alongside the 50th Anniversary special) are designed to be read in different orders, and you unlock more of the story each time as you notice more subtle things that only make sense in hindsight. It's literally a puzzlebox of comics, and that is amazing.
Bobbi contracts a mysterious illness, and must find out how and why this has happened to her - along the way she visits an undersea lab, the Hellfire Club, corgis, and a SHIELD medical clinic full of zombies. Yep.
There's also Mockingbird kicking ass, Clint Barton and Lance Hunter running around with no shirts on, and gorgeous artwork by Kate Niemczyk who invokes Frank Cho but without the creepy cheesecake-ness and dinosaur obsession.
You like spy stories? Check. Horror stuff? Check. Weird paranormal science? Double check. A story that slots together in different ways each time you read it, begging to be re-read? Triple, quadruple, mega-check. In short: Mockingbird should be on your radar.
October 17, 2016
This book is SO cool! The author refers to it as a "puzzle box" comic, where you can read the five issues in any order, they all inform each other, and the more you read them, the more you see. It's very cool, and very well-written. I ADORE Bobbi's voice in this book! Plus, there's so much science as Bobbi makes good use of her phd, and she's wonderfully sarcastic while she does it.
"What's that smell?"
"My dripping disdain."
It's so fun! So good!!
"What's that smell?"
"My dripping disdain."
It's so fun! So good!!
December 1, 2016
Fantastic. A great blend of action and humor.
August 29, 2017
Review to come.
But it's safe to say I have a new comic crush.
April 30, 2017
Bobbi is a kickass smart and brilliant character and the artwork is fantastic! The story arc was a bit confusing at times but I can't wait to read the next installment.
Read
August 6, 2018Update: I posted my review, with a delay.
http://www.bogireadstheworld.com/shor...
I am leaving my previous comments here, too:
The story really did not work for me (I thought the art was cool), but I do not want to come across as one of the huge "anti-feminist" crowd who harassed the author or even to give the slightest impression of adding to the pile. I think harassing people is very wrong and no one should be subjected to that. So I wrote something to vent my personal frustration with the story, but I am not posting it now; I might post it later (as in, months later). I just want to say something because I've noticed that an increasing amount of people follow my GR acc and add things to their TBR based on what I've read, even when I've said nothing about the books in question... which increasingly results in people adding books I actually disliked, just didn't take the time to review.
In a nutshell: if you are a comic reader who wants to pick this up for the feminism, and for you feminism means something intersectional, Mockingbird might not be a good choice for you personally. (Better picks IMO: Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Black Panther)
http://www.bogireadstheworld.com/shor...
I am leaving my previous comments here, too:
The story really did not work for me (I thought the art was cool), but I do not want to come across as one of the huge "anti-feminist" crowd who harassed the author or even to give the slightest impression of adding to the pile. I think harassing people is very wrong and no one should be subjected to that. So I wrote something to vent my personal frustration with the story, but I am not posting it now; I might post it later (as in, months later). I just want to say something because I've noticed that an increasing amount of people follow my GR acc and add things to their TBR based on what I've read, even when I've said nothing about the books in question... which increasingly results in people adding books I actually disliked, just didn't take the time to review.
In a nutshell: if you are a comic reader who wants to pick this up for the feminism, and for you feminism means something intersectional, Mockingbird might not be a good choice for you personally. (Better picks IMO: Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Black Panther)
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