Jen’s relationship with her new client is becoming a bit deadly.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Art: Nico Leon
Colors: Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
What They Say:
HAUNTED BY SPECTERS OF THE PAST! Trying to rebuild her own life and law career, JENNIFER WALTERS is determined to help her newest client, MAISE BREWN, a woman on the verge of eviction and a massive nervous meltdown. Once an outgoing yoga instructor, a brutal attack changed Maise’s life forever. Now a reclusive shut-in, Maise wants Jen’s help…More than that, she wants a promise, that Jen will help her keep her home. And if Jen can’t, Maise has another plan, a menacing force of her own. What happens when a fear is so strong, it becomes a destructive force in its own right? Jen is about to find out.
Content: (warning, content section may contain spoilers)
Jen Walters has not had an easy time lately. She’s trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, entering law again and all. Her first case brought her in contact with a woman named Maise Brewn, who made Jen promise that she wouldn’t lose the place she was staying in, but also seems to have a dark presence as back up. This issue gives us a rundown of exactly what made Maise a shut-in in the first place, and we then cut to the Law office Jen works for. Jen (and the reader) learns that Maise, despite Jen’s efforts, is still being evicted. Jen’s had no luck reaching her. Jen goes down to the…rather questionable building Ms. Brewn is staying at, and enters her space to speak with her. upon hearing that her landlord sold the building and remodeling is to occur, Maise becomes angry and distraught and unleashed whatever said it would protect her. We’ll have to wait until next issue to find out what it is.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag, this comic. I won’t go so far as to say it’s bad, but we do start to develop problems here. For the most part, Tamaki has spend a good amount of time admirably and fantastically covering the subject of PTSD and trauma and how it can affect people, but there’s only so many times you can repeat something before an audience gets tired. Tamaki has spent several issue having Jen explore how the trauma of Civil War II and the death of her cousin Bruce Banner has affected her life, but so far, aside from the case with Ms. Brewn, we’ve covered the exact same topic several times in a circular fashion, and as well as things have been handled and as amazing as the art is, We have yet to see Hulk in any real capacity besides Jen trying to force her anger back.
Taking things slow is a good thing, but there is such a thing as too slow, and this story needs to pick up before we hit that point. That isn’t to say this issue is all bad though, behind the rather poor pacing, the comic boasts the absolutely amazing art of Nico Leon, and it really is great here. The scene with Maise and Jen is great, and the dialogue is ok in most places while being shaky in others. The tone remains one of forward motion, trying to show Jen trying to move forward after trauma, but the creative team needs to pick up the pace a bit. Jen and Maise are the best parts of the book so far, and it’s time to step it up a bit. It’s not a bad issue, but it definitely could be better.
Grade: C+
Released By: Marvel Comics
Release Date: March 22, 2017
MSRP: $3.99
