Kamala leads the team against the Disir in Champions No. 6
By Alex Widen
How Long Is a Marvel Character Still “New?”
Dusk, who arguably has more experience than the entire team, checks in on Kamala. After needing Cyclops to rally behind her in a special one time guest appearance last issue, Ms. Marvel cannot hold up the facade anymore. She’s long been the spiritual heart and unofficial leader of the Champions, even back when their team structure was undefined. But in a short time, her stint as “official” leader has led to skeletons within her closet, and she cannot bare them anymore. Is she quitting, or merely stepping back?
Image by Marvel Comics
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Although not quite as heartwarming and satisfying as the previous issue, Jim Zub puts together a fast paced, if not slightly predictable, affair. The battle between the Champions and the Disir was never really in doubt. And while Zub has made plenty of emotional hay out of Mephisto’s deal, this run may also be notable for something else. In a universe where dozens of newer and younger characters are stars for a year or two, then dumped to the obscurity of the Marvel Handbook, Zub has managed to mix in deserved cameos, if not team memberships, to those who were lost.
Image by Marvel Comics
It’s only in looking back at when some of these characters were crafted that it becomes staggering how deeply entrenched franchises created during Vietnam or World War II are. More than one of these characters have kicked around a decade — Dust almost two — yet here they are on a second string team. It’s great to see characters like Dust and Power Man have a chance to step up, as well as forgotten treasures like Hummingbird who once again have a chance to shine. It may not translate to sales success, but it’s gold for fans of newer, more diverse, and obscure heroes.
Image by Marvel Comics