FemForce # 190
Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fiercest of them all?
Sorry, She-Cat, it looks like your feral doppelganger is going to tear you to pieces!
Eric Coile and Bill Black provide the striking image for the cover, one I would highly consider using for a Halloween display. Fashion First. The burnt orange of She-Cat’s costume is a nice contrast to the green and yellow background, emphasizing the feral beast and the (I want one) skeleton mirror.
Containing three separate tales, for the introductory story, Eric Coile provides pencils with Bill Black performing all the other duties, including lavish dark inks. The book has a 70s, curvy vibe; Franzetta with the Kirby dynamics. While all the female character’s cuppeth runneth over, none of them seem terminally cold. The events depicted on the cover occur on the splash page with the return of fan favorite, General Roberta Strock. Long before Samuel L Jackson, she was the Nick Fury for FemForce. Before she can save the day, she is scuttled away by synthestophic creations. Their monologues are interrupted by Nightveil, returning with a new name and costume. More insanity ensues as Alizarin Crimson collects the members of FemForce, which is okay since more characters seem to be on their way. General Roberta Strock finally gets her “yup, this is FemForce moment,” which reminded me I like garter belts and stockings. Things get worse for our heroes in this story, which obviously ends with a “Next:”
The introduction story is pure, ten pages of AC Comics kookiness that I simply love. The art is great. I am enjoying the storyline. It was a great escape.
Bill Black provides all the chores in a fun two-page story starring Stormy Tempest and the aptly named Space Hag. Not particularly deep, but I enjoyed the dad joke chuckle.
Andrew Hawnt closes out the book with an eight-page story starring Stardust, a minor alien invasion, and the return of a villain from fourteen issues ago. Bobby Ragland and Jeff Austin provide art duties. Stardust must fight arena style, ending with a reminder to enjoy today. The story looks great, with Jeff Austin lightening his inking style to accommodate Josh Rodriguez’s colors. Andrew Hawnt usually does high sci-fi concepts, but I’m glad to see other AC creators on this book since the format change from eighty-page black and white to twenty pages color.
For me, FemForce is a security blanket. I get to check out from the world and enjoy light adventures with our titular heroines for however long I choose. With 190 issues of the main series, not counting the various spin-offs, solo titles, specials, etc, I could choose a long time. Ninety percent of the artwork AC Comics has released is amazing. I don’t claim a 100 percent because I don’t want to have nitpicking arguments.
The art in issue 190 is great. The usual complaints about FemForce are absent except for a “now a member of the team” General Strock debut. The Stardust tale is almost prurient. Is this working?
If I had a complaint, I would say for $5.95, the magazine seems light. I know regular comics are $4.99 for a 20-page story, so I have no issue supporting an independent book. The book described is the book you get. No editorials. No letter columns. No “Wild” Bill Black musings. You get ads for other books, the end.
I am back next issue. I am a life long fan. I am excited to see where the Alizarin Crimson plot goes. Whenever a character is using magic, I throw out the logic. Folk say stuff, stuff happens, folks resolve the issue in an incoherent way. Enjoy the ride.
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