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The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #16 Review

Comic Books

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #16 Review

Witness the origin of Squirrel Girl (sort of) in this 16th issue that not only reveals a story from her past, but is written by Squirrel Girl co-creator Will Murray! We dive into the issue to find its laughs, excitement, and to determine…is it good?

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #16 (Marvel Comics)

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #16 Review

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So what’s it about? Read the summary and see preview pages to find out more.

Why does this book matter?

It’s hard to argue this series isn’t the cutest, most fun-loving thing on the stands. Squirrel Girl’s positivity is infectious and her exploits are ridiculous and prime for comedic value. If Squirrel Girl doesn’t appeal to you, maybe you just hate fun!

Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #16 Review
But what will they think of the bump in her pants?

Ryan North writes the first half or so of the issue in a way that draws you into Squirrel Girl’s life. It opens with her parents, her birth, a key moment when she was five and ten. These scenes reveal her becoming familiar with her abilities and even befriending her first squirrel. The scenes have their funny moments and Squirrel Girl is generally cute as hell as she finds herself wanting the superhero life. There’s a good bit of plotting by North as it makes sense as to why she’d go the route she eventually does. The footnotes continue to be a great pleasure of this series which allow North to comment on a scene and sometimes build off each other from page to page. They also get you thinking and even Googling things (I had to see for instance, the image below, which North references)!

screen-shot-2017-01-10-at-9-22-00-pm

Co-creator Will Murray gets to write a scene when Squirrel Girl was 15 and much closer to her superhero self we all know and love. This scene is a lot of fun, involves a big time hero, and shows how Squirrel Girl was just as heroic then as she is now. There are plenty of in-jokes and laugh-out-loud moments in this sequence and it gives the book some fun action too.

Erica Henderson draws another fantastic issue, from an incredibly cute moment between Squirrel Girl and her squirrel compatriots sitting on a log, to hilarious extreme closeups on squirrels talking. The style is simple and somewhat cartoony, which allows the comedy to do its thing. Comedic timing is visually on point too, like a fun “thud” that shakes the characters–and they’re extremely expressive throughout as well.

It can’t be perfect can it?

Squirrel Girl’s five-year-old birthday party spends too much time focused on the parents and the footnotes further this by making a joke about restaurants. It’s only about two pages, but the scene doesn’t quite bring the giggles, though it does showcase an important moment for her youth.

I’m well aware this is a comedic book first that pushes the boundaries of what could happen even in a comic story, but it seems a tad weird nothing is made of her Squirrel Powers. Maybe it’s a story told elsewhere, but her parents aren’t even surprised by her tail? Seems like an element that could have been mentioned.

Is It Good?

This is a great 25th anniversary issue as it reveals Squirrel Girl’s youth in a way many will relate to, but also laugh along with. The fact they’ve brought in a co-creator to write a portion is great and great fun. Squirrel Girl brings the good vibes, plenty of chuckles, and a great time between you and comics.

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