In the vein of Ms. Marvel, this comic is aimed at a slightly younger audience. (Honestly, this is what Teen Titan Go could be.) Lunella is a young girl gifted not just with Inhuman genetics, but also with a blistering level of intelligence. And a pet T-rex from another dimension. In this volume, Lunella struggles with breaking out of her terragenesis chrysalis only to discover no real difference. She is too smart for her school, didn’t get any cool powers, wants to help change the world via super heroing, but everyone just wants to treat her normally instead of recognizing how awesome she is.
When a young Kree boy chooses her as an opponent to prove himself on it confirms the world just wants to give poor Moon Girl all the wrong kinds of attention.
There is a full page panel that really struck me while reading this book. Lunella says her parents and teachers are always telling her what to do. Even being Inhuman is the Kree telling her who to be through her very genes. But the things Lunella is proud of is who SHE has chosen to be and she feels people are trying to dismiss those things because it isn’t what they appreciate. Who can’t connect with those feelings?
Luna has a lot of anger and defiance in her. She can be outright bratty. But it’s easy to see how she is going to be a powerful member of a new generation of super heroes.
I really like what I’m seeing in these books from Marvel. We have a generation of people who grew up, not questioning their humanity or place in the world, but seeing how people they admire use everything they have to try to better the world. They aren’t afraid to put themselves out there and make change. They’re afraid of being dismissed and ignored.
Marvel is also setting Moon Girl up with a network of hands on role models, super heroes who reach out to her and advise her on life, including on super heroing and super powers. The level of support from the previous generation of heroes, plus the outright acceptance of super powers, crime fighting, and pets in modern life is very awe-inspiring. These are wonderful stories that I cannot recommend enough.
Plus there is an infernal T-rex sidekick!