UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #1
Written By Ryan North
Art by Erica Henderson, Joe Morris, & Rico Renzi
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: October 28, 2015

Part squirrel blood, talks to rodents. Powers of squirrel, powers of girl.

Kudos to Ryan North for that opening line because it was excellent.

Squirrel Girl jumps onto the scene with Tippy Toe in tow, rescuing people from a burning building with the help of Nancy, Koi Boi, and Chipmunk Hunk. After the adventure and the fire dies down, she and Nancy enjoy some wonderful family photos before facing a Hydra robot, Brain Drain. As Squirrel Girl and her mother come to a sense of understanding, she and Nancy help their new friendly neighborhood robot get back on its feet and find a way to enroll in school.

Squirrel Girl #1 holds all of the charm of our favorite squirrely hero and her colorful crew. Yet again, this is an issue I’d recommend to anyone. It’s a great break from reality and the often serious tone of comics. This series has excellent all-ages content and snarky humor that could appeal to anyone. Since Squirrel Girl came on the scene, she’s been an excellent character to share the 616 spotlight.

Ryan North not only does great expression Squirrel Girl as a character, but he also brings out the best from her ensemble cast. The banter between Nancy and Maureen was a stellar touch, and they definitely made the issue. Maureen’s own perspective regarding Brain Drain provided a wizened view to Nancy and Squirrel Girl that helped frame the second half of the issue. By the end of this story, I was hooked all over again, and I’m ready to see the rest of Squirrel Girl’s adventures.

Erica Henderson, Joe Morris, and Rico Renzi are delightful as an art team. For someone like Squirrel Girl, the art needs levity and life, and this team does brings more than that to the table. I love the diverse bodies, the wacky lines and action. Henderson, Morris, and Renzi capture the tone and feel of Squirrel Girl perfectly, and that’s important. Squirrel Girl as a solo hero doesn’t need to be a facsimile of other titles in the 616; she needs a sense of differentiation and individuality that this team conveys most excellently through art.

The fact that Squirrel Girl and Nancy are computer science majors is monumental. For one, the field is often dominated by men, leading to unnecessary and dream-killing gatekeeping that does not welcome women or people of color. Second, Nancy is a woman of color, a group of people often not represented in computer and technology fields. Many women of color have been advocating for young girls’ of color interest and thriving in the field, and Nancy shows that the tech geeks in comics and the real world don’t have to be White dudes all the time.

After reading this issue, I’m having a hard time picking my break-out star. So, I’m giving the title to both Nancy and Tippy Toe. Both of them are wonderful and witty, driving helpful and important dynamics within the pages of Squirrel Girl #1. Nancy is much like Squirrel Girl herself, but offers a fresh perspective on the events of the story. And Tippy Toe? Pretty much the voice of reason. Both of these characters add something wonderful to the world of Squirrel Girl, matching its campy and enlivening tone.

I honestly can’t recommend Squirrel Girl #1 enough. The series has charm, diversity, but also offers a nuanced understanding of the characters that lends to the fun and joyousness of the series. This is a great title to help usher in the All-New, All-Different Marvel.

The Verdict: 9.0/10