New beginnings around are afoot in Champions #6: a new creative team, a new, post “Outlawed” arc, new mysteries to uncover. Yet the more things change, the more their enemies at Roxxon stay the same. How will our heroes (and readers) deal with a new, yet familiar, status-quo? Written by Danny Lore, art by Luciano Vecchio, colors by Federico Blee, and letters by Clayton Cowles.
Champions #6 finds our heroes newly victorious in battle against Roxxon (Marvel’s version of WeSaySo, the blatantly evil mega corporation), but now keenly aware that winning a battle does not mean one has won the war.
Roxxon continues to throw money and energy into controlling the hearts and minds of the youth, and our titular Champions are the only thing standing in their way (along with, you know, the inherent limits of capitalism to provide people’s wants and the inherent cynicism of self-aware teens towards #brands.)
Danny Lore has taken over from the indomitable Eve L. Ewing, and the change in tone is noticeable. Both clearly respect their reader’s intellect, and both want to authentically write in their reader’s young voice. While I see and appreciate Lore doing the former, I’m still not sold they’re the best at doing the latter. Personalities feel different; one hero’s (no spoilers!) newfound directness is, while warranted, not really in character.
That said, the art here by Luciano Veccio is bright, clear, and fun, if maybe a little too cherubic. The coloring feels a little flat, a little too primary color-ish, a little too, well, juvenile. One character in particular looks like they’ve de-aged 3 years which, when comparing them to their look in other books, is more than a little jarring.
Again, this isn’t necessarily bad, just different.
I also don’t love how on the nose everything feels. The bad guys are clearly bad, the good guys clearly good, and the conflicts feel free of any nuance that might really make them interesting.
Even though Champions is aimed at younger readers (think 9-13, not 14-18), introducing complex ideas is not a risk; it’s a necessity for the writing to feel more relatable, to feel more alive. The kids who are most likely to read these books *want* a challenge. They *crave* moral complexity. (How do I know this? I was that kid, and I worked with those kids. Trust me.) So while I totally get why this is the way it is, and while it’s not bad per-say, it’s still lacking.
I just wish it was more, and I’m willing to bet readers of all ages will be left a little wanting too.
The preview at the end of Champions 5 seemingly gave away a future plot point: an infiltration of Roxxon. I just hope there’s more there there than we’ve seen here. I hope future issues add more drama and intrigue. I trust the readers Champions is aimed at, those 9-13 year old kids, can handle some ambiguity.
Here’s hoping the new Champions team will grow to trust them as well.
A proud New Orleanian living in the District of Columbia, Jude Jones is a professional thinker, amateur photographer, burgeoning runner and lover of Black culture, love and life. Magneto and Cyclops (and Killmonger) were right. Learn more about Jude at SaintJudeJones.com.
