In the early to mid-1980s, Marvel very much saw Dazzler as her own thing. Originally planned as a multimedia IP tied to actress Bo Derek, those plans fizzled with the death of disco, but didn’t keep Alison Blaire from starring in her own comic book for 40-some issues before she was folded back into the X-Men during their Outback era.
Then the ’90s came and no one knew what to do with her, so they just tucked her away in Mojoworld.
But here we are. It’s 2024, Krakoa has fallen, and the mutants have been cast to the winds. She’d tried joining the X-Men again not that long ago, but she was immediately killed by Nimrod. Don’t worry, she got better. She does that.
Anyway, what better time to go out on tour?
Marvel on Wednesday announced a four-issue Dazzler miniseries by writer Jason Loo (Sentry) and artist Rafael Loureiro, who previously worked on the Scout Comics series The Mall. The series will see Alison backed by a crew that includes ex-X-Factor besties Jamie Madrox and Strong Guy, a post-X-Force Domino, and randomly selected young mutants Wind Dancer and Shark-Girl.
Loo previously wrote Guido and Jamie’s adventures in a series of X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comics.
According to Marvel, each issue will include lyrics to Dazzler songs, something we all love seeing in comics as our smooth brains struggle to turn them into songs like we’re looking at the liner notes for Folklore and Evermore.
Dazzler is the latest announcement in the new “From the Ashes” era of X-Men. Those are in addition to previously announced series Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone and Dave Marquez, X-Men by Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman, Exceptional X-Men by Eve Ewing and Carmen Carnero, X-Force by Geoffrey Thorne and Marcus To, Phoenix by Stephanie Phillips and Alessandro Miracolo, NYX by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Francesco Mortarino, X-Factor by Mark Russell and Bob Quinn, and Wolverine by Saladin Ahmed and Martin Coccolo. Still expected are details of a new solo series for Storm, who it was announced Tuesday will be joining the Avengers under MacKay and artist Valerio Schiti.
Check out the cover for Dazzler #1 by Terry and Rachel Dodson, out Sept. 18, and keep scrolling for Marvel’s press release.
Let the music play! With the fall of Krakoa, the X-Men’s dream of coexistence has never felt more impossible. Luckily, mutantkind’s very own pop princess has a song that will unite the masses—and paint a big target on her back—in an all-new DAZZLER comic book limited series! From rising Marvel star Jason Loo (Sentry, Infinity Paws) and extraordinary Marvel newcomer artist Rafael Loureiro, DAZZLER will launch this September as part of the X-Men’s new From the Ashes era!
No stranger to headlining, Alison Blaire enjoyed a successful solo career outside the X-Men in the 1980s with the fondly remembered and long-running Dazzler series. Now, she’s back to inspire a whole new generation, spreading a message of love and acceptance one sold-out show at a time. Her tour is for everyone, but backstage, Alison is joined by a crew of fellow mutants—head of security Domino, personal guard Strong Guy, one-man roadie Multiple Man, drummer Shark-Girl, and expert publicist Wind Dancer! Anti-mutant fervor has never felt more personal, but anyone who tries to dim Dazzler’s light will just have to face the music!
OUT & PROUD AS A MUTANT AND BACK ON THE ROAD! Dazzler, Marvel’s glittering mutant songstress, has been in and out of the limelight over the years – but now the time has finally come for her to take center stage! Dazzler embarks on a new world tour, the culmination and celebration of her entire musical career. But while Dazzler may be ready to focus on her music, her celebrity-mutant status and a violent attack may sideline the entire endeavor before it’s even begun…
“Rafael and I are giving everyone backstage access to the greatest show of the decade: the Dazzler World Tour!” Loo said. “Sounds exciting? Not for Dazzler when she’s facing tons of pressure from all sorts of people trying to cancel her shows. But she’s not going down without a fight.”
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been crazy about two things: music and drawing comics. To think that I would be able to combine both passions in my Marvel debut is beyond my wildest dreams. Not only that, but with such an amazing X-Men character as Dazzler—I absolutely had to jump at the chance!” Loureiro shared. “When I read Jason’s script, I kept thinking to myself ‘Oh, I’m gonna have so much fun with this!’ Now, Dazzler has a special place in my heart, and I can almost hear her singing inside my head with every page that I draw. I’m honored to be a part of this project, bringing her into the spotlight for all readers and lifting her to her rightful place as a super star!”
Each issue of DAZZLER will also feature all-new song lyrics from Ali’s notebook!
“Get ready to sing along to some new, original songs off of her new album!” Loo added. “Some of them may be about her exes.”
Don’t miss the concert – and comic – event of the year! Check out the main cover from Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson and preorder DAZZLER #1 at your local comic shop! For more information, visit Marvel.com.
Dan Grote is the editor-in-chief of ComicsXF, having won the site by ritual combat. By day, he’s a newspaper editor, and by night, he’s … also an editor. He co-hosts The ComicsXF Interview Podcast with Matt Lazorwitz. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two kids and two miniature dachshunds, and his third, fictional son, Peter Winston Wisdom.
