Wednesday, July 19, 2017

What I Bought 7/15/2017 - Part 2

It's extremely hot here this week. I hate July. I have a new computer now! The last one provided six strong years for me (after three years for my dad), so this one has a lot to live up to. I'm definitely enjoying the much larger screen.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #22, by Ryan North (writer), Erica Henderson (artist), Rico Renzi (color artist), Travis Lanham (letterer) - I'm glad to see Doreen remembered practical footwear for her trip to the Savage Land. Stubbed toes and blisters are no fun.

Doreen and Nancy enter a computer programming challenge and win a trip to the Savage Land. After an extremely long flight to Antarctica, they are greeted by the dual horrors of gift shops and snooty Latverian computer science students, who hate Squirrel Girl. But one of them locks eyes with Nancy, and rose petals appear, so that could be something. Assuming Stefan didn't blow it with that 'some things are worth being Doomed for,' line. Which I thought was pretty great, especially since he somehow suggested the "D" was capitalized by his pronunciation, but Nancy did not agree. Although Latverian schools probably train their students to imply capitalization with how they pronounce the "D". Like an "a" in German having an umlaut versus not.

But the trip isn't all burgeoning romance and sweet, featherless dinos. The students were brought here because of their sick programming skills to help save the Savage Land. Dun-Dun-Dun!

Nancy did not believe the Savage Land existed, because its Wikipedia page invoked Atlantis, which she took to mean the whole thing was bunk. Even though Nancy lives in New York City, which is invaded by a half-naked guy calling himself the Scion of Atlantis as he declares war on the surface world every other week. Like, how does Nancy not realize Atlantis is a real place in her world? She's not your typical dumbshit American who doesn't know anything about other places.

That was the single most unbelievable part of this story that involves an alien technology maintained jungle in Antarctica filled with dinosaurs. But it was funny, so it's OK.

I'm assuming Dr. G is evil because she has yellow, maybe even golden eyes. That seems unusual, and ominous. Like an android, or maybe a lizard person? I know the solicits said there's a certain villain showing up, but maybe Stegron the Dinosaur Man could also show up?

This book doesn't use double-page splashes much, so the three pages of dinosaur fun were pretty effective. Although my favorite panel might still be the one of Doreen noticing the look between Nancy and Stefan. Her completely goofy look is hilarious. Then again, the oddly cheerful looking Doom on the Latverian passport one page earlier is a strong contender. Though he should look stern, shouldn't he? The passport warns that the person holding the passport better be allowed admittance or else.

Wait, I just noticed that in the panel where Doreen is giving Nancy the thumbs up, there's an Iguanodon in the background. They had these thumbs that were kind of sharp and tended to jut upwards noticeably, so the dinosaur is also giving Nancy a thumbs up. Kudos to everyone involved on that gag.

2 comments:

SallyP said...

This was a fun issue. Heck... they're ALL fun issues! I want some Tea Rex!

Yes, it is a tad absurd that Nancy doesn't believe Atlantis exists... but it is amazing the things that people can or can't believe. Just last week I read a page touting the Flat Earth Society... with members a round the globe! Cognitive Dissonance?

I am looking forward to Kraven.

CalvinPitt said...

That's true, there are a surprising number of people who think the Earth is flat, or that dinosaurs never existed because they've never seen one.