Review - Geek Girl #1 (@Markosia)

"Well, you've only been at this a couple days, Ruby--"

Being in college has its own difficulties with being social and academic. The former can be complicated by the latter in extreme cases. Geek Girl #1 from Markosia Enterprises is one such case. The issue is written by Sam Johnson, illustrated by Carlos Granda, colored by NAHP and lettered by Paul Mclaren.

When 'Little Miss Popular' Ruby Kaye lands a pair of super-tech glasses (invented by brainiac college geek Trevor Goldstein) in a game of Strip Poker, she's granted flight, super-strength, and – due to a flaw in the glasses' programming – super-klutziness! And this is just the beginning of the changes the glasses will wreak on Ruby. Trying to be a super-hero, Ruby Kaye stumbles across a mysterious and extremely dangerous new villain taking down her town's Numero Uno heroine - and is forced to step up and use her powers for more than just accidentally knocking drinks over her friends. Geek-Girl is entering the Super-Hero Big Leagues - whether she's ready or not!

As far as superhero origin stories go, Johnson has made that of Geek Girl pretty unique. Johnson tells most of the origin story through a pretty wordy flashback in a hospital room which seems like a somewhat inappropriate place to think back one's origin as a superhero. Origin story aside, there is some other narrative being crafted in Geek Girl #1 as Johnson struggles to balance Ruby's social life with that of a newfound superhero. The broader plot involves a supervillain type character wreaking havoc on Ruby's city and a lot of coarse language. It's readily apparent that Ruby and her friends are around college-age, but Johnson isn't shy about reinforcing that notion with language that's explicit almost for the sake of being explicit.

Sticking with the co-ed vibe is Granda's artwork. Granda renders Geek Girl as vivacious character in a mid-riff revealing superhero costume. Her looks are almost too perfect, as if Granda is working to keep up the notion that Ruby has to look pretty to offset the increase in clumsiness that comes with the glasses. Granda fills each panel with characters who all seem to represent the stereotypical college look and feel, as both the men and women are very attractive in their presentation. NAHP's colors are largely primary and bold.

Geek Girl #1 is an origin story for sure, but it mixes together the past and present for it's titular character. Ruby is quickly getting a hang of being a superhero--even if doing so comes with a built-in weakness. Johnson's script is straightforward and gets straight to the point. Granda's illustrative approach is similar to that of Zenescope before the publisher really started to get serious about storylines. Geek Girl #1 is a little inconsistent at points in its approach, but it does have potential as a new entry in the superhero genre.

Geek Girl #1 is in stores now.