Time for another blast from the past, with yet another review of a DC Comics book!
Comic title: Vixen: Return of the Lion
Art by Cafu
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Published by DC Comics
From 2009
Lineup JLA
Format: Trade Paperback collecting the mini-series Vixen: Return of the Lion #1-5.
A semi-obscure character from the DCU, Vixen only achieved some prominent exposure thanks to her numerous appearances on the Justice League Unlimited animated series.
Yet she almost got her own on-going title originally.
The character of Vixen first appeared in Action Comics #521 back in the early 1980s. She was DC's first female African heroine. But she was originally set to debut in her own self-titled series which got canceled at the last minute due the implosion of the comic book scene.. back in the late 70s!
Since then Vixen has only appeared as part of team books such as the Justice League of America or also the Suicide Squad.
She also appeared as a recurring character on the similarly-powered Animal Man for a while.
Finally, in October 2008 it was announced Vixen would be given a 5-issue limited series, being part of the Dwayne McDuffie-written JLA as a main character.
The series was given to writer and author G. Willow Wilson (CAIRO, AIR), a fantastic writer who had been attempting to break into comics several times. It seems it's easier to become a journalist than write for DC Comics...
"Vixen: Return of the Lion" opens with the League busting on a new operation of Intergang, the meta-mobsters criminal organization.
Mari McCabe aka Vixen learns the truth behind the death of her mother, which had sent her against Superman, a decade ago.
She finds the real identity of her killer, who is apparently still alive.
She then decides to go back to her homeland for the first time in years, to her home village in the fictive Zambesi (the name is actually taken from a real river in Africa). There, our animal-powered superheroine must go on a spiritual quest.. while trying to fight herself over this search vengeance.
The JLA - Superman, Batman, Black Canary, Black Lightning and Red Arrow - come after her when they lose her signal in the country.
Mari is having some troubles getting her Tantu Totem to work lately...
And if that wasn't enough, it appears the warlord Aku Kwesi is able to channel the same power as Mari!
What exactly are those super-weapons they are dealing in Zambesi? Who is at the head of this machination? And finally, what exactly is this plot and how does it involve meta-humans?
I originally found this book totally by coincidence a long while ago.
It's a very nice original solo tale of Vixen, with that usual "Year One" vibe from DC, without it being an actual origin story. It does tie in with both her backstory and her first appearance back on Superman's book.
Speaking of which, the rest of the Justice League of America who appear in this book absolutely don't take over the attention in the this book. It still remains very much her own book till the end.
"Return of the Lion" is a great exploration and well deserved exposure for Vixen.
I loved the tone of this story.
And specially the artwork here. Drawn by the very talented Cafu (Black Panther), the art looks absolutely stunning, really beautiful!
With stunning covers by Josh Middleton that really give a great tone to the book and have such an imposing lasting presence binding each issue here in this trade. From Mari's personality to the setting of Africa.
Overall, this is a very entertaining and highly recommended read!
It's kind of sad how this is actually Vixen's only solo adventure to date, since I find her such an interesting character. She could deserve as much recognition as Animal Man in my eyes.
This is exactly the type of little mini-series DC should publish more often (rather than the dozen Bat-titles and epic crossover events all the time).
DC/superhero fans, give it a read!
I give it:
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