Comic-book tie-ins to media adaptations are nothing new or unusual. Indeed, many long-time readers have complained about how the MCU has come to influence Marvel Comics. What makes TVA #1 notable is this it does not transpose the MCU upon Earth-616. This is a comic firmly set in the MCU, continuing the story of Loki Season 2. However, it is oddly accessible and friendly to newcomers despite that fact. This is all the more miraculous given how this book also continues the stories of several other comic books.
Our point-of-view character is the Gwen Stacy of Earth-65. Spider-Gwen has been working for the TVA for several months, hiding out on Earth-616. However, this Ghost-Spider has her own secret, having joined the Time Variance Authority to avoid some drama on her Earth. The problem is that while the TVA no longer prunes variants, they do frown on people being out of their proper place and time. This leaves Gwen playing the part of a lost-Earth refugee. Only Ouroboros in the Repairs and Advancement department knows her secret.
Gwen is content to lay low and eat pie in the cafeteria, but is dragged into a new taskforce. The Captain Carter of Earth-75 reports that people around the Multiverse are suffering panic attacks and intense hallucinations. What makes this a TVA issue is that these people are also seeing glimpses of the inside of their offices in Null-Time. This leads to Gwen, Peggy, and a team of variants (including a Gambit and a possible Wolverine) trying to figure out just what is going on.
TVA #1 masterfully merges MCU with modern comics
Author Katharyn Blair spins a plot of plates in TVA #1. Thankfully, she has a firm handle on the ensemble, having been a writer on Loki Season 2. Given that, it’s no surprise that Ouroboros, Mobius, B-15 and Miss Minutes all sound like their cinematic counterparts. However, Blair also captures the essence of established comic characters like Spider-Gwen and Captain Carter. She also introduces some great new characters, such as the variant Gambit and Jimmy Hudson, who has Wolverine’s claws but no apparent connection to Logan.
The artwork by Pere Pérez is animated, but suits the largely light-hearted story of TVA #1. The aesthetic is not unlike that used by by Kevin Maguire on Justice League, particularly in regard to the fantastic expressions he draws in the close-ups. Some panels do seem a bit forced, but these moments are few and far between. The finishes by Guru-eFX are also solid.
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All in all, TVA #1 merges the MCU with several ongoing comics and makes the whole thing accessible to everyone. With good humor, solid drama, and lively artwork, this is everything a first issue should be.
Grade: 9/10
TVA #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on December 18, 2024.
