Thoughts

One thing that modern TV dramas seem to have forgotten is that while its all well and good to tell a big epic long-running story, episodes themselves need to work as episodes – there needs to be a structure and a story and a resolution within the single episode – even if the resolution is a cliffhanger and much of the story helps develop longer arcs.

This is why, I think, Wandavision works better than Hawkeye when it comes to the MCU TV output. The former has a great overall story, but also each of the episodes has their own feel, their own story to tell. Whereas the latter has a number of interesting overarching plots and each episode just feels more like 45 minutes-ish of moving along a few of them.

Don’t get me wrong, some of the stuff in Hawkeye was great but it suffers from losing sight of the advantages of having an episodic format.

This is a long-winded way of introducing the point that this mini-series has really won me over in part because each issue is a satisfying issue in itself, has its own feel and yet slots nicely within a greater plot being told.

All of them cover an aspect or idea within the story – and its testament to how well they do it that it frequently leads me wanting more. I want more of Kitty adventuring, I want more of evil Kitty, I want more of evil Kitty v Wolverine. But this series never dwells too long on any one of these. Its racing through the ideas with a brilliant pace.

So this issue is all about newly ninja-fied Kitty seeking revenge on those who corrupted her. Its a great little action issue for her, and it nicely calls back to issue one to show how this adventuring Kitty has changed. (and also how she has saved who she is).

Another interesting parallel with modern TV is that while this is fun to binge in a single sitting – I think it would be a more enjoyable episodic experience reading it monthy. Each issue a satisfying new step on the journey.

Fun Panel

I do feel guilty now with some of my snarky comments on Milgrom’s art early on. He’s really come into his own by this issue. Fun, colourful and dynamic. And this nice reflective moment calling back to the issue 1 I was too harsh on.

None More Claremont

And so Kitty Pryde – having bounced through a few names so far and seemingly settle on just being Kitty Pryde finally gets a name that sticks. Shadowcat is the name that she will use for the rest of the Claremont run and is still associated with the character. It’s interesting to think whether this in-story issue with names reflected Claremont’s own attempt to find a name that sticks, or whether Shadowcat was devised quite early and we’ve built up to it.

Also Claremont highlights his skills writing for the character in this issue. Her becoming Shadowcat feels like a name that will stick because it feels like the character has earned it, they’re adopting a mantle not accepting a codename. And its a name that – having followed Kitty for so many issues now – that fits the character.

Also bonus points that, in resisting this takeover, Claremont is still avoiding his Clive Barker-lite “body and soul” stuff. In context that would probably just be too icky here. Instead its a teenage girl being defiant, and it lands effectively