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S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary
Mockingbird: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary #1
Mockingbird has always been one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best agents, but what happens when someone close to her is murdered? Forced to take matters into her own hands, someone is bound to pay! New York Times Bestselling Author Chelsea Cain joins the Marvel Universe to tell a story of bloody revenge! Plus, a special bonus story by superstar young adult author, Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures), writer for the upcoming YA novel, Black Forever Red!
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Cain
91 books3,815 followersChelsea Cain is the New York Times bestselling author of the Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell thrillers Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill You Twice, and Let Me Go. Her next book One Kick (August, 2014) will be the first in her Kick Lannigan thriller series. Her book Heartsick was named one of the best 100 thrillers ever written by NPR, and Heartsick and Sweetheart were named among Stephen King's Top Ten Books of the Year. Her books have been featured on HBO's True Blood and on ABC's Castle. Cain lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 11, 2015
It's mediocre. This is my first introduction to Mockingbird and I don't see anything interesting about her in action. On paper, she sounds amazing: superhero, spy, scientist... But I don't get a sense of personality that'll make her appealing. The art is decent. [2 stars]
What's actually great about this issue isn't even Mockingbird-related. It's Red Widow . Her Marvel debut starts after the Mockingbird story, and unlike the agent she shares this issue with, Ava does have personality. She's tough, capable, independent, and protective of her friends. Her mental speech is interesting and she has an intriguing backstory. This I'm very interested in reading more of. I haven't checked, but I'm hoping Red Widow gets a solo title because this preview is bursting with potential. [4-4.5 stars]
What's actually great about this issue isn't even Mockingbird-related. It's Red Widow . Her Marvel debut starts after the Mockingbird story, and unlike the agent she shares this issue with, Ava does have personality. She's tough, capable, independent, and protective of her friends. Her mental speech is interesting and she has an intriguing backstory. This I'm very interested in reading more of. I haven't checked, but I'm hoping Red Widow gets a solo title because this preview is bursting with potential. [4-4.5 stars]
November 23, 2015
2'5★
La historia de Bobbi/Mockingbird ha sido muy normalita tirando a flojilla, pero bueno, es Bobbi so <3
Y la historia corta que sirve como presentación de Ava/Red Widow no ha estado mal y me ha dejado con ganas de saber más de ella y de su relación con Natasha, así que ahora toca leer por fin Black Widow: Forever Red.
La historia de Bobbi/Mockingbird ha sido muy normalita tirando a flojilla, pero bueno, es Bobbi so <3
Y la historia corta que sirve como presentación de Ava/Red Widow no ha estado mal y me ha dejado con ganas de saber más de ella y de su relación con Natasha, así que ahora toca leer por fin Black Widow: Forever Red.
November 14, 2016
'No S.H.I.E.L.D. this time. Just me. And my semi-automatic boyfriend.'
This was fun but wayyy too short.
This was fun but wayyy too short.
September 4, 2015
If I could I would give this no more than half a star for the writing and five thousand stars for the art and the coloring.
I've actually written a lot on this already, so for the time being, I'm just copying and pasting the bulk of this (with some minor edits here and there) from my blog. I'll edit it more later on maybe. The only part that isn't from my blog is the next paragraph.
Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird is probably my absolute favorite Marvel character right now, and I wanted to like this. I wanted this to be the gem that launched a solo run for her. That might happen, but I sure as hell don't want Chelsea Cain to write it because then it wouldn't be Bobbi. It would be this Bobbi shell--one much less likable than the Bobbi Skrull--Cain seems to think is canonical. I will give her some kudos, though. At least she had the sense to check that Bobbi was married to Clint Barton before, that she has a history with Ka-Zar (though Cain hates on him so rudely in some publicity I've read?), that she has a doctorate, that she was injected with the supersoldier/infinity serum, and that she has PTSD. (Albeit the PTSD is applied to the wrong thing? And it's horribly executed...but that's beside the point.) Suffice to say, Bobbi's voice--the one given to her by several authors who Cain neglected to read up on much--is lost in a shallow ex-wife who spews out nonsense and unlikable arrogance when science comes into play. The dialogue is choppy and out of character. There is no backstory given or at least fleshed out upon, so the storyline is jumpy and confusing.
One, Cain’s neglect to flesh out any sort of relationship. Sure, avid comic readers will know most of the history between Bobbi and Clint, but there’s the problem of Bobbi and Lance for people like me who haven’t watched Agents of SHIELD yet. There’s literally nothing (to my knowledge) of Lance and Bobbi in panels before now. Writing something solely from Bobbi’s perspective is new. (Though she does have volumes and arcs with large POVs of her own). So many things could have been explored, even in just a one-shot because it’s been done before. Cain could have done so much with so little space with which to work. She goes on about how the studio wanted Lance in the issue, but she doesn’t do anything to explain the relationship between him and Bobbi. She also could have easily expanded upon Bobbi’s relationship with Wilma because this is a big deal. Sure, Bobbi doesn’t emote much (neither do I), but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t have internal monologues about her loss.
Two, Cain’s publicity leading up to and following the publication of the issue, literally saying Clint and Lance are “interchangeable” (it’s literally on the main page of her website), as well as (albeit maybe poor translation to text) name dropping that makes her come off as arrogant. How she phrases things throughout the interview on her website distresses me as a Bobbi Morse lover, a comic fan, and a writer. I may not like Lance Hunter from what little I know about him on the show, but he is still his own unique character who is completely different from Clint Barton. Saying they’re interchangeable is like saying saying Superman and Captain America are interchangeable and expecting nothing to change. It literally is an insult to everyone who has written them in the past and, as much as I hate to say it, to the Whedons for expanding upon Lance’s character on the show. No one’s work should be swept under the rug like that. It also is impossible because literally everything that Clint and Bobbi went through would have been completely different with her and Lance, particularly the miscarriage and her return from the invasion. Cain saying they’re interchangeable makes Bobbi come off as shallow, as well as gives the impression that she could also be in bed with Clint and call him Lance like it was no big deal. Clint and Lance are two completely different men who apparently have a past with the same woman and who deserve to be treated as such.
Three, she said she wanted to give Bobbi a voice, but in that interview, she does not acknowledge several people who have given Bobbi a perspective in the past, namely Jim McCann (for both pushing for Bobbi to return following the Secret Invasion arc and for his own run focusing on Clint and Bobbi) but also Nick Spencer (for the Secret Avengers). She also, despite being close to them, doesn’t talk about what Bendis and Fraction (more so Bendis in this case) have done with Bobbi in that past. There’s also little to no acknowledgement of Mark Gruenwald catapulting Bobbi’s characterization into the mainstream in the early eighties when he first paired her with Clint or of others like Steve Englehart who expanded upon her characterization in West Coast Avengers.I could go on. Granted, she doesn’t have to acknowledge everyone specifically, but she could at least acknowledge that Bobbi has been given a voice several times in the past.
Four, the PTSD. Lance briefly mentions something about a cave–almost in passing. The first thing that comes to mind is Bobbi’s first Phantom Rider arc. Whether this is what she was referencing seems to remain a mystery because she doesn’t flesh this out, either. In McCann’s run, the PTSD is applied to Bobbi’s time with the Phantom Rider and that cave. Cain presents the PTSD as if it is the result of nearly dying and being injected with the supersoldier/infinity serum, and Bobbi hasn’t been even hinted as being traumatized by this because she quickly embraces her new abilities and goes on with her life as she normally would. Generally, PTSD is triggered by something in media, but there was nothing of the sort in the comic. So I am confused as hell about what Cain is trying to do with a backstory here.
Five, I’ve said it before in this post alone, but I’ll say it again: Cain needed to flesh out details. I am so confused by the storytelling that I have no idea what I read. I repeat: she could have explained a little more in the limited space she was given because it’s been done before. The comic is dry–and not the good kind of dry. I’m talking about a snorefest kind of dry. There was no progression to anything at all.
Six, while I do not claim to be an expert, the science in the issue seems half-assed, like Bobbi was just reciting something she watched on CSI or NCIS right before she went to meet up with Percy. It is lazy writing.
In short, a couple little nods don’t make up for several gaping holes. And one of my biggest qualms with the one-shot is that Cain comes off like she thinks writing a comic is just some cute little thing to do and demeans multiple people’s work to quirk up a perfectly already quirked Bobbi because she didn’t do enough research to beef up her storytelling. And as a writer and aspiring published author, don’t get me started on that “interchangeable” nonsense again. I could write my dissertation for my doctorate (which, considering I’m still an undergrad, is still several years away) over that statement alone.
Cain may be a NYT Bestseller, but that doesn't hold the prestige it once did (not to forget that I had never heard of her or her bestsellers until I did some Googling one day), and how poorly written this comic is kind of can be proof as to why that is. I want someone who has better credentials and actually has a better understanding or has the determination to understand of what is going on with what s/he is writing.
I've actually written a lot on this already, so for the time being, I'm just copying and pasting the bulk of this (with some minor edits here and there) from my blog. I'll edit it more later on maybe. The only part that isn't from my blog is the next paragraph.
Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird is probably my absolute favorite Marvel character right now, and I wanted to like this. I wanted this to be the gem that launched a solo run for her. That might happen, but I sure as hell don't want Chelsea Cain to write it because then it wouldn't be Bobbi. It would be this Bobbi shell--one much less likable than the Bobbi Skrull--Cain seems to think is canonical. I will give her some kudos, though. At least she had the sense to check that Bobbi was married to Clint Barton before, that she has a history with Ka-Zar (though Cain hates on him so rudely in some publicity I've read?), that she has a doctorate, that she was injected with the supersoldier/infinity serum, and that she has PTSD. (Albeit the PTSD is applied to the wrong thing? And it's horribly executed...but that's beside the point.) Suffice to say, Bobbi's voice--the one given to her by several authors who Cain neglected to read up on much--is lost in a shallow ex-wife who spews out nonsense and unlikable arrogance when science comes into play. The dialogue is choppy and out of character. There is no backstory given or at least fleshed out upon, so the storyline is jumpy and confusing.
One, Cain’s neglect to flesh out any sort of relationship. Sure, avid comic readers will know most of the history between Bobbi and Clint, but there’s the problem of Bobbi and Lance for people like me who haven’t watched Agents of SHIELD yet. There’s literally nothing (to my knowledge) of Lance and Bobbi in panels before now. Writing something solely from Bobbi’s perspective is new. (Though she does have volumes and arcs with large POVs of her own). So many things could have been explored, even in just a one-shot because it’s been done before. Cain could have done so much with so little space with which to work. She goes on about how the studio wanted Lance in the issue, but she doesn’t do anything to explain the relationship between him and Bobbi. She also could have easily expanded upon Bobbi’s relationship with Wilma because this is a big deal. Sure, Bobbi doesn’t emote much (neither do I), but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t have internal monologues about her loss.
Two, Cain’s publicity leading up to and following the publication of the issue, literally saying Clint and Lance are “interchangeable” (it’s literally on the main page of her website), as well as (albeit maybe poor translation to text) name dropping that makes her come off as arrogant. How she phrases things throughout the interview on her website distresses me as a Bobbi Morse lover, a comic fan, and a writer. I may not like Lance Hunter from what little I know about him on the show, but he is still his own unique character who is completely different from Clint Barton. Saying they’re interchangeable is like saying saying Superman and Captain America are interchangeable and expecting nothing to change. It literally is an insult to everyone who has written them in the past and, as much as I hate to say it, to the Whedons for expanding upon Lance’s character on the show. No one’s work should be swept under the rug like that. It also is impossible because literally everything that Clint and Bobbi went through would have been completely different with her and Lance, particularly the miscarriage and her return from the invasion. Cain saying they’re interchangeable makes Bobbi come off as shallow, as well as gives the impression that she could also be in bed with Clint and call him Lance like it was no big deal. Clint and Lance are two completely different men who apparently have a past with the same woman and who deserve to be treated as such.
Three, she said she wanted to give Bobbi a voice, but in that interview, she does not acknowledge several people who have given Bobbi a perspective in the past, namely Jim McCann (for both pushing for Bobbi to return following the Secret Invasion arc and for his own run focusing on Clint and Bobbi) but also Nick Spencer (for the Secret Avengers). She also, despite being close to them, doesn’t talk about what Bendis and Fraction (more so Bendis in this case) have done with Bobbi in that past. There’s also little to no acknowledgement of Mark Gruenwald catapulting Bobbi’s characterization into the mainstream in the early eighties when he first paired her with Clint or of others like Steve Englehart who expanded upon her characterization in West Coast Avengers.I could go on. Granted, she doesn’t have to acknowledge everyone specifically, but she could at least acknowledge that Bobbi has been given a voice several times in the past.
Four, the PTSD. Lance briefly mentions something about a cave–almost in passing. The first thing that comes to mind is Bobbi’s first Phantom Rider arc. Whether this is what she was referencing seems to remain a mystery because she doesn’t flesh this out, either. In McCann’s run, the PTSD is applied to Bobbi’s time with the Phantom Rider and that cave. Cain presents the PTSD as if it is the result of nearly dying and being injected with the supersoldier/infinity serum, and Bobbi hasn’t been even hinted as being traumatized by this because she quickly embraces her new abilities and goes on with her life as she normally would. Generally, PTSD is triggered by something in media, but there was nothing of the sort in the comic. So I am confused as hell about what Cain is trying to do with a backstory here.
Five, I’ve said it before in this post alone, but I’ll say it again: Cain needed to flesh out details. I am so confused by the storytelling that I have no idea what I read. I repeat: she could have explained a little more in the limited space she was given because it’s been done before. The comic is dry–and not the good kind of dry. I’m talking about a snorefest kind of dry. There was no progression to anything at all.
Six, while I do not claim to be an expert, the science in the issue seems half-assed, like Bobbi was just reciting something she watched on CSI or NCIS right before she went to meet up with Percy. It is lazy writing.
In short, a couple little nods don’t make up for several gaping holes. And one of my biggest qualms with the one-shot is that Cain comes off like she thinks writing a comic is just some cute little thing to do and demeans multiple people’s work to quirk up a perfectly already quirked Bobbi because she didn’t do enough research to beef up her storytelling. And as a writer and aspiring published author, don’t get me started on that “interchangeable” nonsense again. I could write my dissertation for my doctorate (which, considering I’m still an undergrad, is still several years away) over that statement alone.
Cain may be a NYT Bestseller, but that doesn't hold the prestige it once did (not to forget that I had never heard of her or her bestsellers until I did some Googling one day), and how poorly written this comic is kind of can be proof as to why that is. I want someone who has better credentials and actually has a better understanding or has the determination to understand of what is going on with what s/he is writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2015
I didn't realize who the author of this was until after I read it. Now it explains why I loved this issue so much and am already in hopes there is more of Mockingbird, as told by Cain.
Read
February 9, 2016Great artwork by Lady Killer's Joelle Jones (want to see more from her), but without context the story didn't really pull me in.
September 26, 2015
This was really (and perhaps surprisingly) good.
October 20, 2015
pudo ser mucho mejor, ver a lance fue entretenido, pero esperaba más. o sea, es bobbi!
January 10, 2018
Not all of what you are thinking
I've read this story before, just can't remember where. Mockingbird is one of my favorite characters, and this was an interesting storyline for her, that I would like to read further on. The graphics were great and the story was fun and easy to follow. I am looking forward to more on this character. The only negative I would have on this is there is a second story that has nothing to do with Mockingbird and everything to do with introducing Red Widow?
I've read this story before, just can't remember where. Mockingbird is one of my favorite characters, and this was an interesting storyline for her, that I would like to read further on. The graphics were great and the story was fun and easy to follow. I am looking forward to more on this character. The only negative I would have on this is there is a second story that has nothing to do with Mockingbird and everything to do with introducing Red Widow?
June 29, 2021
Another character I don't know much about. With a name like Mockingbird I guess a fair amount of snarkiness is to be expected but the sarcasm was laid on a little thick. Otherwise well written and good pacing. The one novel I read by Chelsea Cain I didn't enjoy very much so this was a pleasant surprise. Really like the artwork. Red Widow story was interesting as well.
November 27, 2017
A fantastic one-shot starting Mockingbird.
September 16, 2019
Love all of these characters!
September 13, 2022
it was too short! i loved it. i really love bobbi/hunter.
February 14, 2023
I loved it and wanted more.
September 6, 2015
I liked it. Mockingbird on a mission. The "bad guy" of the story didn't make much sense... I mean.. So that sucked. That was just really bad. Really really bad and it would be 2 stars if it wasn't for the smart-ass Bobbi talking how she was talking and being all sarcastic, so I liked that and her train of thoughts.
Artwork was really great. The lettering is what I liked too. Made me miss Hawkeye. It's a good read!
We also get a little story of Red Widow, which was... nice. Well, basically the story is like preparing us for the upcoming book with Black Widow. So it was a nice touch.
Artwork was really great. The lettering is what I liked too. Made me miss Hawkeye. It's a good read!
We also get a little story of Red Widow, which was... nice. Well, basically the story is like preparing us for the upcoming book with Black Widow. So it was a nice touch.
April 22, 2016
Bobbi Morse was just minding her own business when she found out her mentor has been murdered.
Bobbi will find out who did it.
This issue of Mockingbird for me was like a friend who tries hard to be funny, but just isn't. It's hard to get into a story that begins and ends within a single issue. No part of the issue really engaged me.
Bobbi will find out who did it.
This issue of Mockingbird for me was like a friend who tries hard to be funny, but just isn't. It's hard to get into a story that begins and ends within a single issue. No part of the issue really engaged me.
September 7, 2015
Fun smart
Fun interesting read that moves fast an loose wall at the same time bringing a new character into the marvel universe with a cool back up story involving black widow an the the new character all in all a great done in one with some interesting new story possibilities I hope marvel picks up an uses
Fun interesting read that moves fast an loose wall at the same time bringing a new character into the marvel universe with a cool back up story involving black widow an the the new character all in all a great done in one with some interesting new story possibilities I hope marvel picks up an uses
September 16, 2015
Mockingbird finally gets some shine in the comics. The villain and story could've been better though.. I'm a fan of the Agents of SHIELD show and admit that I felt a little let down by this one, but I'm glad that Mockingbird is getting more shine. Hopefully next time, Marvel will give her a more interesting story and plot-line...
September 29, 2016
Not my favorite Mockingbird comic, but I can see how this launched the series I love so much. Chelsea Cain writes an excellent Bobbi Morse, and it is so great. Also, the Clint/Hunter comparison? It made me laugh so hard; Bobbi definitely has a type. Mockingbird #1 sets up the series to come nicely, and I guess that's all it needed to do. Read the Mockingbird series! Highly recommended!
February 27, 2016
She's beauty, she's grace, she's a biology phd and here's my money, ready, nicely wrapped, on my way to Chelsea Cain, who is also writing Mockingbird's first ever solo volume, out next Tuesday. I am SO EXCITED!
Read
May 24, 2018Read 10/11/15
Reread 11/20/15: Still an amazing introduction to Bobbi Morse, even if the motivation of the bad guy is a bit unclear. The art is spectacular and I love this character.
Reread 11/20/15: Still an amazing introduction to Bobbi Morse, even if the motivation of the bad guy is a bit unclear. The art is spectacular and I love this character.
October 20, 2015
I love it when people call me Barbara.
No, wait. I don't.
January 21, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect when this showed up in my pullbox, but I really enjoyed it. The story was interesting, the artwork and colours were fantastic, and I can't wait to read issue #2.
February 3, 2016
Loved this one!
February 28, 2016
Bobbi is pretty awesome, show and comic. Looking forward to more in this series.
October 17, 2016
funny yet feels like bobbi's potential wasn't really shown.
December 17, 2016
I had a strange feeling like I had read this before... maybe I had or maybe it was just really predictable.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews