The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 6: Who Run The World? Squirrels

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (Collected Editions)

by Ryan North (Writer), Erica Henderson (Illustrator)

It's a normal, quiet day at Empire State University, filled with lots of lectures and higher education and students learning quietly. But don't turn away, there's also going to be a fistfight! A big one! And Doreen Green will also get a new Flying Squirrel suit from a mystery benefactor that would render her even more unbeatable, if such a thing were scientifically possible! That pretty much means crime is over forever. There definitely can't be a new super villain in town conspiring to mold Squirrel Girl into the perfect minion...or is there?! Gasp at a secret invasion of character motivations! Thrill at a civil war of emotions! Boggle as monsters truly get unleashed and Doreen's fate hangs in the balance! Also, machine-gun-wielding bears! It's squirrels and girls and punching, oh my!

COLLECTING: THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL 17-21

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Fiction, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

Hi, I'm Ryan! I was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1980 and since then have written several books. You can read my Wikipedia page for more, or check out my author site at RyanNorth.ca!

I'm the author of the webcomic Dinosaur Comics (that's the comic where the pictures don't change but the words do, it's better than it sounds and I've also done crazy things like turn Shakespeare into a choose-your-own-path adventure, write a comic for Marvel about a girl with all the powers of a squirrel, or mess up walking my dog so badly it made the news.

I'm working on more stuff as we speak, hopefully it's good

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squirrel Girl gets her wings; she is now a flying squirrel girl. There is a new villain and I wasn't real thrilled with her. I didn't think this was the best volume of Squirrel Girl. I really enjoyed the issue where Koi Boy and Chipmunk Hunk are saving the city. That was a great little story.

Many Marvel regulars show up in this one. It's beginning to feel like a crutch. The art seems rushed and a little sloppy really. Tippy Squirrel wasn't in this one much. She was missed.

It's still entertaining and I hope the next issue improves.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found parts of this volume laugh-out-loud funny, but I still struggle to get past the artwork and so-smug-it-hurts hipster vibe. It makes me feel like an old fart and I don't like it... Grr...

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title works best when the stories are shorter and North can focus on the jokes. Five issues of listening to the villain monologue on and on was a bit much. Plus the ultra hipster vibe grates on these longer stories. Erica Henderson's art continues to make my eyes bleed. I'm counting the days until I get to the point where Derek Charm takes over on art.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so it may not be any better or worse than the first volumes but this is getting a bit too mild for me. It's not even butter and toast. It's almost off-brand margarine on plain, non-toasted toast.

Maybe I just needed a taste of what it was and now it's done. I feel like we just traveled back into golden-age comics with the admittedly nice benefit of better art.

It was fun while it lasted!


I may get back into this at a later date when I need that wholesome vibe again.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've said it before, so I'll say it again - Unbeatable Squirrel Girl works best when it tells one or two part stories. Longer ones always seem to fall apart under their own weight, and this volume is no exception as we get four issues of Doreen and friends dealing with the manipulative Melissa Morbeck, a mind-controlling animal loving nutcase who wants to use Doreen's powers for evil.

It's not that the story isn't that compelling; it's that reading four extremely dense issues full of dialogue and the hilarious little footer notes becomes more of a chore than an enjoyment at times. I think this is one series that might actually read better in single issues than consecutively in trade.

Conversely, the final issue which sets up Koi Boi, Chipmunk Hunk, and Brain Drain as New York's protectors while Doreen and Nancy go visit Allene (from the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up The Marvel Universe) is easily the strongest of the bunch, telling a concise story about the power of friendship and why genetic manipulation of Doctor Octopus is never a good move.

Not a bad volume overall, but it just reinforces the idea that, with Squirrel Girl, less is more.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I save these books for when everything is grim and I desperately need a pick me up, and this one did not steer me wrong. I loved the boy's night out arc, and alfredo and chef bear, and that the general conceit of this arc is Supervillian going "you can't just be NICE to people, things are more COMPLICATED, you have to use your POWER to decide who lives and who dies", and the heroes going "ehhhhh, no, not that complicated, still gonna be nice".

[Crowinator · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looks, everyone, these are just perfect and Squirrel Girl (and her creators) can do no wrong.

[Fern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chef Bear and Alfredo the Chicken!!! 💜

[Ashley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The flying squirrel suit was awesome while it lasted. Nancy's still the best. And I need more boys' nights out, pls.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entirely enjoyable Squirrel Girl. The main four-issue arc gives Doreen a fun and appropriate arch enemy, and as usual there's lots of great humor scattered here and there. The last issue is a kind of amusing boy's night out for Doreen's supporting cast, but as it turns out the comic isn't quite as funny without her.

Overall, this continues to be one of Marvel's most unique and amusing comics.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I relate to Brain Drain so much. Probably more than is healthy.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squirrel Girl has a new arch-nemesis it would seem. And the stage is being set for future storylines. I also loved the way the side story with Chef Bear developed …

This book does so many things right. I love the Twitter-style summaries that kick off each issue. The patented Ryan North footnotes at the bottom of most pages are always fun too. And the inclusion of the letters pages from the original comics is a great touch. The whole thing adds up to an irresistible package.

Squirrel Girl has become one of my favorite comics, and I look forward to each new volume. Highly recommended!

[Ma'Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not one of the best SG storylines. The villain was revealed to be obviously evil way too soon imo, and was never all that interesting or compelling. Considering the way she was introduced, it could have been a really good character, but instead is completely one dimensional.

That said, lez be honest: this is still Squirrel Girl, and Ryan North and Erica Henderson are consistently creating one of the best comics out there. It's likely been the Marvel title I love most and am most likely to recommend to people who are like, "I dunno, I might be open to comics, but is there anything actually good in the Big 2 superhero universes?"

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Doreen Green is always welcome.

This time we have whole discussion of evil projecting itself on others, judging our hero by its own twisted view of the world and framing her for evil acts. Doreen is a trusting soul who sees the best in everyone (like seeing the unicorn in the Rhino), but luckily she has friends like Nancy Whitehead who knows when a good thing is too good and can ask the right question to make our villain out herself as such.

Best scene - "I've met Doctor Doom and you're no Doctor Doom"

Extra bonus - Chef Bear and Alfredo the Chicken - Love is love and love wins.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent entry in the Squirrel Girl canon. I laughed out loud multiple times.

This isn't a criticism, but I have to note that reading a Squirrel Girl trade takes three times longer than other graphic novels of the same length. There is so much crammed into these books, mostly in teeny, tiny type. I totally sympathized with the woman who uses reading glasses who wrote a letter asking that the footnotes on the pages be darker and/or larger.

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this volume as much as the other Squirrel Girl volumes. It focuses on a story about an engineer that figures out how to control animals with computer chips, and of course she uses it for evil. I felt that the jokes were not as funny as usual. Also, the final story in this volume focuses on Brain Drain, which is a character I just don't enjoy. The art is as nice as it usually is, so that's still good.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Squirrel Girl over the course of various lunch breaks was a fantastic idea for mood boosting the second half of the day. I surprisingly loved the final issue centering on the boys while Doreen and Nancy go on vacation, it might be my favorite issue in this volume.

[Ant Tellez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4/5.0

This is by far my favorite volume that truly expands on the depth and comedy of who the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl aims to be.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter Squirrel Girl: continuing to eat nuts & kick butts. And yet, is also open to solving problems through dialogue. Perhaps more heroes should try this...it might end up in less collateral damage. Fun writing, excellent illustrations. If you don't like these, I'm not sure if you have a soul.

Not only can Squirrel Girl solve problems of the heart, she can do so while falling upside down from the top of a skyscraper!

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squirrel Girl never fails to entertain, but I have to admit that Melissa Morbeck and her army of brain controlled animals haven't been my favorite villains. The best part about that extended storyline was Chef Bear and Alfredo the Chicken falling in love, haha.

I did enjoy the last issue that featured Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boi, and Brain Drain bonding over beating the bad guys (and fake good guys) and becoming friends.

There were a few good quotes I really liked from this volume. Tony tweets at Doreen, "Don't feel bad that you trusted someone. That's what you DO, Squirrel Girl. What are you gonna do, not trust anyone? That's a horrible way to live your life. And it's not you." One of the best things about Squirrel Girl is that, as much as she's about busting nuts and taking names, she's also about supporting and helping people, even villains, find their path in life. There are no strangers, only friends she hasn't met yet. That's who she is.

I also love what Brain says to the boys in their discussion about friendships. "Friends don't need to hang out all the time. While some do, one must not conclude that all friends necessarily behave in the same manner. Interpersonal relationships are as unique as the people within them, and all that matters is that when friends do hang out, they make it count." This is SO true. As much as I love seeing my friends, I don't feel like we are any less friends if we aren't hanging out frequently. I treasure the time we get to spend together, but I also treasure the time I get to spend alone, reading, or watching TV, or just staring into space. Every friendship is different, so you shouldn't be disappointed if your friendships look different than the ones you see on TV, or in Facebook, or in any other place.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always an enjoyable read. Funny, fresh, and contagiously upbeat, you can't read these comics without thinking, "We need more people like Squirrel Girl in the world." Her stories are always easy-going, but with nice themes that are deep enough, but that don't detract from the fun style and tone that make the Squirrel Girl comics must-reads. The villainous twist on the "with great power comes great responsibility" mantra was a nice foil against Squirrel Girl's positive attitude. And Squirrel Girl v. someone who "talks" to animals is a conflict that, quite honestly, makes perfect sense. It had to happen, and the Ryan North nailed it. Plus, the final comic--with Koi Boi, Chipmunk Hunk, and Brain Drain teaming up--was also too much fun, also. This is a must-read, feel-good comic series, and, to be honest, we need more stories like these and more role models like Squirrel Gir. I eagerly await the next volume.

[Alex Sarll]

Doreen finds a new ally, a benefactor who wants to help her crimefighting to the next level with a snazzy new flying squirrel suit. But can this tycoon be trusted? What do you think? This story is largely an excuse for Erica Henderson to show that she draws other animals just as well as squirrels, and that is in no way a criticism, especially as regards the bear-meets-chicken subplot. In the final issue Doreen and Nancy take a trip to the Negative Zone (cue some EXTREMELY SUBTLE plugs for the Beats Up The Marvel Universe OGN), leaving Koi Boi, Chipmunk Hunk and Brain Drain to look after New York. #ladsladslads

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

SQUIRREL GIRL DESERVES ALL THE STARS. I CAN ONLY WRITE ABOUT IT IN ALL CAPS. THAT'S HOW GOOD IT IS.

Okay, so maybe not always in all caps, because that joke gets old real quick. But the only other current comic I can think of that has sustained my interest past 5 trade paperbacks is Saga, which puts The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl in fine company. North is one of the funniest writers working in any medium, and his voice is so distinctly his own, equal parts geek and nerd (and I say that with respect and awe). He's taken the language of the interwebs-- tumblr and twitter especially-- and translated into a comic book. He's a mad genius.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squirrel Girl gets an actual nemesis, as another character uses the ability to talk to animals as a cunning plan to bring down Squirrel (and possibly world domination). It's good to see Doreen struggle a bit as her nemesis outplays her on several occasions here, although the good guys still come out on top. And there's also a single issue where the males in Doreen's life work together to protect NYC while Squirrel Girl and Nancy are on vacation, which works exceptionally well. As always, there's lots of humor, optimism, and fun. Plus bears dressed as professionals.... It may not be the top of the pile for Squirrel Girl volumes, but it's a memorable addition, and on the whole enjoyable.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continues to be great fun. Introduces an interesting villain, who I feel could have actually been even more compelling given some more room for her power-hungry yet responsibility-minded worldview to be explored. But that's not the sort of thing Squirrel Girl likes to dwell on too long. It's not the sort of book that dwells on anything for very long. Oh well.

On the other hand, there's a gripping subplot involving a bear dressed as a chef and a knife-wielding chicken, so I give this volume a rating of Must-Read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I DEMAND MORE BRAIN DRAIN. I mean, there's plenty of our good friend Brian in this volume but I am hard to satisfy on that front.

The overall plot of this volume was maybe a little less inspired than previous volumes, but it's the little support stuff that makes USG a must-pull for me. The actual lessons in computer history! The tiny alt text on most pages! Basically everything about Nancy! I continue to be here for all of it.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the variety of things going on in this volume: squirrel suits, the guys got their own comic, a nice sidenote about a bear and a chicken, etc. I'm glad Brain Drain got some time in this comic too. And villains can come from the most unlikely of places (with enviable powers). Still loving USG. Nuts! 4*

[Gretchen Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squirrel Girl faces a villain who exploits her humility and can-do attitude. She also briefly gets a flying squirrel costume and there are a variety of bears dressed in ridiculous costumes. At one point, Spider-Man says, “Stay thwippy, my friends.” There’s an entire issue devoted to a boys’ day out of crime fighting.

In short, this run of Squirrel Girl continues to be the actual greatest.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun filled laugh outloud trip through super hero New York with Doreen Green and Co. Here Doreen gets a very patron who gives her suit uprgrades but soon turns out not to be what she seems. Koi Boy and Chipmunk Hunk go out on a Guys Night out with Brain Drain. What could possibly go wrong.

One of the funniest and joyful of comics made these days.

[Licking County Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vol. 1-6 Recommended by Kelli, Adult Services, Five Stars, February 2018.

Kelli's Review: This witty totally engrossing comic features characters that you will absolutely adore! Written to appeal to fans of the original comic book character and all her iterations. Squirrel girl is a timeless hero for the modern age. Prepare to laugh out loud!