Marvel Rising: Heroes of the Round Table

Marvel Rising (2019) #1-5

by Nilah Magruder, Roberto Di Salvo (Illustrator)

With the powers of Girl and the powers of Squirrel on their side, Kamala Khan and Doreen Green are an unbeatable team! But that title is about to be seriously challenged - because New Jersey has been invaded by a swarm of knights in shining...suits?! When Morgan Le Fay invades New Jersey, she turns it into New Camelot - and that calls for a heroic Round Table! Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel need allies to help protect their home turf - and they know just who to call. When Miles Morales, the Inhuman Inferno and former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Daisy Johnson rise to the challenge, they're sure to have Morgan on the ropes. Unless, of course, she sends a giant horde of monsters after them! Don't miss the return of the titanic team-up that's got everyone talking!

COLLECTING: MARVEL RISING (2019) #1-5

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

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2019

About the author

Nilah Magruder is the author of M.F.K., a middle-grade graphic novel and winner of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity, and How to Find a Fox, a picture book. She has published short stories in Fireside Magazine and the anthology All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages. Nilah has also written for Marvel Comics, illustrated children’s books for Disney-Hyperion, Scholastic, and Penguin, and worked as a writer and storyboard artist in television animation. She is currently illustrating Creaky Acres, a middle-grade graphic novel about horseback riding. When she is not working, Nilah is watching movies, growing herbs, and fighting her cat for control of her desk chair.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice, cheesy slice of fun featuring a whole bunch of Marvel’s younger heroes.* The artwork’s pretty cartoony, but it suits the lighthearted tone of the story. One gripe is that there are a couple of places where the dialogue doesn’t match what’s actually happening in the panels, but that’s a minor niggle, really.

* Warning: Captain Marvel and Ghost Spider are shown on the cover of this book but neither of these characters appear inside the book at all, so don’t be fooled by the cover Carol Corps and Spider-Gwen fans! I don’t know how this sort of this happens; there are ten heroes in this book who they could have put on the cover instead (eleven if you include Tippy Toe)! If I were a cynical person I’d be tempted to think it was a cheap attempt to cash in on the popularity of the Captain Marvel and Into the Spider-Verse movies...

[B. P. Rinehart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too much to say about this one. I believe I got it free last summer from Marvel Comics. It is a comic meant for a middle grade audience and it works quite effectively in that regard thought it does not do too much for me. It also uses a lot of Arthurian legend in it (the antagonist is Morgan le Fey) which I am not very familiar with. Also two of the folks on the cover do not appear on it and the art is acceptable.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun and wonderfully cheesy read with some of my favourite young marvel heroes.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

super cute and I really liked how this comic starts with the most mundane of teen rites: the college visit. And Kamala really has a nice section where she worries that she doesn't know what to do in college when she's a superhero - you can't really major in that. Good to have Quake and Miss America show up too. (Although someone should have rethought that cover - Captain Marvel and Ghost Spider do not appear at all.)

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why would they go for a college tour in their Super-hero outfits? Anyway, this was a decent story arc that would appeal to teens. I don't like this version of Squirrel Girl: even though her personality is the same, they drew her as the typical skinny hero instead of the powerful young woman she is!

[zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say. I love all the characters on this team BUT the overall plot was a tad boring. Dante was a highlight, which is surprising because in the Marvel Rising mini movies I did NOT like him.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 very cheesy, but fun to read

[Jeremiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very light reading, kind of fun. Got it for free on Comixology at some point.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squirrel Girl is giving Ms Marvel, Inferno, and Spider-Man a college tour when they find their superhero services required. A group of students have summoned Morgan Le Fay with an ancient gem, and the ancient sorceress is ensorcelling people and trying to take over the area. How do you beat magic with superhero powers?

I really like that Squirrel Girl's proclivity to use words over fists is rubbing off on some of her proteges. And she really helps Quake learn about the positive points of teamwork. Go Doreen! It really bugs me that whoever did the cover to this and whoever approved the cover obviously didn't read the book. Capt. Marvel and Spider Gwen are nowhere in the story. A different type of adventure for the superheroes with some great messages woven in. It's a fun read.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Some fantasy violence but no one appears to be seriously injured.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm gonna have to go back in time and read the Marvel Rising volume that came before this one - bc this was a good time! I shouldn't have doubted that it would be. I really enjoy Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel and I like Squirrel Girl as well. Plus the Morgan le Fey/Camelot angle was really interesting. A nice, simple adventure plot, brightly-colored pictures, fun characters, and some lore thrown in for good measure. A good use of an hour!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to like this - but I was very frustrated by Squirrel Girl being drawn so slender throughout the book (with the exception of the cover) when its been established that she doesn’t look like that. I like SG for many reasons - but especially because she can be strong and powerful without having every little muscle defined and visible. I don’t understand why that changed. (I mean I do know why it happened (fatphobia, subconscious or not) - but I’m mad it didn’t get edited or fixed).

[Charles Korb · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels weird to see squirrel girl written by someone who isn't Ryan North but this stayed more true to the character than not. (Tippytoe, however, felt much more of a worrier than her original incarnation).

Also the cover of this collection is weird because it is a team of 5 women, two of whom don't even appear in the book.

The plot is fine for a YA comic and there are some good moments.

[jedioffsidetrap · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was a balanced blend of the heart/humor of MM & USQ with the action of traditional hero comics. AIM didn’t know what to do with Squirrel Girl & it was a waste for her character. This book does a great job of making her center stage & retaining her identity, while successfully expanding her story into a team-up and big-time battle.

[Caitlyn G · Rating 4 out of 5]

cheesy but better than the last marvel rising bind up, mostly because the villain was pretty justified in her actions and wasn't just an oppressed girl gamer lmaoooo. i also love quake so i was excited when she showed up!! but bruh again we have another cover that had characters that didn't appear in the story (captain marvel, spider-gwen)

[Beattie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’m just so partial to Ryan North’s writing of Squirrel Girl that anything else falls short for me. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a middle grade book and not written for adults Hahaa.

If you are particularly fond of any of the characters it’s worth a read. But if you aren’t super invested in one (or all) of them then its not really worth the time.

[Merenwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I can see it being enjoyed by its target audience, but to me it felt like the one campy episode of a TV show, if that makes sense. I wish some of Squirrel Girl's lines had been written by Ryan North - I felt there was some nuance missing.

[Steve White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t judge this book by its cover. Spider-Gwen and Carol Danvers are nowhere to be found but that’s ok, in this fun adventure centered on Ms. Marvel and the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

I like those characters but had low expectations. Still this book delivered action and laughs and was a fun read.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, Inferno and Squirrel Girl (?) tour Empire State University prior to taking classes there. They are interrupted by some reckless street racers.

Prints too small and didn’t catch my interest enough to try.

[Glyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute! It’s fun to see the heroes just hanging out and I didn’t mind it when it went into comic book plot. The art was okay (Doreen was too skinny tho imo), and I love Doreen and America being friends.

[viv reads whatever · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun read! I don’t know why they decided to put Captain Marvel and Spider-Gwen on the cover when they’re not in any of the stories. I get this is supposed to be a tie-in with the Marvel Rising tv specials (which I loved) but still, why add them to the cover?

[k · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so cute and wholesome. the messages to gain from this is actually heartwarming. so looking forward to reading more comics about this amazing team. they are so good together, they actually have a powerful impact.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of an odd complaint, but Quake is featured prominently in this but is never shown on any of the covers. What’s that about?

[Chrisie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good but I had a hard time with the changes in character POV.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthurian legend! Unbeatable Squirrel Girl making silly puns! A river spirit made of rubbish! What's not to like? A cute adventure with a group of Marvel's younger supers.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. The plot was not really follow able, but as always, great artistry. I have no idea what was going on except for the bits from the last comic. :/ :)

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

More super fun with my Marvel favs. The campus tour gone wrong was fun!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it.

[Briana · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork and really didn't care for the plot. The characters are fun though.

[star_fire13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute and fast read. I liked that it was an isolated, stand-alone adventure.