Marvel Masterworks: Dazzler Vol. 2

Marvel Masterworks: Dazzler #2

by Danny Fingeroth, Steven Grant, Frank Springer (Illustrator)

Dazzler stormed to the top of the charts with her debut! Now she's back with more sights and sounds from the early '80s! The Women of Marvel join together as She-Hulk and Spider-Woman stand by the Dazzler's side to fight the good fight, but soon the X-Men's Angel has flown into Dazzler's life, sweeping her off her feet and into the air. Can romance bloom between two of Marvel's most exciting mutants? But love will have to take a backseat when the Sisterhood of Evil Mutants show up to put Dazzler in her place: Mystique, Destiny and-in some of her earliest key appearances-Rogue! All this, plus appearances by the Fantastic Four, Power Man and Iron Fist and a What If? rarity!

Dazzler (1981) 14-25, material from What If (1977) 33

Genres: Comics, Marvel, X Men

312 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2021

About the author

Daniel Fingeroth (/ˈfɪŋɡərɔːθ/) is an American comic book writer and editor, best known for a long stint as group editor of the Spider-Man books at Marvel Comics.

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While an odd superhero, Dazzler actually is an interesting different take on the standard storyline. Nice read. Recommended

[Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my review of the first volume I laid out a few reasons why I think this series has such a poor reputation, and undeservedly so. Basically, it didn’t know what it wanted to be, and even when it found its footing it was too cheesecakey for the girls and too chick-lit for the boys.

Sure, it’s got its problems, but Dazzler’s actually not a bad comic for the time. With the combined powers of Fingeroth, Springer, and Colletta, Dazzler—the ongoing series—settles into a nice little magazine. The best issue here is the one co-starring Spider-Woman; the worst is probably the one set in Asgard.

Once-and-future-X-Man Angel, ignoring his first very-out-of-character appearance here, makes a nice addition to the cast. Not only does his playboy persona add a wrinkle to Ali’s love life he also inadvertently sets Dazzler up to become a target for future-X-Man/current maniac Rogue, the ladymuscle for Mystique’s “Sisterhood” of Evil Mutants. Rogue definitely injects a lot of life into this series—she’s a lot of fun: she is absolutely psychotic and hates Dazzler.

Recommended. We’re still not at Prime Dazzler, but we’re getting there.

[Rob Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a superhero comic, it's a romance comic with superheroes, and I'm here for it. The book has finally found its groove and it's a refreshingly unique experience. Are the plot points dumb? Heck yeah, but no dumber than necessary to generate dramatic tension. Does Dazzler rub shoulders with Doom and Galactus like it's a Marvel movie? Not at all, and the book is better for it.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems that issues of Dazzler were meant for readers that just liked a small helping of superhero action and a giant heaping plate of drama. Writing kind of takes a downward turn from the issues in volume one. Really the most memorable villains are the Sisterhood of Evil Mutants. So if you want to read some stories with early appearances of Rogue acting evil, then this is the place to read it. Speaking of the evil mutants, they were targeting Angel. In in an uncharacteristic turn of events, he got really scared and hid out in a school gymnasium. He wanted to fly, but was afraid that Mystique might see him. Very strange. This volume features issue 21, which has an awesome photo cover and is extra long. It kind of ties up the family drama that has been hinted at since issue one. I don't want to give anything exciting away, but it's good she can forgive her father for being such a dick.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dazzler always struck me when it first came out as one of the lighter weight characters in the Marvel Universe. All she could do was turn sound into a lightshow, which sounded like nothing much. But now I realize how much I misjudged the character, and how good writing by Danny Fingeroth made her a fascinating character - a heroine who just wanted to be an entertainer, and was always getting side-tracked into fighting villains. Great fun, and highly imaginative.

[Fuuma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the color illustrations, missing from the essential series. And the what if at the end was really sweet, if a little bitter. It was cool to go back and see the course change from 14 issues ago.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems to wrap up the first era of Dazzler comics. It could be worse. And it has components of the greater continuity. But far from essential.