REVIEW: ‘Strange Tales’ Issue 1

Strange Tales Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics and written by Jeremy Whitley, with art by Bayleigh Underwood, colors by Jim Campbell, and letters by Joe Caramagna.

Nico Minoru finds herself hunted by magical creatures as a Dungeons & Dragons game goes awry.

Strange Tales Issue 1 instantly unleashes chaos. It begins with a magical chase, establishing the intensity of the fantasy in this series. There’s a dragon with wings, flames, and all. As the book progresses, even more creatures from classic fantasy stories come to life. The issue jumps from a frantic chat to the sanctuary of the Scarlet Witch, where Whitley slows the plot down. It expands further, as more characters are added to the story and exposition is introduced. But even as the writer catches us up, it’s still energetic, relishing in the ridiculous nature of the plot.

Everything is a surprise, with creatures smashing through the wall, resulting in a mad scramble. It’s frantic and succinctly explains what happens before returning to the present. The Dungeons & Dragons aspect is key, becoming a crucial factor in the storytelling and the rules of the comic.

Not just the creatures, but character sheets, the concept of new worlds, and the iconic 20-sided die are all brought into play. The ending brilliantly wraps up the individual story in Strange Tales Issue 1, whilst opening the door for what’s coming next.

The two figures chosen to begin this series are fantastic. Nico has magical talent, but she’s young and afraid. She possesses the Staff of One, a mystical item that lets her cast any spell, but only once. This means she has to be selective and imaginative, often resorting to just hitting creatures with the staff instead. In her panic, she heads to Scarlet Witch.

It’s lovely to see Wanda as this older, motherly figure. She takes Nico under her wing, caring for her and listening, and believing what she says. However, her son, Wiccan, is involved and missing, along with his husband, Hulkling, and Karolina, Nico’s girlfriend. The story doesn’t really match up with the canon of the wider Marvel Universe, considering Wiccan and Hulkling are meant to be in space, but that should never get in the way of a creator telling their own worthwhile story.

And Wiccan’s involvement gives Wanda even more incentive to get involved. Where Nico is lost and confused, Scarlet Witch is calm and inquisitive. The use of D&D language within the dialogue is fantastic. It’s not overly specific, but it also has enough detail to avoid feeling insulting to those in the community.

The art is incredibly exciting and enjoyable. The body language is spectacular, with an enormous difference between Nico and Wanda. Nico is always dramatic, with her arms wide and eyes big as she bounces from one situation to the next. Her massive witch hat is magnificent, purposefully over the top because she was cosplaying.

Meanwhile, Scarlet Witch is elegant and confident. She towers over the younger witch. Their personalities shine through every strand of their hair. The energy is spectacular, with a terrific sense of movement and magic. The spells crackle, but it’s satisfying to see Nico thump creatures with the staff as well as the more fantastical options. Speaking of the fantasy aspects, all of the creatures also look magnificent. The details and variety are incredible, as there are dragons, ogres, and other monsters literally invading the real world.

The colors are gorgeous. Although Nico is kitted out in all black, there is a brightness and vibrancy everywhere else, particularly during the fun and exuberant start of the game, where it is believed to be just that. When spells are cast, each character has a unique color that is intense and dazzling. The lettering is very easy to read, with some superb uses of sound effects and roars for the larger, louder creatures.

Strange Tales Issue 1 is fast-paced, fantasy-led, and fun. It celebrates the magic users of the Marvel Universe with an adventure that adapts the world’s most beloved role-playing game into their rules. It’s a playful plot that loves to explore and be over the top. It also merges the generations, with both young and older spellcasters getting involved. The Strange Tales title, which Marvel has used for decades, is well and truly honored and revitalized.

Strange Tales Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.