One fuzzball special, coming up!
October 6, 2014 8:57 AM   Subscribe

In the next of a series of comics with female protagonists (Thor, She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel), Marvel Comics has just announced the (aptly-titled) Unbeatable Squirrel Girl solo comic.

While Squirrel Girl might seem to be a joke character, she is possibly the most powerful being in the Marvel Universe, and has famously never been defeated in open combat. She has canonically defeated many top-tier Marvel villains and heroes including:

o Doctor Doom
o Thanos
o MODOK
o Fin Fang Foom
o Deadpool
o Wolverine

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl will be written by Dinosaur Comics' Ryan North and drawn by Erica Henderson
posted by 1970s Antihero (62 comments total) 24 users marked this as a favorite
 
SQUIRREL!!

sorry

not sorry

first!
posted by nevercalm at 9:01 AM on October 6, 2014 [6 favorites]


I love her boots.
posted by The Whelk at 9:02 AM on October 6, 2014 [2 favorites]


Sweet! I haven't felt compelled to pick up Issue #1 of a new comic in ages, but I foresee a trip to my local comic store for this one.
posted by Gelatin at 9:03 AM on October 6, 2014


She just really likes squirrels.
posted by Artw at 9:03 AM on October 6, 2014 [2 favorites]


Wow! With Ryan North writing, this should be extra fun.
posted by clockzero at 9:05 AM on October 6, 2014 [2 favorites]


Aaaaaaa I am really really into Erica Henderson's art for this, and Ryan North writing is perfect, and Tippy-Toe (only squirrel to have an on-the-record opinion on superhuman registration) is on the cover!
posted by emmtee at 9:08 AM on October 6, 2014


I once, for a superhero game, pitched a Squirrel Girl inspired heroine known as Cat Lady. (Amazingly, this was vetoed by the GM, as well as the grandmother with faerie enchanted boxing gloves, and I finally wound up with the shop teacher who built power armor in her off hours.)
posted by Karmakaze at 9:10 AM on October 6, 2014 [4 favorites]


Your GM is *really boring*.
posted by Artw at 9:15 AM on October 6, 2014 [14 favorites]


Ryan North's adventure time comics are just great.
posted by Artw at 9:16 AM on October 6, 2014


Meh.

Squirrel Girl is already an over exposed, one joke character and the joke didn't get funnier with the first zillion repeats.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:20 AM on October 6, 2014 [2 favorites]


Pinching myself so hard right now. SQUEE.
posted by trunk muffins at 9:24 AM on October 6, 2014


YOUR favorite band sucks, too, MartinWisse.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:25 AM on October 6, 2014 [16 favorites]


Squirrel Girl is already an over exposed, one joke character and the joke didn't get funnier with the first zillion repeats.

I'm not gonna do the thing where I quote you and cross out "Squirrel Girl" and replace it with "Wolverine," but I really, really want to.
posted by straight at 9:27 AM on October 6, 2014 [20 favorites]


Squirrel Girl is the definition of WIN, and the protestations of her detractors offer the finest schadenfreude available in comic-dom.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:31 AM on October 6, 2014 [3 favorites]


THANK YOU THANK YOU

It's nice when reality offers up even one rad thing, in an otherwise seriously unrad period of time. I will take what I can get.
posted by Poppa Bear at 9:32 AM on October 6, 2014


The best part about Squirrel Girl's appearances (as exemplefied in the Thanos link) is the assurance that these are the real villains, she really is capable of defeating them, it is canon, and this cannot be retconned away. It drives fanboys crazy.

So excited for this comic, you guys.
posted by almostmanda at 9:34 AM on October 6, 2014 [12 favorites]


I'm more OH GOD RYAN NORTH IS WRITING A MARVEL TITLE AND HENDERSON IS DRAWING AHHHH IT'S GONNA BE FUCKING ADORABLE AAAAAH myself
posted by The Whelk at 9:34 AM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


Man, Ryan North is having a good year.
posted by Think_Long at 9:38 AM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


Crossing my fingers for a Great Lakes Avengers movie.
posted by drezdn at 9:39 AM on October 6, 2014 [7 favorites]


Ryan North did a fun story with the less-popular but generally handsomer members of the Young Avengers for the Original Sin event. This won't be his first thing for Marvel.
posted by almostmanda at 9:40 AM on October 6, 2014


Is Squirrel Girl a litmus test for why you enjoy comics?
1) You hunger for them them to be gritty outlets for the confused and scared 12 year old in you that never, ever grew up? Squirrel Girl is the worst.
2) you believe comics are supposed to be fun spaces full of joy, for the imagination and the human soul to unspool themselves in beautiful, playful acts of unselfconcious creation? Squirrel Girl is everything that is right with comics.
posted by Poppa Bear at 9:41 AM on October 6, 2014 [28 favorites]


Is Squirrel Girl a litmus test for why you enjoy comics?

I like both. Both can exist. Just not in Squirrel Girl.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:43 AM on October 6, 2014


I was kinda feeling like "i dunno is this some kind of Rescue Rangers thing" and then I got to the part where Ryan North is writing this. Anyone who can make me feel strongly for clip art of Dromiceiomimus can probably handle the job of making a squirrel superhero awesome.
posted by Sara C. at 9:46 AM on October 6, 2014 [3 favorites]


I'm also really, really happy to see a superhero who looks like me, for once.

REPRESENTATION FOR VAGUELY ZAFTIG WOMEN WITH SHORT HAIR FTW
posted by Sara C. at 9:48 AM on October 6, 2014 [7 favorites]


I like both. Both can exist. Just not in Squirrel Girl.

The Great Lakes Avengers miniseries alone belies this assertion.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:48 AM on October 6, 2014 [3 favorites]


It's okay that some of you manifestly hate fun. Squirrel Girl can disagree with you without having to denigrate you, and so can I.
posted by Poppa Bear at 9:52 AM on October 6, 2014 [6 favorites]


Gay marriage AND Squirrel Girl? It really is the best day ever!
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:08 AM on October 6, 2014 [13 favorites]


There will be a print of that amazing variant cover, right? So I can buy it and frame it?

Not that I can't buy and frame an actual comic. Just asking.
posted by Tomorrowful at 10:10 AM on October 6, 2014 [4 favorites]


Marvel, you have been killing it lately.

I say this as a 31 year old lady who never really bought comics before this year: it's time to go add another series to my subscriptions list.
posted by alynnk at 10:14 AM on October 6, 2014 [2 favorites]


For something truly terrifying, see the last image here.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:16 AM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


OK, I have to call my shop and add this to my pull list.

Now, who wants to revamp ROM: Space Knight?
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:18 AM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


It really is odd to see the difference between Marvel on the one hand, and DC on the other. Maybe they could take notes or something.
posted by zabuni at 10:22 AM on October 6, 2014 [3 favorites]


Now, who wants to revamp ROM: Space Knight?

There's a line of creators as long as a very long line that wants to revamp ROM: Space Knight, but the trademarks issue with the character has been preventing it for decades.
posted by mightygodking at 10:35 AM on October 6, 2014 [3 favorites]


We're talking about the genre that puts ancient Norse gods on a superhero team because why the hell not and includes a villain who identifies with penguins, as well as a tree who talks but with only three words, but no, Squirrel Girl is just a bridge too far. Whatever.

Whether it's any good is up to the writers. As far as premise goes, there is no such thing as "too bizarre." That bridge was crossed and then burnt pretty much at the beginning of comics.
posted by emjaybee at 10:37 AM on October 6, 2014 [4 favorites]


It really is odd to see the difference between Marvel on the one hand, and DC on the other.

Marvel has its own merch problems.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:38 AM on October 6, 2014


Yeah, not to derail but it is IMPOSSIBLE to find (gender neutral) GOTG merch with Gamora on it, or Avengers merch with Black Widow on it. Grrr Grrr Grrr and all.

But still, this whole Squirrel Girl thing makes me think it's finally time to set up a formal pull list.
posted by Sara C. at 11:04 AM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


Nonsense. Squirrel Girl has been defeated once already -- though, in all fairness, it was an opponent against whom she was completely incapable of fighting back.
posted by delfin at 12:13 PM on October 6, 2014 [3 favorites]


The Squirrel Girl / Flying Squirrel slashfic practically writes itself. "WE LIKE SQUIRRELS!"
posted by whuppy at 12:18 PM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


Whether it's any good is up to the writers.

And it's ultimately the writers that have kept SG (and the GLA) going these past few decades. So, the Pro-SG faction can take some comfort in that.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:20 PM on October 6, 2014


I'm not sure why I didn't just jump up out of my seat and start running down the street singing "O Happy Day" at this news. I may change my mind about that any secon
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:31 PM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


No, NOT to be confused with The Flying Squirrel character in the last episode of the animated The Tick, voiced by vintage-SNL's Laraine Newman. Who also should not be confused with Rocky, the Flying Squirrel, voiced by June Foray, who at 97-freaking-years-old is still doing cartoon voices including both Rocky and Natasha Fatale. Also not to be confused with Squirrel Boy, (from a short-lived animated series from the creator of Duckman) voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz, best known as Invader Zim. And also not to be confused with Sandy Cheeks the Underwater Squirrel on Spongebob Squarepants, voiced by Carolyn Lawrence. Or Secret Squirrel, voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc in the 1960s and Jess Harnell in the 1990s. Or Screwy Squirrel from the 1940's MGM cartoons, voiced by the long-forgotten Wally Maher. Or Slappy Squirrel in Animaniacs, voiced by series writer Sherri Stoner or the character's nephew Skippy Squirrel, voiced by Nathan Ruegger the producer's son. Or Hammy from Over the Hedge, voiced by Steve Carell in the film. Or Scrat from Ice Age, voiced by Chris Wedge, the movie series' director. And ESPECIALLY not to be confused with DC character Ch'p of the Green Lantern Corps (where it has never been determined if he's more of a squirrel or a chipmunk, but since he's an extraterrestial from the planet H'lven, doesn't really matter - and let's not start getting into chipmunks, PLEASE), voiced by David L. "Squiggy" Lander. There have been more cartoon squirrels than you thought, right?
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:52 PM on October 6, 2014 [7 favorites]




(From National Lampoon's Sunday Newspaper parody. It was in color but I can't find a scan.)
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:00 PM on October 6, 2014


Ryan North can do no wrong.
posted by rikschell at 1:30 PM on October 6, 2014


I like Ryan North a lot, and he's been doing some interesting projects, but I feel like Dinosaur Comics itself has been getting a little stale lately. Maybe he needs to put it on hiatus or go to twice a week or something.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:36 PM on October 6, 2014


George_Spiggott, you forgot Bucky, the squirrel Kronk talks to in The Emperor's New Groove.

Squeak squeak squeak, squeak, squeaker...Squeakin'.
posted by straight at 1:38 PM on October 6, 2014 [3 favorites]


Don't forget North's recent comic The Midas Flesh, about a small group of rebels against the evil Galactic Empire debating the ethics of using the corpse of King Midas as a weapon of mass destruction.
posted by straight at 1:42 PM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


And if you were wondering whether to get Ryan North's choose-your-own-adventure book based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, this partial walkthru showing how to find the soup recipe might help you make up your mind.
posted by straight at 1:52 PM on October 6, 2014


1) You hunger for them them to be gritty outlets for the confused and scared 12 year old in you that never, ever grew up? Squirrel Girl is the worst.
2) you believe comics are supposed to be fun spaces full of joy, for the imagination and the human soul to unspool themselves in beautiful, playful acts of unselfconcious creation? Squirrel Girl is everything that is right with comics.


Well, there's also:

3) Squirrel Girl is a joke that's been beaten into a fine mist for the kind of person who can only communicate in cliches and stale internet memes and is probably still wearing a "The Cake Is A Lie" shirt.

Really, she's just a cutesy Deadpool: ISN'T IT WACKY? IT'S SO WACKY! SO CRAZY! LOL!

There's some room between GRIM DARKNESS and "same joke forever".
posted by Sangermaine at 2:10 PM on October 6, 2014


Really, she's just a cutesy Deadpool

He wishes.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:43 PM on October 6, 2014 [7 favorites]


Now, who wants to revamp ROM: Space Knight?

Runaways, and don't fuck it up!
posted by mikelieman at 2:54 PM on October 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'm going to start buying superhero comics again, aren't I?

shit.
posted by nonasuch at 6:16 PM on October 6, 2014


Squirrel Girl is a joke that's been beaten into a fine mist for the kind of person who can only communicate in cliches and stale internet memes and is probably still wearing a "The Cake Is A Lie" shirt.

No. There are plenty of jokes and tropes that have been beaten to a fine mist by mainstream superhero comics--to a certain extent, that's basically what these sort of comics do--but this particular joke is still desperately relevant as long as there's a substantial percentage of comics fandom that can't wrap their brain around the notion of an A-list villain being beaten by a girl with squirrel powers, under any circumstances, ever. Their gravestones will read, "IT WAS A DOOMBOT."
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:47 PM on October 6, 2014 [6 favorites]


Really, she's just a cutesy Deadpool: ISN'T IT WACKY? IT'S SO WACKY! SO CRAZY! LOL!

Even if this was true, Deadpool has at least two comics right now, not to mention the Deadpool month and Deadpool cameos and the Deadpool comics that just ended, so Squirrel Girl can get one.

I'm totally signing up for this, because if Ryan North is good at anything, it's taking a seemingly constrained premise and making it entertaining for years on end. Also, while I didn't care for his Young Avengers Original Sin story, the Midas Flesh is awesome.

As for DC and female characters, I got Gotham Academy and think I'm going to enjoy it? It felt utterly unlike any of the other New 52 stuff I've read and found it incredibly refreshing.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:52 PM on October 6, 2014 [5 favorites]


Okay. Okay, so I think I've come up with a way to start buying monthly comics again that won't lead to the vortex of angry sadness and wasted dollars that was late-stage DCU fandom.

I have come up with a simple rule: the only comics allowed on my pull list are female-led solo books, or team books in which the lineup is at least 75% female. That way, either there will never be more than a handful of books that I buy monthly, or the comics industry will have changed so drastically that I become spoiled for choice re: female-led books. Win-win!

This does not address the wallet-draining power of trades, but I'm pretty sure I'll think of something. (Also I'm two volumes behind on Astro City, and I really want those.)
posted by nonasuch at 10:17 PM on October 6, 2014 [2 favorites]


I think it's hilarious that anyone could complain about something from Marvel being stale, repetitive, and played out, and not be talking about Wolverine.
posted by almostmanda at 6:09 AM on October 7, 2014 [8 favorites]




With regards to TBONTB, I just wish the ebook worked.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:07 AM on October 7, 2014


More interviews!

Marvel
Comic Vine
Newsarama

The best part: Erica Henderson was actually bitten by a squirrel as a child!
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:58 PM on October 7, 2014 [2 favorites]


Many of the best characters are one-note characters. Some are even joke characters. Look at how awesome China Meiville's Dial H got. Look at any Rogue Gallery. It takes a special someone to turn a one-off villain into a force to be reckoned with.

I always imagine Squirrel Girl talking in a Minnesota Nice accent.

And I was just thinking that since she's originally a Great Lakes Avenger, Marvel/Disney gets to keep the movie rights, correct? I mean, she's a mutant, but she's never been an X-person.
> I always feel like captions that read "Check out issue #224 for this character's origin!!" are a bit of a cop-out, especially when I was a kid and couldn't afford issue #224, even if I could find it.
I hated that as a kid.
posted by 90s_username04 at 1:29 PM on October 8, 2014


And I was just thinking that since she's originally a Great Lakes Avenger, Marvel/Disney gets to keep the movie rights, correct? I mean, she's a mutant, but she's never been an X-person.

A running joke is that the GLA has to keep changing their name as the other groups object to the association. IIRC, they were the Great Lakes X-Men for one panel.

That said, she's more closely associated with the (New) Avengers since serving as nanny for Luke Cage's kid. It'll probably end up being a Quicksilver/Scarlet Witch situation where either studio can use her.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:18 AM on October 9, 2014




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