Heroes At Home
Written by Zeb Wells
Illustrated by Gurihiru
Published by MARVEL
Collection Editor is Jennifer Grünwald
Book Design by Jay Bowen
This is the last day of the year, the very last day (all the way to the witching hour), the last time I have to write anything before this damned year is gone, forever gone, though never forgotten. I’m writing, editing, and reading this feature all within the wee hours of the morning to the dwindling hours of the evening. Still this year has had a lot of thing happen, throughout the majority of it all, but one thing that hasn’t really happened is inaction. No, I’m not talking about the Kevin Smith toyline, no, it’s staying at home (or going out as little as possible) to reduce the spread of infection. Germs and Viruses are something that we can’t protect ourselves from, even in a suit of armor or with a really sharp sword, though a mask can help. And with Superheroes being the forerunners on mask wearing MARVEL stepped forward and wanted to show what the inaction lives of some of their most popular action heroes could be doing.
Let’s talk about the cover and this short all at the same time, since originally this whole book was just covers for issues that came out within 2020 as an alternate to the regular series (except for two). That’s always a hard thing with writing and drawing, if something huge happens within reality your fictional world may have to change. Lucky for most comics the events are happening within a year or so ago, so everything hasn’t really caught up with them just yet (fictitiously speaking), still that little bit of excusable explanation of why no one is wearing masks except for the super in the room is going to fade fast. Since (again) this is the end of the year, the very last day th— okay, so each “chapter” (I’m gonna use the term loosely) is a different hero story of inaction. Like any book they give illusion that these eight “chapters” are going to be within the book from the cover. It’s a fairly simple cover, of a wall, like any brick wall of an apartment building (especially in New York City), so one window for each apartment. I guess you could consider this a ‘What if?’ story since they all (assumingly) live under the same roof. Anyhow, the cover gives a bit of personification to each character, showing what each would be doing if given the chance to rest and live within the moment. I really don’t want to go into much detail, since the whole book is nine panels each “chapter”, just enough to fit on a cover page grid three by three. I’m gonna list my synopses of each character’s story in order of appearance (also the issue the “chapter” is from).
Spider-Man: The Amazing Baking Adventures of our webbed culinary crusader! [Amazing Spider-Man #48]
Black Panther: Obstacles can be a four-course meal. [Avengers #36]
Captain America: Dishes to discus, freedom to feast. [Captain America #23]
Captain Marvel: Conversations from Skrull to Kree. [Captain Marvel #21]
Hulk: If you’re happy and you know it, make a sign. [Immortal Hulk #37]
Thor: Precarious perils of hair removal! [Original]
Venom: When life is without, make do with what life gives you. [Original]
Wolverine: Mosaics of friends, or The best at what he does (which is puzzles). [Wolverine #5]
[Make sure to look for all the hiding spots of Jeff the Land Shark]
And since we're diving into the pages, Gurihiru brings a depiction for each character that illuminates aspects of each hero. Spider-Man with his thin and youthful appearance, Captain Marvel with her stunning golden locks and sarcastic expressions, and Venom with his over the top and chaotic nature. No one quiet moves a static image as well as Gurihiru, though no one compliments them as well as the wit of Zeb Wells.
That about wraps it up, an inaction adventure illustrated by the talented Gurihiru team and written by the clever mind of Zeb Wells, all bind and bound in about five by five square inches. I’m bias, since I love superheroes and slice-of-life tales, though if you’re looking for something that’s beautifully designed and comedically timed this is worth a place in your library. Nothing better than a little comfy story to ease into the New Year.
I trust you enjoyed the inspection, thank you for reading.
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Keep well and Stay well.
