In the back matter of Mystique #1 from Marvel, writer and artist Declan Shalvey talks about his hesitance in taking on the character. After all, there’s already been a pretty excellent series about the character from 2011, written by Brian K. Vaughan. But I sure am glad Shalvey changed his mind, because based on the first issue we may be in for an experience that rivals even that series. In short, Mystique #1 is pretty damn near perfect.
Mild spoilers past this point, but we start with classic mercenary Maverick on the hunt for his old teammate Sabretooth. Turns out, it may not be Wolverine’s arch-enemy at all, but Mystique in disguise. Except as the parallel storyline featuring Nick Fury Jr. lays out, Mystique seems to be in multiple places at the same time.
To say more is to spoil the fun of the issue, but Shalvey, who has honed his writing chops on another excellent spy series, Old Dog, brings his A-game here to the shape-changing mutant. Part of his professed goal is to bring her back to an appropriately amorphous place in the Marvel Universe… Is she a good guy? A bad guy? Neither? By removing Raven as the window character for the series (or at least this issue), it keeps you guessing the entire time. The mystery set up with her is intriguing. The twists are enigmatic and jaw-dropping. By the end of the issue, you’ll be screaming in outrage, even though Shalvey has been telling you in every scene that everything is not what it seems.
Isn’t that exactly what we want out of a great spy caper? Contrasting that is Nick Fury Jr., who is part of a S.H.I.E.L.D. that has become more paperwork than sci-fi tech. There’s definitely a bit of Apple’s hit Slow Horses at play here, and it dovetails nicely with the superhero/villain nature of what’s happening with our title character.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Shalvey’s artwork. Already one of the best in the business, he elevates his art here, too. Despite the static nature of the comic book page, Mystique never stops moving, her skin turning to liquid in a way that’s reminiscent — but not the same — of how she changed shape in the X-Men movies. In a word: it’s really cool. And as she flips through her Rolodex of characters, it lets Shalvey flex his own art muscles to show you how he can draw literally anything.
Overall, we’re off to a fantastic start here, with one of not just the best books of the week, but of the whole “From the Ashes” relaunch. We’ve still got a few issues to go before we can definitively call this as good — or better — than the Vaughan run. But unlike Mystique’s motivations, there’s no question here: this book is the superhero spy caper you’ve been waiting for.
Mystique #1 Rating:
Mystique #1 Official Synopsis:
Reminding the world to hate and fear her! How do you track a subject with a history that contradicts itself? How do you stop a force whose motives change like quicksilver? How do you stop a target that can be anyone? That’s the question that confronts Nick Fury as he stumbles upon a web of lies and espionage leading back to Mystique. From the ashes of Krakoa, the shape-shifting mutant terrorist returns to remind the world exactly why it hates and fears her. From award-winning creator Declan Shalvey (MOON KNIGHT), MYSTIQUE sifts through the dark underbelly of the Marvel Universe to tell a tale of action and espionage targeting Marvel’s most mysterious mutant.
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