Alpha Flight (1983) » Complete Marvel Reading Order News and Reviews

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Alpha Flight

Issue #4

Written & Drawn by John Byrne

Published: November 1983

Issue four of everyone’s favourite (cough cough) Canadian superhero team starts out with a couple cameos from Namor and Susan Storm of Fantastic Four fame, which sets the tone for a fun episode. As Alpha Flight frantically follows after Marina, certain revelations come to light about several members of the team. We find out a little more about Aurora and Jeanne-Marie (namely, the split personality that prevents them from being one and the same), a little about Sasquatch’s relationship to the Aurora personality, and a whole lot about Marina. As things come to a head in a strange structure locked beneath the ice, the team is called to work together to save Marina from a gruesome fate.

Despite the fetish-y nature of the cover, the art is largely nice here, barring a couple awkward panels. In particular, there’s one panel where Jeanne-Marie appears to backhand Walter with a clenched fist in perhaps the weirdest way possible. Still, the art has an appealing bleakness to it. Appropriately, I read this issue in a hockey arena while freezing my fingers off. Maybe that contributed to the sense of cold I got from this issue, but considering much of it takes place in the frozen north, I’d say not much. Alpha Flight has always had a sort of sombre tone, with that dang Canadian landscape featuring heavily in the chilly, half-wild atmosphere of the whole thing. Which, incidentally, makes the pages with Namor strutting around in a glorified speedo somewhat hilarious.

I like this issue because it gives me exactly what I want from a team-up book: intriguing character development, interesting relationships between the cast, and good follow through on a promised backstory. It works wonderfully well as a team issue because every character is given little character-specific things to do, and the plot revolves around the relationships between the characters. This is definitely a rewarding issue.

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Alpha Flight

Issue #1

Written & Drawn by John Byrne

Published: August 1983

Hot off their first appearance in Uncanny X-Men, Canada’s own superhero team is back in this double-sized first issue of Alpha Flight.

Issue one begins somewhat paradoxically, with the cancellation of the government organization Department H and the disbanding of the original Alpha team. As the original members go their separate ways, we are re-introduced to them and their powers, as well as two new members: Puck, a dwarf with super-strength, and Marina, an amphibious Newfoundlander who can form water spouts. However, a natural disaster of unnatural origins ensures that the team doesn’t remain in retirement for long.

Byrne’s prose is lyrical and evocative, unafraid to take the time to give each character his or her own distinctive voice and motivation. He effectively illustrates what makes each character unique and what their inner conflicts are. Although some of the character designs are a little odd – the comic itself jokes about a Canadian superhero named <i>Puck</i>, and Sasquatch does look more like an urban legend brought to life than a Beast-like superhero – they nonetheless remain diverse and interesting to look at. Visually, the team looks great, and Byrne’s choice to focus on character as opposed to action in this first issue pays off in spades.

Alpha Flight # is somewhat heavy on description, although this isn’t something unheard of for a first issue. Byrne pairs this with genuine character moments and interaction, as well as a pretty great battle scene that involves(almost) all the members of Alpha Flight coming together to fight against the land itself, a land they have sworn to protect. Byrne’s prose really reflects a writer that takes his material seriously, and as a result Alpha Flight #1 comes across as a thoughtful, compelling addition to Marvel’s collection of superhero teams.

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Alpha Flight

Issue #3

Written & Art by John Byrne

Published: October 1983

The third installment in the adventures of Canada’s very own superhero team is fairly consistent in quality with the first and second issues. I enjoyed it about as much as I enjoyed the others. This time around, Snowbird gets some much needed screen time, and she gets to show off her cool psychic powers in a really neat spread. The issue splits up the team, alternating between their individual attempts at reaching Marina, and Marina’s interaction with a new villain.

I’m quickly warming to these characters, and so the jumping around didn’t bother me. I like that we get to spend time with different members, and their different powers are on display. There’s a nice variety to their team, and it comes through when they’re split up, and each group has a slightly different approach to solving problems.

This issue in particular is a little wordy, but the prose is unique enough to make this a possible plus if you don’t mind–well, reading. The backstory of the new villain is pretty chilling, and is told in evocative flashbacks. It’s wisely tame on the gore, but the implications of what we do see are pretty horrifying, and the narrative seems curiously obsessed with pain.

Indeed, some of the panels come off a little torture-porn-y to me, with Marina bound spread-eagled and thrashing whilst being subjected to intense pain. Not bad enough to stop me reading, but enough that I started to get a little worried. Thankfully the panels in question were brief, and the issue moves along at a pretty good pace, despite being, as I said, wordy.

Alpha Flight still isn`t a series that I`d recommend to everyone, but I don`t think there`s anything wrong with having a distinct style or appealing to a select group of people. It`s a little more ambitious, I think, than the average punch-’em-up style comic, and I find that consistently engaging.

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Alpha Flight

Issue #2

Written & Drawn by John Byrne

Published: September 1983

Alpha Flight is an odd little series in many ways. Much of the narration on Byrne’s original run is the sort of prose you’d find in a novel, not necessarily a comic book. It’s difficult to describe, but he has a way with adjectives, of using short phrases to get across a sense of confusion and action. It’s effective, and it gives the narration a sense of melancholy and thoughtfulness that I find compelling.

Issue 2 opens with the team training, when suddenly Marina begins acting oddly and rushes off in a blind panic. She is being “called home”, though she has no idea what “home” means. Thus the issue delves into Marina’s backstory, which is a fascinating mix of fairy tale and science fiction, despite being fairly short and to-the-point. However, I don’t buy the rationale for why her peers accepted her so easily. It seems a cheap shot, as well as straining credulity.

The issue ends on a cliffhanger, and a good one. It hints at the coming issue’s conflict, introduces a new character whose origins are suitably mysterious and whose motivations we can only guess at, and promises more information on what is arguably the most interesting character in the series.

It seems a little soon to dive right into backstories, but the storyline is intriguing. The issue also comes with another story, about the origin of Vindicator (now Guardian’s) flying suit, and his trials as a scientist. None of this is as interesting to me as Marina’s backstory, but it’s a nice little character moment, and nice to see James actually getting to do some science.

Overall, Alpha Flight’s direction is difficult to define, but it is quick-paced, eloquent, and maintains a certain uniqueness that makes it utterly intriguing.

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