Review of "The Aladdin Effect: A Marvel Graphic Novel," by James Shooter et. al.

Review of

The Aladdin Effect: A Marvel Graphic Novel, by James Shooter et. al. ISBN 0871350815


Four out of five stars

  The superheroes in this book are all female. It is based on the premise that a powerful force field has appeared around the small town of Venture Ridge, Wyoming and it is impossible for anyone or anything to get in or out. The field has been in place for two months and while the people are coping reasonably well, civil order is starting to break down as the food is running out. There is no electric power

 Holly-Ann is the daughter of the Sheriff and she is a fan of some of the female superheroes. When her father catches her reading about them, he takes her book and adds it to the nightly fire. That does not stop her desire to be rescued and she goes to sleep wishing for the arrival of some female heroes.

 Storm is the first to arrive but even though she is in full costume, she is suffering from amnesia. With Holly-Ann’s prompting in the face of danger, Storm manages to fight off the memory loss and regain the use of her powers. She-Hulk is the next to arrive, followed by the Wasp and Tigra.

 Banding together, they learn that Venture Ridge is the focal point of the damping field created by a criminal enterprise. The organization possesses a great deal of power that they can channel, one of the leaders beats the crap out of She-Hulk.  

 At first, the townspeople shy away from fighting back against their oppressors, but the courage of Holly-Ann’s father provides inspiration and with the alliance between the superheroes and the common people, they are able to defeat the evil-doers, eliminating the force field and allowing Venture Ridge to rejoin the world.

 While this is in many ways a standard graphic novel featuring a team of superheroes battling the evildoers, there is a focus on Holly-Ann with indications that she is a powerful being in her own right. Creating the potential for an interesting sequel. It is a bit sexist, none more than when, in the literal middle of the battle, an elderly townswoman offers a dazed Storm a cup of hot cocoa. There are also several captions featuring a modest Wasp out of uniform.