Lucas Blogs About The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol 8

Squirrels in SPAAAAAACE!!!!!!

So, what's this book's de—oh, fer cryin' out loud—another comic book?

I know, right? Whatcha gonna do?

I guess there's no accounting for taste, let's get this over with.

So, the deal with The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 8 — My Best Friend's Squirrel is that it collects Erica Henderson's final story-arcs as the artist on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. For some people, this may be a good thing, but I'm going to miss her cartoon-y style with its (I know it's a cliche for my comics reviews by now, but) expressive and dynamic faces and poses. The good news is that she's still been doing the cover art for subsequent issues.

What a relief.

Well, you're lucky that I'm discussing something I like, Hypothetical Reader, because I'm not going to let your snappish attitude ruin my good mood. Anyway, this volume finds Nancy Whitehead and Tippy-toe, the best human and squirrel friends of Doreen Green – AKA Squirrel Girl, kidnapped by a planet of green alien Squirrels who desperately need to know the secret of how the Unbeatable SG defeated Galactus, the devourer of worlds, way back in volume 1. You see, the Silver Surfer and his most excellent space bros dropped by and told these squirrels that if they didn't give up all of their natural resources within a few days, Galactus will show up and devour their world.

That sounds fishy, given that the Silver Surfer no longer works for Galactus, and Galactus himself has reformed and become the bringer of life.

It is fishy, indeed. Meanwhile, back on Earth Doreen is fruitlessly searching for her two best friends, and eventually turns up at the doorstep of the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.

You mean Doctor Strange?

Nope, now it's Loki Lauffeyson.

You're kidding.

Comics are weird, HR. Anyway, Loki and Doreen travel to space (after being briefly waylaid by Dormammu (don't worry about who that is) and pressgang Drax the Destroyer (who you may know from the very popular Marvel Cinematic Universe) into helping them rescue Nancy and Tippy-toe.

But why would the Norse trickster god care about some random Earthlings?

Oh, several volumes earlier, Loki bonded with Nancy while helping Squirrel Girl defeat Ratatoskr (a giant one-horned squirrel that runs up and down Yggdrasil in Norse mythology). That's one of the nice things about serialized story-telling. Story developments in early installments can pay off unexpected plot dividends in later entries. Oh, and also you can call back to crazy stuff like Beta Ray Bill, who sort of looks like Thor crossed with a horse, and use that to make up a new character like Hocky Hoof Hank who's like Thor if he were a horse (a Thorse, if you will).

You're right, comics are weird.  So does the real Silver Surfer show up?

You will be unsurprised to learn that he does, and that his presence further complicates things. Anyway, after that's all resolved, there's a short, two-issue arc about Nancy and Doreen getting zapped into hypertime for the weekend (it basically turns them both into the Flash, well, not quite). Will they be able to save everyone in Manhattan for an entire weekend? Will their friends Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boy, and Brain Drain be able to help them build a machine to return to normal time? Did Ryan North write an especially emotional story to give Erica Henderson a proper USG send-off?

Well?

You'll have to read it to find out.

You're the worst.

I know.

The absolute worst.

Well, I will answer that last one. Yes, the story about Nancy and Dorreen being trapped in hypertime and living an entire life over a weekend is pretty emotional. It hit me squarely in what I understand young people call "the feels."

Gross.

Oh, grow up. Anyway, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl continues to be the most delightful comic book I currently keep track of, and it is consistently funny and occasionally emotional. I can be somewhat cynical, but I always like to see entertainment for kids (or childish adults) that advocates for positivity, love, and acceptance. So is USG a corny comic book targeted at children? Yes. Do I unabashedly love it? Fuck yes!

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 8 - My Best Friend's Squirrel by Ryan North (writer), Erica Henderson (artist), and Rico Renzi (colorist), Marvel trade paperback edition, 2018, 136 pages, pairs well with Nutter Butter and general good feelings

Links:

Hey, good news if you have a child who wants to dress up as Squirrel Girl for Halloween but you aren't good at that kind of thing, they sell Squirrel Girl costumes now.