• Written by: Ed Brisson
• Art by: Scott Godlewski
• Colors by: Matt Milla
• Letters by: VC’s Travis Lanham
• Cover art by: Leonard Kirk, Edgar Delgado
• Cover price: $3.99
• Release date: August 16, 2023

Alpha Flight #1 takes readers back to the Great White North after the events of the Hellfire Gala (2023) which made all mutants fugitives, put Orchis in charge of global security, and forced all non-mutant super teams to pick a side.

---

Is It Good?

At the risk of spoiling the review, I like Alpha Flight #1. I like the way Ed Brisson presents the re-formed team’s new mission and the implications of their government-assigned task, and I especially like the twist ending. There’s an odd bit here and there, but in all, I’m interested to see where this series goes.

Brisson’s script follows up on the events of the Hellfire Gala, which forced mutants into exile, custody, or worse. Erica Doiron, head of Canada’s Department H, has declared Canada a no-mutant zone. The newly re-formed Alpha Flight is consequently tasked with apprehending all mutants, via Orchis/Sentinel/Stark tech, in the interests of public safety.
When Alpha Flight heads out to s start rounding up rogue mutants, their first mission is interrupted by Daken/Fang, Northstar, and a collective of former Alph Flight members and mutants to get the mutants to safety, creating a public embarrassment for Alpha Flight, leading to more drastic measures from Department H.

What’s great about this comic? If you’re brand new to Alpha Flight or at least rusty on the team, Brisson’s script serves as a good jumping-on point that ties into the current dilemma facing mutants. You get an efficient layout of the team members, what they can do, their relationship dynamics, and their respective personalities.

Further, Brisson’s plot makes sense within the context of the current mutant dilemma, and the twist ending is a banger.

What’s not so great about this comic? Canada’s interpretation and handling of the “mutant menace” seems off. Erica Doiron publicly states Canada is acting as it is due to the “mutant threat spreading North.” At last check, mutants are not concentrated in nor exclusive to America, so to treat mutants as though they were unwanted refugees is an odd take. Odder still, the global focus by Orchis groups to peacefully, quietly capture mutants wherever they’re found softens the hard ultimatum given by Dr. Stasis during the Hellfire Gala. “Leave Earth, or we’ll start killing humans” is a far cry from “Come along peacefully for everyone’s safety.”

How’s the art? Scoot Godlewski’s art style and presentation are spot-on. The character designs, anatomy, and figure work are super (pun intended), and the action scenes are kinetic. Plus, Matt Milla’s colors look great.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Bits and Pieces

Alpha Flight #1 piggybacks off the events of 2023’s Hellfire Gala to explore how Canada’s newly re-formed super team is tasked with protecting their citizens from the “mutant threat.” Brisson’s take on the team is consistent with their history, and using the mutant dilemma as an excuse to bring the team back to the fore is a smart play. I’m not sure where this story is headed, but I like what I see so far.

8/10