• Written by: Jason Loo
• Art by: Rafael Loureiro
• Colors by: Java Tartaglia
• Letters by: VC’s Ariana Maher
• Cover art by: Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
• Cover price: $4.99
• Release date: September 18, 2024

Dazzler #1, by Marvel Comics on 9/18/24, catches with Alison Blaire as she begins her world tour with an all-mutant crew. Can she slay the charts and the bigots? Only if she’s Out and Proud.

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Is Dazzler #1 Good?

When I write reviews, the normal process begins with reading the comic, then jotting down notes as I go to retain key points, finishing with diving right in as soon as the reading is done or shortly after. For Dazzler #1, that process doesn’t work.

It’s rare to read a comic that impacts your senses to such a degree that you have to step away for a time after reading it to collect yourself and realign your mental state. Dazzler #1 isn’t a comic that you read and enjoy. Dazzler #1 is a comic you endure, like a root canal without anesthesia or several waterboarding sessions at Guantanamo Bay.

Why would Jason Loo write this tone-deaf tragedy? The world may never know or care, but I had to suffer through it, so now I’m sharing my pain with you.

Dazzler #1 begins backstage shortly before Alison Blaire’s world musical tour is set to begin. We find her emerging from an equipment trunk as she covertly smuggled into the venue to avoid the throngs of adoring fans outside. After Alison comes out (yeah, this issue is THAT on the nose), she discusses the preparations with her stage crew and supporting musicians, including Multiple Man (roadie of many hands), Strong Guy (roadie of many muscles), Domino (security), Shark Girl (drummer), and Wind Rider (PR agent).

Before you ask why somebody of Domino’s sordid past and caliber is running security for a musical tour, don’t bother. Writer Jason Loo is merely playing with action figures in the sandbox. There is no rhyme or rationale for what’s happening.

Peppered throughout the issue is Dazzler’s inner monologue as she continually reaffirms and validates her goals of being a good ally to mutants everywhere, showing the hateful bigots that mutant pride is here and how the greater mutant community needs to feel seen by and through her performances.

Yes, you heard that right. Dazzler #1, to Jason Loo, isn’t an X-Title or a story about being an outsider who longs to find peace in a chaotic world. This issue is the thinnest of thin allegories about LGBTQ representation, complete with online testimonials from drag queens, trans pride flag colors on every narration box, and more.

The stage crew and musicians receive their marching orders and get to work, but Wind Rider pulls Shark Girl aside for a chat. Wind Rider is concerned that Shark Girl’s appearance may put the human fans ill at ease, so she asks the shark-presenting mutant to wear a collar that gives her the holographic appearance of a human because optics matter.

It’s strangely contradictory for Jason Loo to craft a story about Dazzler with a cast of supporting characters who are all in on her mission to be seen and proud, while Dazzler employs a P.R. Manager who appears to want to do the exact opposite. To be clear, Wind Rider isn’t malicious about her offer to Shark Girl, but it comes off as antithetical to the “message.”

Later, Wind Rider has another private chat with Dazzler and asks her not to use her mutant powers or fight if she’s attacked on stage. She urges Dazzler to let Domino handle any disruptions. Of course, a disruption is exactly what happens. A few songs into the concert, Scorpia attacks Dazzler on stage. Rather than signal Domino to come on stage and deal with the problem, Dazzler uses her glamourous dance moves and singing to trick the audience into thinking Scorpia is part of the show. After a few close calls during the “fight,” Dazzler defeats Scorpia by making her pass out with her light powers… somehow.

“Wait! What…? Dazzler did what now?” you may ask. I know. It’s a mystery the way it’s presented on the page. Scorpia is surrounded by swirls of light in one panel, and then she passes out in the next. It’s completely unclear what Dazzler did to defeat Scopria, but let’s go with it.

The issue ends with the revelation that Scorpia was contracted to attack Dazzler, Shark Girl’s holo-collar getting knocked out (the crowd loves it), and Jason Loo trying his hand at writing song lyrics that you have to read to believe.

What’s great about Dazzler #1? In fairness to everyone who worked on this comic, the art is pretty good. Rafael Loureiro and Java Tartaglia did their darnedest to make this comic as visually appealing as possible, so kudos to the art team.

What’s not great about Dazzler #1? Where to begin, where to begin.
There’s no point in picking apart structure, themes, character development, or any of the typical trappings of a comic review. Dazzler #1 comes down to one basic question: Who is this comic for?

The only answer that comes close to making sense is Jason Loo (pronounced “low”) decided to make a comic that imagined what it would be like if Taylor Swift started a musical tour designed to appease Drag Queens who spend too much time every day on X (formerly Twitter), wrapped in the skin of mutants and the X-Men brand.

Is this comic designed to entertain X-Men fans? No.

Is this comic designed to entertain superhero comic fans? No.

Is this comic designed to entertain the vast majority of comic readers who have read and loved Marvel comics for years? No.

Who is this comic made for? This comic is made by and for Jason Loo to show the entire world he’s the best ally ever, and if it gets canceled quickly and loses Marvel a bunch of money in the process, that’s fine. It’s not Jason Loo’s money, anyway.

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 YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Dazzler #1 is an embarrassment of riches for people who like the idea of Marvel superhero comics but don’t actually read Marvel comics. Jason Loo’s script is a mind-boggling array of social activist talking points, non-sensical character representation, and painfully tone-deaf plot developments. But at the very least, the art is pretty good. If you read Marvel superhero comics because you like Marvel superhero stories, avoid this issue at all costs.

4/10

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