Marvel Voices: Comunidades # 1

"Loco-Motion"

Cover Date: February 2022
On Sale Date: December 2021

Writer: Yehudi Mercado
Artist: Mauro Fodra

Letterer: VC's Ariana Maher
Colorist: Fernando Sifuentes of Protobunker Studios
Editor: Lauren Amaro & Sarah Brunstad

Editor In Chief: C.B. Cebulski

Cover Artist: Joe Quesada

While taking his disabled brother Gabe to his doctor appointment via the Los Angeles subway system, Robbie Reyes comes across a trio of men spreading hate speech about immigrants. Robbie transforms into the Ghost Rider and drags the intolerant group onto an abandoned subway train, which he transforms into a giant Hell Train. On the trip, Robbie chastises the men for their views, scaring them nearly to death in the process. When the train car starts to fill with oil, Robbie realizes that he's taken the train into the Le Brea Tar Pits. The men beg Robbie to save them, which he does so reluctantly. He then forces the men to thank him for saving their lives before returning to take Gabe to his appointment.

THE ROADMAP

The Marvel Voices series are one-shots celebrating and recognizing different ethnic groups and the characters that represent them. Comunidades is based on Latin and Hispanic characters, of which Robbie Reyes is a part.

This story most likely takes place between the pages of Avengers (2018) # 50; specifically after the She-Hulk's transformation in Avengers Mountain and before Robbie is transported to another dimension by a Deathlok.

This anthology also features a one-page story Robbie Reyes story by Karla Pacheco and Gustavo Durante that doubles as a recipe for tortillas.

Robbie Reyes aced his last history test, creep!

CHAIN REACTION

Ghost Rider's Latino host Robbie Reyes shares the spotlight of this Marvel Voices anthology in a story that is obviously not meant to be taken seriously but honestly leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

I mean, I get the point of the story, it's certainly meant to be a parody. It also suffers from being a rage piece to get its point of tolerance across. There's certainly a lot of anger and frustration coming through the creators and I get it, I have little to no tolerance for the type of people in this story either. However, it almost feels too stereotypical, too much of a blanket statement against MAGA hat wearing voters of a certain political persuasion. Those people suck, sure, but they're also a very easy target for straw hat agendas.

That said, this is a six page story about diversity, so it's ultimately as inconsequential as any story can get. The tone has whiplash, taking a comedic approach that's so broad it borders on parody. Of course we're supposed to cheer when Ghost Rider gives the racists their comeuppance, but they aren't characters, they're cardboard cut-outs. I don't have a bit of trouble taking politics in the comics I read, they can be an important vehicle for socially conscious creators, but this one just feels sloppy. We do at least get some more Robbie/Gabe time, which has been few and far between the last couple of years.

The artwork is interesting, given that it veers so wildly into caricature for the red-hatters while still keeping a visual aesthetic that's fitting and congruent with Robbie Reyes. There's the fluid movement and the pretty boss image of the Hell Train, which is easily the money shot of the story. I'd definitely be open to seeing Mauro Fodra take some spins around with Reyes, he seems to have a good handle on what makes his type of stories work.

This anthology was a huge, expensive product that honestly isn't worth the price of admission, especially if you're only here for Ghost Rider material. Ultimately skippable and not really redeemable other than in a "revenge fantasy" type of way.