"A Hero's Compulsion": Obsessed
Writer: Tamora Pierce & Timothy Liebe
Artists: Phil Briones(p), Don Hillsman(i), Chris Sotomayor(c)
Publisher: Marvel
Some might say that The White Tiger has been hyped to the high heavens, but you know what? It really hasn't. What excites fans is the idea of a new female super-hero and a well-known female writer taking the leash. That excitement led to word of mouth publicity and promotion on the blogs. The internet community created the buzz behind The White Tiger. Civil War on the other hand has been hyped to the high heavens. The usual sites only recently mentioned The White Tiger. Blink, and you really could have missed The White Tiger among the unnatural camouflage of ugly half-cover Civil War books, which have benefited from undue publicity.
The White Tiger is simply put that into what comic books should have evolved. Big Stupid Events should not have hamstrung comic books. They should not have been waylaid by a deconstructive paradigm. They should have continued as they were but simply written in a much more sophisticated manner. The premise should not be changed, but as Tamora Pierce proves there's enormous flexibility in the way the premise can be presented.
Ms. Pierce is a real writer. She passionately scribes a literate super-hero book that the lion's share of hacks can only dream to write. She doesn't resort to stupid shock tactics or cliché character failings. Instead, she concentrates at what she is expert.
With her husband and writing partner Timothy Liebe, Pierce gives the reader flowing first person, present tense narration. She introduces fun and fluid dialogue but dialogue that could be spoken by every day intelligent people. She eyes continuity suspiciously. She accepts what makes her story better. She pushes aside what could hamper her efficiency in craft.
The way she characterizes the new White Tiger alias Angela del Toro offers a unique perspective to the reader. She gives Angela a strong background to make her a natural super-hero. She uses previous continuity to generate friction between some of the stars, and she uses the friction to introduce more guest-stars from the Marvel universe who gravitate to Angela's rebirth.
Pierce gives thought to how Angela gains a costumed identity. Upon receiving Hector Ayala's amulets, she doesn't just automatically become the White Tiger. Being an FBI agent and a legacy from a cop family makes Angela no novice to crimefighting, but Pierce differentiates being a crimefighter, and even super-powered, from being a super-hero. How ironic that Pierce honors the importance of identity, while the rest of the brain trust at Marvel seem hell-bent to diminish the idea.
Watching Angela grow into her role engorges the reader with more than just entertainment. Pierce transfuses her thoughtfulness about how to write this character to the pages, and as a result, she creates a hero that has the worth to carry a book.
Pierce's plot is just as good. The story involves terrorism but not the obvious sort fomented by the fear mongering tactics of politicians and demagogues. Street-level crimes linked to traditional schemes serve as the core concern for the new White Tiger. If not stopped the local and the felonious can snowball into national catastrophe.
Everything in The White Tiger is enmeshed. The crimes entangle the costumed identity. The meeting with Daredevil on the rooftops involves another character. The natures of these guest-stars impact on the crimes and the costumed identity. Everything connects in a most satisfying way.
In addition Pierce does not throw away the previous continuity to serve her story. The Big Bad of the book takes his name from an old Marvel loser villain. Pierce creates a new incarnation. She doesn't adhere unattractive behavior that will not stick to the classic model. Instead, she juxtaposes the hero and the villain, so that they play off of each other.
Phil Briones, Don Hillsman and Chris Sotomayor accompany Tamora Pierce and Timothy Liebe on this stealthy journey of the new White Tiger. Well, would you look at that? Artists who have studied anatomy! I'm astounded.
Briones takes Pierce's words and brings character and action to the panels. When Briones incites The Tiger to move, she moves with agility and skill. I like also how Briones gives the Tiger a grace that removes her from the comparative grindhouse of the martial arts books from her uncle's past. Briones shows that she definitely has the moves, but with Pierce's careful word choice and character motivations, he makes the book a super-hero story not chopsocky.
Briones gives all the characters distinctive looks. The Tiger bears a subtle ethnicity that befits her origins, and she's always dressed sensibly. Whether on the rooftops or meeting a friend for lunch, she wears stylish clothing that you can see worn by people passing you on the streets every day.
Briones does an equally excellent job illustrating the guest-stars from the Marvel Universe. Pierce honors these additional players by writing dialogue that matches their characterization. She also makes use of their history in the brief time they have in the cameos. Besides maintaining what wasn't broken, Pierce bestows a certain amount of uniqueness to each. She for instance gives one of the guest-stars a superb unusual habit that fits her character. Briones flavors this character with distinctive body language. Hillsman provides the pencils greater depth, and Sotomayor brilliantly reconfigures a color scheme that reflects her name.
The White Tiger is a six-part mini-series. Let's hope Marvel has the sense to extend Tamora Pierce's contract and keep her intriguing readers with Angela del Toro striped super-hero exploits.
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