Alters Volume 1: The Story of Chalice (ALTERS TP)

So--I am a queer. I love comic books and superheroes and all that jazz, but it has, historically, not exactly been a market with arms open to me and my boobs and queerness. I didn't get into comics until I was twenty because they were always annoying to me. They had ugly art or all the main characters were dudes with one token chick who wasn't even that badass or only wore a bikini--it was not my jam. I know there were exceptions, but they were hard to find and no one talked about them. Now, much more familiar with comics, but still a picky queer girl, I have stumbled across Alters, or as I like to think of it: The Holy Chalice (okay that's a joke but seriously!!!)Chalice is so great and the world is fantastic!!! Is it similar to X-Men? Sure, obviously, it's not really trying hide to parallels to mutants. It's almost like it took the concept and went back to the roots though, back when the parallel between mutants and queer/poc/non-white-heteronormative wasn't just a vague thing. It's QUEER. But it doesn't grab you and rub your nose in it, it just doesn't sideline it completely. Chalice is trans, there's various queers, and there's plot! Queer is not the plot which rrreally nice! Because despite what a lot of people seem to think, queer is not a plot, beyond a certain point at least. It's just a character point.So now that I've yell about that! Is it fun if you're not queer etc? Yeah!! Chalice is a total bamf and a real sweetie and I love her, and I love the whole cast supporting her. It's all dramatic and comicbook but it's not dragging out nonsense or drama it's just comic book superheroes with a trans woman as the mc! That's it! It's just that! And it's great! Please buy it and read it and tell everyone you know to read it!!!Also the physical copy is LOVELY. I mean, obviously, but in case you were concerned, the quality is top-notch. Digital's good too so you can read at your convenience of course, but ya gotta love holding it too, admiring how pretty it is, shoving it at unsuspecting visitors and screeching quietly, as ya do.

+A unique background for a superhero, that juggles with the personal and heroic struggles very well.+Neat setup, interested to see where it goes.-Sometimes the face detail can look a little weird in some frames.Overall, it was a fun romp, hoping to see a second volume in the future.

Paul Jenkins always has the most fun new characters. He’s great at motivation. This new IP is exactly like that— I had tons of fun reading it. I hope it goes on a longer time.