Comic Review: Demon Days: Blood Feud #1

Marvel Comics

Story & Art: Peach Momoko

English Adaptation & Dialogue: Zack Davisson

Lettering: VC’s Ariana Maher

It’s admittedly difficult for me to write about the final installment of Peach Momoko’s Demon Days story. There’s little to say beyond how utterly magnificent the project has been from start to finish. While Momoko’s cover work is well known, anyone ignoring her interior debut is doing themselves a disservice. Each page radiates not just beauty, but time, effort, and craft. Nothing is haphazard. Nothing comes across as an after thought, a halfhearted idea. This is Momoko’s vision, wholly, and it’s a joy to experience.

At this point in the narrative, Mariko has not only tracked down the mysterious, deadly Ogin, but discovered that Ogin’s desire to kill Mariko is more personal than we could have anticipated. While the connection and backstory between Mariko and Ogin might not be exceedingly complex or original, it is believable and layered in both human emotion and superhero-meets-Japanese-folklore mythos.

The bulk of Blood Feud depicts an action scene involving Mariko, Ogin, and Momoko’s versions of Wolverine and the Hulk. The action bounces from viscerally grounded to whimsically comic, but always soaked in Momoko’s penchant for effortless style. As I said, it would be easier to not review this issue and instead copy and paste every single panel into this space. Facial expressions, poses, the movement of hair and clothes…it’s all there, all contributing to one of the most unique Marvel reading experiences you’ll get outside of Krakoa.

Mariko and Ogin’s character designs are consistently sharp and dynamic. While the issue suggests Momoko will return with another series in her version of the Marvel universe this summer (praise be!!!) I can’t imagine Mariko not popping up in 616 through one multiversal story line or another. She’s just too good to keep out of main continuity.

But that’s not my focus, not at all. Momoko is masterful in her storytelling and art. Knowing that she gets to keep playing in her own universe is a thrill. And who knows, if another writer or two joins the Momokoverse, we might have a new Ultimate line on our hands!