In Image’s Firebirds, Rebecca Reed isn’t the world’s best mother. Her fifteen-year-old daughter, Emily, has spent most of her childhood in boarding schools. Rebecca tells herself that it’s in Emily’s best interests and to keep her safe, but Rebecca’s also unsure of how to be a hands-on parent.
Beyond the normal anxieties of a young single mother, Rebecca is also the super-heroine Firebird. She’s kept her secret from Emily, but circumstances force the truth out in the open, even as Emily’s own powers start to emerge. The situation also forces mother and daughter to deal with each other more directly than ever before, as Rebecca learns to be a parent and Emily learns to be a super-hero.
It’s a great, character-based set-up, and writer Jay Faerber makes the most of the sometimes prickly, sometimes touching dynamics. As first issues go, this one does a terrific job of introducing the cast and establishing the situation without resorting to excessive exposition. Background is provided more organically through dialogue, and the fact that Rebecca and Emily don’t know each other very well helps. Their tricky process of connecting opens them up to readers.
There’s a nice balance between mother and daughter, too. Neither has too much of an upper hand. Emily’s understandably resentful of her mother’s secrecy and neglect, but at the same time she relies on Rebecca to understand her powers. Despite the tension, Emily seems genuinely eager to have her mother as a regular presence in her life. Rebecca is afraid of screwing up, but she’s reached the point that she can’t ignore her responsibilities any longer. She’s anxious about the change in circumstances, but she’s committed to making the best of them.
Faerber opens up the possibilities of his scenario without overstating them. Readers see enough of the characters’ relationship to figure out the interesting ways it might evolve. He also has a nice handle on the super-heroic end of the equation, with nice scenes of Emily’s first, somewhat disastrous outing as an adventurer. Emily doesn’t have much of a choice and does as well as she can, but she isn’t a natural. Enthusiastic as she is about following in her mother’s footsteps, she’s smart enough to be anxious about it.
Art by Andres Ponce has a lot of potential. At many points, it reminds me of the graceful, realistic work of a Stuart Immonen. A sequence showing Rebecca teaching Emily how to fly has wonderful emotional punch; it’s like watching a kid ride a two-wheeler for the first time. Unfortunately, Ponce seems to have trouble resisting boob shots. Emily looks like a realistic teen, but Rebecca will happily contort herself in any way necessary to show off her considerable rack. It isn’t a bit necessary, and it undermines the positive portrayals Faerber has crafted. (Fans of DC’s Birds of Prey will be familiar with this disconnect.)
Still, arched backs aside, this is a strong and interesting introduction to the Firebirds. I haven’t seen many titles explore the parent-child dynamic with such a balanced touch, and there’s lots of potential for future character development. If the art can better suit the tone of the writing, this book could be pure pleasure.