Starred Review ALA Booklist
(Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Starred Review Faith Herbert is starting over, with a new job, a secret identity, and a calling trolling Los Angeles as the superhero, Zephyr. When people who have psychic tendencies start to disappear, Faith comes across a conspiracy that impacts her new life while also digging up remnants of her old one. Faith is that rare beast, a spin-off superhero title that stands fully on its own. Though Faith's past adventures as part of the Harbinger comics are acknowledged, they aren't required reading. Faith herself is a masterpiece, whereas she could easily be a caricature. She's plus-sized in a completely realistic way, though her curves in no way affect her ability to fight or fly. She's also an unabashed nerd girl, a fact celebrated gleefully by the creators in minute detail, from references to actor Chris Evans to the TV show Buffy to even a "swear word" from Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind in the Door (1973). The art is bright and cheerful when Faith is happy, hazy when Faith is daydreaming of rescuing hunky guys, and darkly dramatic when showing action scenes. This combination of great storytelling, wonderful characterization, and strong art makes this next-generation superhero a must-have for graphic novel collections.
Kirkus Reviews
Fat and fierce superhero Zephyr—aka Faith Herbert—leaves the Harbinger Resistance to fly solo.On her own in LA and with her secret identity blown in a previous adventure, blonde, white Faith goes Clark Kent with a pair of glasses, a red wig, and a new name—Summer Smith—to complement her role as a mild-mannered content writer for online outlet Zipline. She works hard to get over ex-boyfriend and rising reality TV star Torque and continues to fight crime. Investigating the disappearance of a young black teen, a possible psiot like her, soon leads her to the evil Vine, who are experimenting on psiots as part of a plot to (of course) take over the Earth. Faith is an enormously likable character, an unapologetic geek and fangirl. Dialogue and internal monologues are both strong in banter ("I can do this," she thinks to herself as she prepares to write a puff piece on Torque. "I'm a freakin' superhero") and reflective of an unflinching moral code. Portela's and Sauvage's classic superhero stylings accommodate Faith's size with ease and respect. Readers unfamiliar with previous Harbinger storylines will flounder a bit as they catch up, but the willingness to suspend disbelief and go with the superhero flow will take them far. This volume compiles the first four issues of her solo comic.You go, girl. (Graphic fantasy. 12 & up)
School Library Journal
(Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Gr 7 Up-Faith Hebert, a psiotic (or person with superpowers) known as Zephyr, has relocated to Los Angeles in search of a fresh start. Once part of a group of psiotic humans (Harbinger Renegades), she now works as an unassuming entertainment blogger, Summer, eager to make her mark (as a journalist and superhero) yet conflicted about attracting attention. When her telekinetic powers (and the hacking ability of a friend) unearth other inactive psiotic beings who have mysteriously disappeared, Faith investigates. This is a modern twist on the classic superhero tale. Faith doesn't have the typical superheroine body type, dismantling stereotypes about what it means to be superpowered. While the plot doesn't deviate too far from the average superhero story, Faith is a self-aware protagonist, commenting on the common superhero tropes, and this selection is sure to spark conversations about body image and women in comics. VERDICT Recommended for all graphic novel fans and those interested in body positive characters. Tamela Chambers, Chicago Public Schools, IL