Marvel's Agent Carter - Season 1

I just finished binge watching the first season on Marvel's Agent Carter. I admit I didn't love the first Captain America film, but a highlight for me was Peggy Carter as portrayed by Hayley Atwell.  I missed the debut of the series this past year and definitely wanted to catch up before the next season starts in mid-January.

The 1940s is probably one of my favorite fashion and influential decades.  This show doesn't disappoint with its depiction of New York City nor the stylization of the characters and the sets.  I adored Atwell's wardrobe--the rich colors, strong lines and fantastic fabrics. The cast as a whole looks superb throughout. Seriously, I NEED THAT RED FEDORA!

As a whole, the storytelling arc is solid if a bit stereotypical of the time period with villains portrayed as German or Russian. These depictions grow rather tiresome quickly; however, I do believe that the show's creators are making a point regarding the era. Furthermore, the stylization and treatment of such characters is meant to juxtapose the diversity that can be present in contemporary storytelling.

Watching this first season made me wish I was still in graduate school.  There is so much to discuss from a Women's Studies perspective. Peggy Carter is very much a woman trapped in a man's world. She's routinely underestimated and all but discounted except for how quickly she can pick up the lunch order. The men she works with are chauvinistic and incredibly annoying, but that's the point. She's the one off saving the world while they stand oblivious and think Carter is a helpless female merely biding her time until she marries and goes off to have a slew of kids. I enjoyed Jarvis as a character and Howard Stark too because they do not underestimate her.

Then there's Dot the evil Russian assassin.  She's another female character that begs for deep analysis and the written word. I had to wonder if she's not the predecessor of the Black Widow? I need to look up references in my Marvel encyclopedia. I enjoyed the fight scenes between these two and hope we get more.

Overall, I liked how this season fits within the other entries to the Marvel universe. There's just enough connection to Captain America to give the show some stability; however, Atwell's poise and charisma ensure that the series stands on its own.  Carter's character grows remarkably during these episodes

@AgentCarterTV #AgentCarter #HayleyAtwell #Marvel #Feminism #TV

REVIEW: Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review

Expected publication: October 13, 2015

Black Widow: Forever Red is a Marvel YA novel featuring readers' favorite former Russian spy turned Avenger, Natasha Romanov.  On one of her first S.H.I.E.L.D. assignments, Natasha is sent to eliminate the man who ruined her life.  However, a turn of events leads to more than she bargained for with a little girl named Ava, with whom she feels a kinship.  Having both been manipulated and separated from their families, Natasha promises to heed Ava's call if she ever needs her.

Eight years later...

Ava, now seventeen, hasn't had the ideal life.  Despite S.H.I.E.L.D.'s promises, her time with them was little more than as a constantly observed prisoner.  Now a runaway, barely scraping by in New York, she harbors a distinct bitterness toward Natasha because she never answered Ava's calls for help.  Combating this rage are Ava's powerfully vivid dreams featuring a handsome young man named Alex.  The lives of Natasha, Ava, and Alex in an unexpected series of events that will have readers on the edge of their seats.

What I liked...

• Margaret Stohl is a seasoned, bestselling YA author.  Having co-written the Beautiful Creatures series with Kami Garcia and authored her own dystopian series, Icons and Idols, Stohl's writing is energetic and captivating. She does justice to this beloved character, perhaps more so than Natasha has been given in recent film adaptations.

• The general story. There are plenty of great twists and turns that will keep readers interested. 

• Agent. Coulson.

What I didn't like...

• The pacing.  Sometimes it felt like the story lagged. I attribute this in part to the formatting. I didn't much care for the POV shifts. These made it harder for me to really get into the story.  I had to really push through the middle section of the novel. However, the last third was pretty dynamic.

I recommend this for multiple audiences.  Readers of any age who are fans of Marvel characters will appreciate this novel. There is great depth of character and a pretty bittersweet ending. Those who are not necessarily Marvel fans will like this too because of the adventure and plot.  There is a tinge of romance, great action, and some truly kick-butt protagonists. Stohl's reverence and enthusiasm at being tapped to helm this creation are evident and add to the reader's overall enjoyment.

If you are buying for a library collection, definitely add this!

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars.



#review #netgalley #YAlit #Marvel #blackwidow #margaretstohl