I enjoyed Yoshi Yoshitani’s work in Zatanna and the House of Secrets, and was pleased to see the artist’s work once again here. The illustrations may be the biggest strength of the book. The day is then saved by a deus ex machina, which essentially destroys the idea that Mandy can be average and still valuable and accepting of herself. This moment proves a weak point in the story, however, since a gladiator-style fight in front of Mandy’s high school seems both out of place and ridiculous. Refreshingly, the superheroes do not come into play much until the very end, when an old nemesis of Starfire’s appears for a showdown. The fact that her mom is famous is pretty much the biggest spin given to an age-old storyline. It is a rather standard affair, with Mandy trying to get through high school, deal with crushes, and figure out what her future will look like. The plot probably will not capture readers, however, if they fail to connect with Mandy. Mandy’s projection of her self-loathing onto others is difficult to watch. But not every teen searching for themselves is rude and hurtful. Her struggle to accept herself is real, of course, and will gain her some sympathy. Readers who prefer their protagonists to be likable may struggle with Mandy’s attitude and the way in which she shuts everyone out. Mandy is almost a stereotypically angsty teen, angry at everyone and mean for no reason. Because I did not expect a Starfire comic and because I have no clue what Starfire is like in any of her other appearances, I enjoyed I Am Not Starfire for what it is: a look at one teen’s search for identity while trying to come out from the shadow of her mother’s reputation.Įven if one accepts that I Am Not Starfire is not a Titans story, but rather Mandy’s story, I think that the comic may be admittedly difficult for some to enjoy. I assumed I would be reading a coming-of-age story focused on Mandy, Starfire’s daughter, and what it means to be related to somebody famous, when you feel like you are just average. I have never read a Starfire comic and I know nothing of the Teen Titans, so I went into I Am Not Starfire with few expectations.
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