Fearless Defenders 1

BIFF! POW! … SNOG?

Continuing the efforts of Marvel to get the inexplicably success-resistant Misty Knight a vehicle after Heroes for Hire tanked, Fearless Defenders’ unique selling point is that it’s an all-female team.

Why? You got me. Marvel’s tried the “gal pals who fight crime” schtick a couple of times – Marvel Divas and Heralds, both of which were rather better than the sucky promos led one to expect – but with a conspicuous lack of achievement. It’s not a template that you’d think would imbue Marvel with optimism. And with the upcoming all-new X-Men (er, as opposed to “All-New X-Men”, which is a completely different show, obviously. Gods, Marvel’s confusing these days…) also presenting a double-X-chromosome roster (shoulda called it XX-Men) coupled with the lucrative mutant franchise, you’ve got to think Fearless Defenders is doomed to twelve issues and buh-bye.

Which would be a pity, as setting aside the oestrogen-rich novelty angle, it’s a decent thriller with a likable protagonist.

The aforementioned Ms Knight is doing her freelance troubleshooter thing, and – as seems to be an occupational hazard in the field – has been fibbed to about the danger levels of the gig by her employer, old friend and archaeologist Annabelle Riggs. Expecting to fight a ragtag band of artefact thieves, Misty finds herself instead up against highly-trained and heavily-armed mercenaries. Staving off the first assault, Misty is present when Riggs recklessly frottages an unearthed talisman, and, inevitably, invokes an army of the living dead. Fortunately for the slightly-outclassed Misty, the Valkyrie, gatherer of fallen heroes, is also summoned by the trinket, and joins forces with our urban detectrix to win the day, temporarily, whereupon the pair (to be augmented when Dr Riggs gets an origin, I suspect) set out to discover what’s afoot.

Well and good – not exceptional, but fun – but for one thing.

In the middle of the zombie apocalypse, Riggs, the civilian, blunders out into danger, is rescued by Valkyrie and – bearing in mind this is the first time they’ve met, and there’s still imminent danger to life and limb and all – grabs her and starts making out!

"Likes girls." No, duh. And hey - 21st Century & all - shouldn't it be, "Likes Women"?

Really? Isn’t that just …rude?

I mean, I like guys, but I don’t go sticking the lips on them the first time I see them, even without the further distraction of a battle to death raging around me! (It would add a frisson of danger and trepidation to punters visiting my store, admittedly, but it wouldn’t be worth the hassle…) It’s as if Bunn wants to be liberal and prove a point, but – seriously, is this his fevered mental picture of how “those wacky lesbos” behave? ‘Preciate the validation and all, matey – go, equality – but there’s such a thing as an appropriate set of circumstances. Unless Dr. Riggs (and/or Valkyrie, whose reaction to being violently snogged is surprisingly mild) is subsequently proved to have been under some sort of eldritch influence, then Riggs’ actions are just, well, pushy and inapt. The absence of a penis doesn’t preclude sexual harassment, chaps. Think on.