I Heart Marvel: Marvel Ai

(Marvel, 2006)
™ and © Marvel Characters, Inc.

In Japanese, “Ai” means “Love”, an emotion literally oozing from the pages of this one-shot. Part of Marvel’s 2006 tribute to romance comics, this all-manga issue is written by former Marvel editor C.B. Cebulski, and features a trio of popular Japanese artists. The bittersweet stories are a strong reminder that love takes work and commitment.

In a tale reminiscent of high school, the Scarlet Witch describes her first date with the emotionally deficient android, The Vision. And in a story visually akin to a television cartoon, the Black Widow and Elektra fight over Daredevil—a hero who enjoys keeping his options open.

It is the middle story, however, that is worth the cost of the comic. The beautifully sketched tale of the Inhumans’ royal couple, Medusa and Black Bolt, shows that sometimes love, no matter how deep or strong the emotion, can still be a lonely experience.

— Joseph Self

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Notes

Writer

Artist

#1

April, 2006
Cover Price: $2.99
5 copies available from $3.40

C.B. Cebulski

Tomo Taniguhi, Kei Kobayashi, Toga