Takio #1
Written by: Kevin Hunter, Special to CC2K
Every now and then you find something where the creators just get when it comes to targeting a specific audience. One of the most underserved audiences in the comic book and superhero world are women, specifically little girls. Sure, you have your legendary female superheroes such as Wonder Woman, Phoenix, Sue Richards, “Starfire,” Black Canary, Power Girl just to name a few, but they are catered to more of a teenage/young adult male demographic. There’s very little for the same female age group.
Takio #1
Writers: Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Colors: Nick Filardi
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
The team of Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, the guys responsible for such titles as “The New Avengers,” “Ultimate Spider-Man,” “Powers” and the “Mice Templar,” give the girls something with the first issue of “Takio” from Marvel’s Icon Comics.
According to the intro, “Takio #1” picks up where the best-selling graphic novel of the same name from a year ago left off. “Takio #1” is about two sisters, Taki and Olivia, who are from a multi-racial adoptive family who have the tendency to drive each other insane. Taki looks a lot like Nightwing and Olivia looks like a blonde version of Nightwing (that may be a bad comparison considering that “Takio” is done by Icon Comics, which is owned by Marvel Comics, but what the hell, I’m sticking with it). The two are constantly at odds with each other and try as they might, they can’t get away from each other either, because their equally insane mother won’t let them. So after one of those one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime accidents that hundreds of superheroes get that give them all these incredible powers, Taki and Olivia realize that they will somehow have to find a way to get along with each other and save the world. All before 6 p.m. or else they are so grounded.
Taki and Olivia go through the motions of being both teenage girls and superheroes. Taki is trying to keep their superhero identities secret, while Olivia would like nothing more than to milk it for everything she has and become a famous celebrity. A few kids at their school are suspicious of the girls, and of course there are some bad guys out there who want nothing more than to find out how these young ladies got their powers and duplicate them for their own evil doing.
“Takio #1” is a fun, cheeky and innocent comic book for all ages. Taki and Olivia are so close and work so well together in an “Odd Couple” kind of way that the only thing you don’t hear them say is, “Wonder Twins powers activate!” (sorry, another DC Comics reference. My apologies to Marvel). Taki and Olivia are also smart, determined and likeable, something that will appeal to a young female audience. However, even though “Takio #1” is a superhero comic book geared towards young girls, young boys may get a kick out of the action and parents will find the overall story, dialog and humor enjoyable as well. This may be the one book that could get girls to take a break from reading anything related to “Twilight,” “Harry Potter” or “The Hunger Games.”