Alison Blaire – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at What If #33 (1982)

August 25, 2025August 19, 2025carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1982 to examine alternate stories of the Marvel Comics shared universe chronicled through the original What If monthly series.

Back in the early 1980s, Dazzler quickly became popular among comic book readers and a standalone monthly series was launched no so long after her debut in Uncanny X-Men #130. Earl on in her monthly series, Dazzler eventually encountered Galactus (the classic nemesis of the Fantastic Four) in a wild tale involving the galaxy. On the other hand, Marvel Comics published a wild tale of the conflict of Iron Man and Dr. Doom (also the nemesis of the Fantastic Four) involving time travel and the presence of King Arthur in Iron Man #150. Eventually, Marvel decided to make alternate tales of the mentioned stories of Dazzler and Iron Man and publish them through an issue of What If.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #33, published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a Dazzler story written by Dan Fingeroth and drawn by Mike Vosburg, and the Iron Man story written by Steven Grant and drawn by Don Perlin.

Early story

What if Dazzler had become the herald of Galactus? – The story begins with Dazzler standing in the presence of Galactus, Terrax and Drone R-II. After Galactus renders his judgment on Terrax by banishing him to the depths of a black hole, he tells Dazzler she has proven herself worthy to become his new herald. As Drone R-II reminded his superior of the fact that previous heralds were forced to leave service due to their own moral codes and added that Dazzler will do the same, she questions them and stated that she does not belong in deep space and wants to go home. Galactus tells her that Earth is a planet he has sworn to devour and by becoming his herald, he will perhaps spare her home world. Dazzler finds herself cornered and reluctantly joins Galactus as his new herald. Immediately, Galactus sends her out to deep space for her first task…

What if Iron Man had been trapped in King Arthur’s time? – The story begins in the past wherein Doctor Doom and Iron Man found themselves during the time of King Arthur. After separating themselves by taking different sides – Iron Man with King Arthur and Doom with Morgana LeFay – they decide to set their differences aside for the common goal of creating a crude time machine to return to the future. Instead, Doom takes advantage of the time machine by shocking Iron Man and leaving him behind in the past. With Doom back in the future, Iron Man struggles moving on the ground only to encounter Morgana LeFay. Believing that there is no pleasure in breaking a helpless man, Morgana spares Iron Man and tells him to return to King Arthur with her pledge…

Quality

*After doing advanced work, Dazzler can only watch and witness the loss of life as her master Galactus consumes the planet.*

I can start with the good news for you all…the two featured stories in this What If comic book are great to read from start to finish!

With the Dazzler tale, I enjoyed how Danny Fingeroth told the alternate reality story of the dazzling heroine becoming Galactus’ herald and working immediately to serve him. Not only does Dazzler carried tremendous powers she did not have before, she was able to quickly travel through deep space and visit planets that are suitable for her master’s consumption. Even as she wielded tremendous power, Dazzler still retains her conscience and does some analyzing of situations.

Of course, she still retained her human nature throughout and there are moments when she felt defeated or shocked which alone made her a questionable herald. Galactus himself is pretty much in character in this tale and it is very engaging to see how his actions impact not only the beings of the cosmic realm of the Marvel universe but also on Dazzler herself. Without spoiling the plot, I can say the ending is captivating and truly is worth the build-up.

*The stranded Iron Man makes an impact on a battle favoring King Arthur.*

Regarding the Iron Man tale, the creative team came up with the concept of having the armored superhero actually stranded in time (left behind by Doctor Doom) and getting burdened by many factors. With Doom gone early in the plot, this effectively made Iron Man the main focus and his involvement in the conflict between King Arthur and Morgana really raised the stakes.

Not only does Iron Man have to deal with conflicts, he also became vulnerable as the era of King Arthur had very low forms of technology which made the superhero’s desire to return to the future an effort against the impossible. As the story went on, Iron Man makes impact on the conflicts between the forces of King Arthur and Morgana and the good news here is that the creative duo of Steve Grant and Don Perlin made it all believable and serious to follow.

Conclusion

*Tony Stark struggles initially with being stranded in the past.*

I can say that What If #33 (1982) is a great read! The respective tales of Dazzler and Iron Man are captivating, intriguing and enjoyable to read. The creative teams of each story succeeded in building up their respective concepts, moved the established superhero to daring creative directions, and delivered powerful conclusions. This issue of the old What If series has to read as it is a true escape from reality!

Overall, What If #33 (1982) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at What If #23 (1991)

August 13, 2025August 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.

If you are not aware of the extensive literary history of the X-Men, the mutant franchise of Marvel Comics had its turning point in the mid-1970s with the release of the 68-page Giant-Size X-Men #1 which introduced a newer lineup of mutants (Wolverine, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Thunderbird and Storm). It has been argued that Giant-Size X-Men #1 marked the starting point of the bronze age of comics in America and creatively it sparked a new chain of X-Men stories that captivated the fans and attracted new readers.

But what would have happened had the newer lineup of the X-Men did not even exist?

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #23, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Rodney Ramos.

Early story

The story begins when the original X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, Beast and Iceman) members, Havok and Polaris arrive on the island of Krakoa. A huge green monster suddenly appears and attacks them. Guided by Professor X’s mind, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey helps Polaris by overriding the mental blocks that prevented her from using her full magnetic might. With a lot more power in her, Polaris takes action and helps the X-Men not only overwhelm the monster but also hurled the entire island of Krakoa into space.

As the X-Men were never captured by Krakoa, there was no reason to recruit a new team. The X-Men returned home and proceeded with other matters. On the other hand, Charles Xavier experiences a series of intense nightmares of conflict in outer space. As the nightmares took its toll on him, Professor X decides to take a vacation. Before he could leave, the X-Men are suddenly attacked by Eric the Red, Proudstar and Nightcrawler…

Quality

*Without the existence of the 2nd X-Men team (from Giant-Size X-Men #1), the original X-Men’s first encounters with Dazzler, Kitty Pryde and the Hellfire Club turned out totally different.*

This What If tale exploring an alternate chain of events involving only the original X-Men is not only a daring piece of work by the creators but it is also highly ambitious as seen through the scope of the plot. I’m not just talking about the non-existence of the 2^nd X-Men lineup of Giant-Size X-Men #1 but also alternate realities of real X-Men developments such as the encounter with the Phoenix, Lilandra and Professor X’s first encounter, the X-Men’s encounter with the Hellfire Club, and more. Truly, the alterations were executed and the consequences were quite intense.

By focusing on the concept of the original X-Men proceeding as the 2^nd X-Men team did not materialize, the Busiek-Ramos team really went all-in exploring the different possibilities and most of them were intriguing and entertaining to follow. The reading experience can be jarring because of the sudden change of scope that happens when the narrative suddenly shifted from one plot development (of local conflict) to another (a conflict on a galactic scale). Indeed, the narrative can be challenging to follow and to really enjoy it, you should pay strong attention to the details as you read on.

When it comes to character development, there is very little to find here which is not surprising given the way the script was written and also because the spotlight had to be shared by so many characters. Still, I enjoyed the character moments between Cyclops and Jean Grey, particularly during important points in the 2^nd half of the story.

If there were any weak spots in the presentation, it is the fact that a lot of exposition had to be done and there were certain parts of the narrative that felt crammed with an excessive amount of details. Not only that, there is also an excessive amount of characters that go beyond the X-Men such as Lilandra of the Shi’ar Empire, the Starjammers, Alpha Flight, the Avengers and other beings of science fiction mixed in which make following the narrative challenging at certain points.

Conclusion

*The original X-Men team plus Polaris and Havok.*

What If #23 (1991) has more than enough advantages that outweigh the disadvantages. It’s story is very intriguing and enjoyable to read even though there were some bumpy parts on the narrative. Still, it is great to see what would have happened had the newer X-Men team never materialized and this comic book’s ending is very impactful to see.

Overall, What If #23 (1991) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #131 (1980)

August 29, 2023August 26, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1980 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.

In my previous review, Dazzler was formally introduced as the X-Men encountered her. Along the way, the other newbie Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) got involved with X-Men members Storm, Wolverine and Colossus and danger got to them. Brewing within the background were plot elements regarding the Hellfire Club and the Dark Phoenix.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #131 published in 1980 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by John Byrne.

Early story

The story begins on the streets of Chicago as the 13-year-old Kitty Pryde desperately runs away from a car that has been chasing her. Just as she trips, the Jean Grey (in her form as the Phoenix) suddenly appears right in front of the car (driven by two armed personnel of the Hellfire Club) and uses her immense power to stop and damage it. This spared Kitty Pryde’s life and made her more confused. Nightcrawler suddenly appears in front of Kitty, grabs her and leap off to a higher place to be safe.

Cyclops and Dazzler arrive to see Phoenix still observing the damaged car and the two Hellfire Club personnel knocked out cold. As Dazzler is amazed by what Phoenix did, Cyclops tells Jean that his instructions were to stop the car but not turning it into scrap. Jean responds by stating that he did not feel Kitty’s stark terror nor did he sense the thoughts of the men who were in the car.

After being called from above by Nightcrawler, Cyclops, Phoenix and Dazzler make their way up to the top of the building. Nightcrawler reveals that Kitty broke away from him and dove right through the roof…

Quality

*Kitty Pryde took the risk to help the X-Men free Wolverine.*

Upon close inspection, this is a richly layered tale that nicely paid off some of the build-up in the previous issue while consistently building up the plot elements for the events to follow (the eventual Hellfire Club encounter and the Dark Phoenix Saga). In this issue, you will get to see the X-Men in action with Dazzler (who just joined in to help them without fully committing to joining their team) on a series of events that involve encountering Miranda Frost and finding their captured teammates.

As this was written by Chris Claremont, you will see a lot of character development (aided a lot with the use of thought balloons) and key observations emphasized (clever exposition of details) as the plot moved forward. This tale has the classic elements of good-versus-evil backed with action and some twists that will definitely keep readers entertained. It is through the dramatization and observations of the characters that made the narrative deep and by the end of it, you will most likely get to know the characters a lot more.

Apart from witnessing Dazzler’s first unofficial mission (note: misadventure) with the X-Men, you will see Kitty Pryde shine as the fragile yet capable teenager do something heroic which symbolically justified her entry into the X-Men. This story also touches on the theme of immense power which was dramatized nicely through Jean Grey and Cyclops. Cyclops here was written to be very concerned about Jean Grey having god-like powers as the Phoenix which he sees as too risky and he hopes that she will maintain self-control. Even Storm expressed the same concern about the Phoenix. All of these dramatics combined with the superhero spectacle and steady way of presenting exposition were nicely pulled off by the Claremont-Byrne team.

Finally, I want to say that Emma Frost was portrayed as a ruthless, cold-hearted and elitist super villain who happens to be one of the central figures of the Hellfire Club (which itself was being built up by Claremont-Byrne as a dangerous force of opposition for the X-Men to face). Emma Frost is not just another evil figure…she is a telepath capable of overwhelming others and she has a very high ambition of accumulating power socially, economically and politically. Clearly she was created to be a recurring evil figure within Marvel’s shared comic book universe.

Conclusion

*A scene showing a few X-Men members with Dazzler and Kitty Pryde as the clear newcomers.*

Even if you see Uncanny X-Men #131 (1980) as simply a build-up tale for the inevitable Dark Phoenix Saga, it is clear that the comic book still stands out on its own as it strongly paid-off what was built up in the previous issue and the high quality on storytelling was successfully maintained. This is an entertaining read and, quite notably, it develops specific characters in very believable ways. So much so, you will get to know the characters better by the time you reach the end. As for the fans of Dazzler, there are things to enjoy in this X-Men tale and it definitely is a must-read before reading Dazzler #1 (1981).

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #131 (1980) is highly recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at Dazzler #26 (1983)

March 30, 2022March 29, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1983 to examine the Marvel Comics universe through the exploits of Dazzler!

In my previous retro comic book review, I found Dazzler #25 lacking on superhero entertainment value and the new antagonist introduced was not so interesting. Not even its strong character-driven tale could lift up its fun factor. By the time that comic book was published, Alison Blaire/Dazzler already has a half-sister named Lois. In this new review of the 26^th issue of the Dazzler regular series, something about Lois is about to be revealed and we will find out if it could make the issue more entertaining than issue #25.

With those details laid down, here is a look back Dazzler #26, published by Marvel Comics in 1983 with a story written by Danny Fingeroth and drawn by the late Frank Springer.

Early story

The story begins with Alison Blaire performing live in front of a large audience as Dazzler during a concert. As she performs, three armed men gang up on the event manager just several feet away and out of the view of the crowd. The three demand the release of the box office receipts.

Dazzler notices the commotion and very carefully analyzes what action to take without negatively affecting the show and the audience. She tells the band to play louder music to ensure she would have enough sound to convert into light. Suddenly she springs into action, lights herself up and hits the three armed men as well as the manager. The commotion ends with Dazzler announcing a short intermission to the audience.

Soon after behind the scenes, after meeting several people, Dazzler is approached by Lois who tells her that she does not feel so well. Lois says she’s so afraid, another one of those faintaing spells might be coming on…

Quality

*Lois London realizes she is in trouble.*

While Lois only occupied a minor space on this comic book’s cover, the story’s biggest feature is its revelation about Dazzler’s half-sister Lois which is something that you readers should find out. While Lois appeared in prior issues, it is in this particular story where she got a huge amount of the spotlight and Danny Fingeroth efficiently wrote her as the other major character.

As this tale is the major turn of events in the life of Lois, this opened a new opportunity for the creative team of Fingeroth and Springer to send the narrative of the Dazzler series to a new direction complete with a new way to develop Alison Blaire’s personality (and her struggle on keeping her mutant status a secret in the middle of a society that despise mutants). This story also recalled the events in which Alison was despised for her mutant status and later became the vilified suspect of a trial related to the death of Klaw. The moral lessons of those old events seamlessly connected with Alison’s effort on helping her half-sister. As such, Danny Fingeroth’s writing here is very solid and he really did his research not only on past Dazzler stories but also on the X-Men as the tale had its subtle connections to certain characters who are more identified with the X-Men series of the time.

If there is anything weak about this Dazzler tale, it is the clear lack of superhero spectacle. This is one meaty and dramatic tale about Dazzler and Lois laced with heavy drama, suspense and mystery. The only superhero spectacle you will see here is in the early part of the story.

Conclusion

While it is flawed, Dazzler #26 (1983) is still a slight improvement over issue #25. This is one character-driven tale heavy on drama, suspense and mystery while ending up light on spectacle. The most notable thing about this comic book is the new direction on telling Dazzler’s story while establishing Lois as the other major character for readers to follow. To say the least, the sudden revelation of the secret of Lois is engaging enough to read and it will remind you about certain elements emphasized in X-Men comic books of the time.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #26 (1983), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $57 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $113.

Overall, Dazzler #26 (1983) is satisfactory.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/

A Look Back at Dazzler #25 (1983)

March 17, 2022March 17, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1983 to examine the Marvel Comics universe through the exploits of Dazzler!

Today I have a review about the 25^th issue of the Dazzler monthly series and it sure has this really strange looking cover with the protagonist in the foreground and a man in the background complete with a torn-page look. By the time this comic book was released, Dazzler had been through lots of misadventures, crazy superhero stuff as well as countless bouts of drama that impacted her and her existing family members. Could the creators come up with something to keep the series fresh and still engaging?

With those details laid down, here is a look back Dazzler #25, published by Marvel Comics in 1983 with a story written by Steve Grant and drawn by Marc Bright.

Early story

The story begins with Alison Blaire working in front of a photographer during a photo session in the office of her manager Harry. It turns out, the photo session is a disaster for both of them. Shortly after, Alison changes her clothes and the field manager Lance arrives outside the door carrying a package for her sent by someone.

The package contained roses which delight Alison. She then reads a message that included with the roses…a message from a certain admirer. As the stakes of her entertainment career are higher than before, Alison gets advised to be extra careful with the kind of people she gets involve with.

From a distance, someone is closely watching Alison interacting with Harry and Lance using binoculars…

Quality

*Alison in her effort to save her father.*

With a new creative team doing the works, this comic book’s story was indeed an effort to shake things up for the Dazzler monthly series. It’s a tale about Dazzler encountering a fan who is more dangerous and more capable than he seems. The way the story was presented, this one was pretty light on superhero elements as the team of Steve Grant and Marc Bright decided to take a more grounded approach on telling the newest happenings in Alison Blaire’s life. In some ways, this story really felt like it was isolated from the rest of the Marvel Comics universe of the time.

While the previous issues say Alison having breakthroughs with her mother and father, as well as spending quality time with her half-sister Lois, this comic book was more about the entertainer handling herself as she encounters a very determined man who is obsessed with her. The way things were presented here, the story is pretty much character-driven but light on superhero spectacle. Lastly, I want to say that this comic book tackled the themes of personal obsession, fan madness and inner rage which were all emphasized through the new character/antagonist here.

Conclusion

Dazzler #25 (1983) does not have much to entertain readers who enjoy super heroics. If superhero fun is what you are after, you are better off reading issue #24. This comic book’s biggest selling point is its character-driven story which I am confident will engage strongly with die-hard Dazzler fans. The new character/antagonist introduced in this comic book is not really that strong enough to be a worthy counterpart with Dazzler, but his sheer determination and personal obsession with the entertainer are worth a look.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #25 (1983), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $56 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $113.

Overall, Dazzler #25 (1983) is satisfactory.

+++++

A Look Back at Dazzler #22 (1982)

March 4, 2022March 3, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the 1980s to examine the Marvel Comics universe through the exploits of Dazzler!

In my retro review of Dazzler #21 (1982), I observed that the story had no good-versus-evil conflict at all as it was purely character-driven and focused a lot on the personal development of Alison Blaire/Dazzler. More notably, the story shed light on both Alison’s father (a judge) and mother (who left the judge) and how the past affected the protagonist. Very clearly, Dazzler’s development really went deep since her first-ever appearance in an X-Men comic book. Speaking of the X-Men, I must say that one of the team’s notable members had an early (not the first) appearance in the next Dazzler issue I just reviewed. That character is none other than Rogue and she looks nothing like the way Jim Lee modernized her in the 1990s.

With those details laid down, here is a look back Dazzler #22, published by Marvel Comics in 1982 with a story written by Danny Fingeroth and drawn by the late Frank Springer.

Early story

The story begins in the air high above the streets of New York City. Warren Worthington III/Angel’s flight gets disrupted as a group of hawks suddenly attack him from all sides. With quick thinking, he uses different methods to gradually lure each hawk and trick them into bumping into something to end their pursuit.

Meanwhile, as Alison Blaire rides the car driven by her field manager Lance going to the studio, she saves a roller-skating lady from colliding with a car using clever methods. At the studio, Alison prepares herself for a recording session under the watch of the perfectionist music producer L.B. Holman…

Quality

*The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants led by Mystique.*

As expected, the story in this comic book showed natural progression on developing the protagonist as well as her parents while also reviving the superhero trope of good-versus-evil which was clearly done for entertainment value. While the cover art had Rogue hitting Dazzler, the good-versus-evil conflict within is actually bigger than that as the story involves not only Rogue but also notable X-Men villainess Mystique plus Destiny.

As this was in the early 1980s, Rogue was not a member of the X-Men at the time and was still new (her first-ever appearance was in Avengers Annual #10 in 1981). Regarding Mystique, her appearance in this comic book was not merely just an appearance but rather an extension of the exploits of her group called the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and it has been her desire to get back at the X-Men over what happened in Uncanny X-Men #142 (part 2 of the Days of Future Past storyline). As such, having Dazzler encounter the evil group in the presence of the X-Men’s Angel was a very strategic move by Danny Fingeroth as it emphasized the crossover aspect within the Marvel Comics universe of the time complete with pretty good dialogue and details emphasized.

This also helps remind readers of Dazzler’s previous involvement with the X-Men and cleverly gave them the idea of what would things be like if the protagonist someday really joined the team of mutants.

On character development, dramatizing Alison’s mother and father shows progress from what happened near the end of the previous issue which is a nice touch. Even Alison’s boyfriend Ken got his own share of the spotlight. What is most notable when it comes to characterization in this comic book is the smooth and fine chemistry between Alison and Warren Worthington. The two made convincing friends and how their respective circumstances brought them together here was well executed by the creators.

Conclusion

*Discreetly, Alison Blaire uses her power to help someone.*

Dazzler #22 (1982) is enjoyable and has that fine balance between characterization, plotting and spectacle. The good-versus-evil conflict here should really catch the attention of readers, especially those who are deeply interested with the X-Men-related characters and groups of the early 1980s. There is also enough superhero action to keep readers entertained and clearly this was done to make up for the lack of action in the very dramatic issue #21.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #22 (1982), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $57 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $113.

Overall, Dazzler #22 (1982) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Dazzler #21 (1982)

February 28, 2022February 26, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1982 to examine the Marvel Comics universe through the exploits of Dazzler!

While my most recent retro review of Dazzler was the 4^th issue of its monthly series, I have decided to jump straight to issue #21 for this new retro review. By the time Dazzler #21 got published, the unusual superhero went through a lot and illustrator Frank Springer became fully established as the monthly series’ definitive artist.

With those details laid down, here is a look back Dazzler #21, published by Marvel Comics in 1982 with a story written by Danny Fingeroth and drawn by the late Frank Springer.

Early story

The story begins with Alison Blaire/Dazzler being carried above the buildings of New York City by Angel (Warren Worthington) of the X-Men. At this point in time, Alison’s father judge Carter Blaire snapped under the weight of turmoil related to the death of his wife and his daughter’s rebelliousness. As Dazzler, Alison had gone through intense encounters with the likes of the Incredible Hulk, She-Hulk, a top-secret syndicate that made her a test subject and even Galactus.

Recently, Bella – Alison’s grandmother – could not cope with her son’s breakdown and reached out to Warren Worthington to help her reach Alison. Since after being found, Alison had been traveling with Angel by air.

Along the way, Spider-Man sees them and recognizes Alison as Dazzler. He swings to try to get their attention but was ignored as they were so focused on their objective. A short time later, Angel and Alison arrive at judge Blaire’s home. Her grandmother greets them and tells her she hopes that she can get through to judge Blaire.

The doctor, however, advised against that tactic and states that Alison’s intervention may worsen her father’s condition as much of it was centered on her…

Quality

*Alison Blaire and her friend Vanessa try out new clothes.*

I’ll go straight to the point about what the story of this double-sized comic book is about without spoiling it. It is a pretty dramatic look at the protagonist in her civilian form as Alison Blaire. You will get to see her as Dazzler in this comic book but if you are looking for a lot of superhero moments of her or if you are looking for Dazzler in a conflict with evil elements, you won’t find it here.

More on the plot, this comic book explores deeply the emotional and personal dimensions of Alison and along the way, stories about her own past as well as the respect past events of both her father and mother got dramatized. The story tackles themes like independence, maturity, marriage, personal development, family ties and personal conflicts of interest. The good thing here is that the script by Danny Fingeroth is very well-written and it seems he did his research on constructing a personal story about Alison Blaire that is very grounded in reality. That being said, the superhero elements have been pushed aside most of the time and the ironic thing is the fact that the other Marvel superheroes – Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, The Avengers and more – appeared here as if to remind readers this is still a superhero tale.

Very clearly, this story was written for the very dedicated or even the die-hard Dazzler fans in mind. When it comes to the fun factor, the results could be mixed depending on what readers want to see in this comic book. For me personally, it is a pretty engaging story to read and at the same time it is fun enough as well.

Conclusion

*Alison tries to help her troubled father.*

Dazzler #21 (1982) could be barely received or strongly received or even rejected even though it has a very rich and dramatic script. The clear lack of the superhero presentation of Dazzler in favor of heavy drama and in-depth characterization may not win the approval of readers/collectors who love superhero stuff but it will resonate with the readers who really love the character and had immersed themselves into her life. As far as characterization goes, this comic book marks a significant turning point of Dazzler herself and in its story, she really developed a lot since making her first-ever appearance in Uncanny X-Men #130. If you are a Dazzler purist who does not mind the lack of superhero spectacle, this one could engage you.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #21 (1982), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $28 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $60.

Overall, Dazzler #21 (1982) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Dazzler #4 (1981)

February 23, 2022February 21, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1981 to examine the Marvel Comics universe through the exploits of Dazzler!

Last time around, Alison Blaire was preparing herself for a big event as Dazzler. The event was something needed to help her boost her career as an entertainer and the stakes were high as there were many important guests. The weird thing was that she instead got involved with one of the most fearsome super villains of Marvel – Dr. Doom!

With those details laid down, here is a look back Dazzler #4, published by Marvel Comics in 1981 with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by the late Frank Springer. This was Springer’s Dazzler debut.

Early story

The story begins inside a secret facility. Dr. Doom tells Dazzler that the Merlin Stone he just acquired mirrors her reflections as well as his own. The said stone has unique, mystical properties that Doom believes will help him achieve his dream of domination over mankind.

Dazzler, who is trapped inside a tube and is guarded by two of Dr. Doom’s guards, tries to recover after losing consciousness a short time back. Dr. Doom expresses his observation of her special ability to convert sound into light.

Dr. Doom turns his computer on energizing the tube that contains Dazzler. She suddenly turns into energy and disappears…

Quality

The best way to describe this comic’s story…it is one wild ride that emphasizes a different kind of fantasy for readers. This is, of course, related to Dr. Doom’s immediate quest of finding another Merlin Stone within a different dimension which directly involved Dazzler against her will.

Dazzler here was in a very wild misadventure that goes way beyond the limits of New York City. Being in a completely new dimension, she finds herself literally lost in the sea of space and encounters creatures here and there. This misadventure, however, was not written to be mindless at all. In fact, as the tale in the new dimension goes on, Dazzler was presented to be more tactical, more analytical and do things to solve problems she encountered. She also gets to use her superpower in more creative ways.

The misadventure also has key moments that test Dazzler’s resolve on a personal level. As such, these moments added to her development which also raises the stakes as to what she could potentially do once she returns back to her life. Clearly, this is a story that carefully mixes spectacle and character development without losing track of the story.

On the art of the comic book, Frank Springer’s Dazzler debut is pretty solid. Not only does he capture the look of Dazzler herself, his creative visuals really brought the dimension into life filled with images of out space, fantasy monsters and more. Apart from drawing Dazzler and Dr. Doom, Springer’s art of the Fantastic Four is pretty good to look at.

Conclusion

*A helpless Dazzler in the presence of Dr. Doom.*

Dazzler #4 (1981) is a fun comic book to read and as a Dazzler story, it is a worthy continuation of the events that took place in issue #3. The concept about having Dazzler under the power of Dr. Doom was nicely executed which is a very hard feat to achieve since the said super villain was known to be a major force of opposition not only against the Fantastic Four but also against Spider-Man, the X-Men and more. Dazzler’s misadventure into the other dimension was wild and yet nicely structured which led to some nice character development of hers. This comic book had a strong series start for Frank Springer who went on to draw a great majority of the issues of the Dazzler monthly series.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #4 (1981), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $28 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $60.

Overall, Dazzler #4 (1981) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at Dazzler #3 (1981)

September 20, 2021February 15, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, comic collectors, 1990s culture enthusiasts and fans of Marvel Comics! After a very fine start, things really went downhill with the story and presentation in Dazzler #2. That comic book had Dazzler (then a hot new property for Marvel Comics) completely overshadowed by the big mix of established Marvel superheroes fighting opposition elements. To say the least, Dazzler #2 was a major letdown, a very big disappointment and anyone who loves Dazzler should avoided it.

Will we see Dazzler presented much better in the next issue? We can find out in this look back at Dazzler #3, released in 1981 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by John Romita, Jr., and A. Kupperberg.

Early story

The story begins with Dazzler (not wearing her face paint) participating scientific test conducted by Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic at his team’s headquarters in New York. Dazzler has been converting every nearby sound into radiance and she’s beginning to sense her limitations. The test was done to determine Alison Blaire’s mutant capabilities. Also present were Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm and Sue Richards. Johnny reads a newspaper report about the United Nations’ plan to display the crown jewels that once belonged to their deadliest enemy Dr. Doom.

Afterwards, Dazzler meets her boss at his office and learns that she will be one of the openers at the benefit concert of UNICEF which is supposed to help her with her music career. The next morning, she decides to visit her old home where her father lives in. Over at the Bavarian Alps, Dr. Doom gets informed that among the jewels set to be displayed at the Unite Nations is the Merline stone. This compels him to make a move…

Quality

When compared to the disaster of issue #2, this comic book’s story is indeed an improvement as it has the expected superhero storytelling formula intact. The good news here is that the character development on Dazzler has returned and there is once again the strong emphasis on her relevance with the people of New York with regards to her being both a superhero and a musician.

The story moved at a moderate pace and it is clear that the creative team took the necessary steps to gradually build up the plot leading to the inevitable encounter between Dazzler and the Fantastic Four’s most definitive enemy (and Marvel Comics’ iconic villain). Take note, however, that the Dazzler-Dr. Doom conflict here is only the beginning.

As this story is more focused on Dazzler, you will get to see an early look at her tainted relationship with her father who desired her to become a lawyer like him, plus there is some focus on the behind-the-scenes development in one of the big events involving her. When it comes to spectacle, there is a right amount of it here which makes this comic book more fun to read than the previous issue.

Conclusion

*A look at the business side of the music industry that Alison Blaire/Dazzler is involved with.*

Dazzler #3 (1981) is indeed fun to read and the creators succeeded in developing Alison Blaire more while delivering the good stuff. While the match-up between her and Dr. Doom looks awkward from the surface, the strong writing justified it and all along Dazzler never looked like she was out of place being with Marvel’s iconic supervillain.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #3 (1981), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $28 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $60.

Overall, Dazzler #3 (1981) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

A Look Back at Dazzler #2 (1981)

September 9, 2021September 7, 2021carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, comic collectors, 1990s culture enthusiasts and fans of Marvel Comics! Way back in 1981, Marvel Comics had a successful comic book series launch with Dazzler #1 (read my retro review by clicking here) which sold over 400,000 copies and further sealed Dazzler as an advantageous addition for the company’s superhero comics franchise. Dazzler, a creation of a deal between Marvel and a certain record company, debuted in Uncanny X-Men #130 and got involved with the X-Men until Uncanny X-Men #131. Dazzler appeared with Marvel’s famous webslinger in Amazing Spider-Man #203.

Dazzler #1 ended with a brewing rivalry between the title character and Enchantress. With those laid down, here is a look back at Dazzler #2, published in 1981 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by John Romita, Jr.

Early story

The story begins with Dazzler preparing for her big show at Numero Uno, a prestigious disco in the city of New York. Just before the show starts, a huge crowd of people are in attendance and among them are Wolverine, Peter Parker (Spider-Man), Captain America, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm and Tony Stark (Iron Man) to name some.

Just as Dazzler appears on-stage and draws a frenzied applause from the audience, the revenger-hungry Enchantress slowly makes her moves to ruin the lady who outclassed her to be the main attraction of the club. Even with her desire for revenge, the Enchantress decides to use her magic sparingly on Dazzler. In the audience, Peter Parker/Spider-Man begins to sense something is about to happen…

Quality

*This shows what this comic book is really about.*

The way the story was told is disappointing. This is because the spotlight on Dazzler and her anticipated conflict with the Enchantress got overwhelmed by the amount of superhero filler on the narrative. To be clear, it is fun and interesting to see a mix of the varied superheroes of Marvel together but this comic book ended up being an all-star showcase (X-Men, Avengers and Fantastic Four members included) than a real, standalone Dazzler story. In fairness, Tom DeFalco showed how skilled he is with plot structuring and capturing the personalities and tropes of the different superheroes (note: unsurprisingly, DeFalco accurately captured Spider-Man’s personality and he went on to be a major force behind Spider-Man comic books) but that does not change the fact that this comic book should have been more about Dazzler.

When it comes to the conflict between Dazzler and the Enchantress, it was executed with no depth at all. Literally speaking, there is not enough meat to consume here and it the conflict really ended up looking very rushed. As if that was not bad enough, there is not enough justification to show Dazzler defeating a monster summoned by the Enchantress. Considering how shallow the Dazzler-Enchantress match-up turned out, it’s no wonder why there is so much Marvel all-star filler in the script.

As for the late-stage attempt to shift the narrative back to Dazzler, it is rather over-the-top and unsatisfying.

Conclusion

*You recognize someone in the audience?*

Dazzler #2 (1981) is an example about a creative team’s lack of confidence on crafting a decent story to develop a new superhero and ultimately resorting to fill it with a mix of other superheroes involved which itself symbolizes desperation. This comic book is not really a Dazzler story but an all-star showcase with Dazzler becoming a minor character in her own monthly series.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #2 (1981), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $28 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $60.

Overall, Dazzler #2 (1981) is unsatisfactory. Anyone who loves Dazzler or who wishes to discover more of her will be disappointed with this comic book.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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