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Chelsea Cain
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Mockingbird Vol. 1: I Can Explain (Mockingbird (2016)) Kindle & comiXology

by Chelsea Cain (Author, Contributor), Joelle Jones (Cover Art, Artist), Kate Niemczyk (Artist, Contributor), Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 275 ratings
See all formats and editions
Collects Mockingbird (2015) #1-5 and material from Mockingbird: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary #1.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Bobbi Morse, the former Avenger known as Mockingbird, goes solo! With a scientific mind and a lethal mastery of martial arts, she's always been one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best agents, but what happens when someone close to her is murdered? There are strange goings-on to investigate in the peacekeeping organization's own medical-and-recovery network. But when Lance Hunter's undercover gig at the London Hellfire Club goes south, Mockingbird sets off, battle staves at the ready, to save Hunter — and the Queen of England! From helping out a teen driven bonkers by her own new powers, to doing a little dog-sitting, Bobbi shows she's a woman of many talents as best-selling author Chelsea Cain makes Mockingbird sing!
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  1. Part of Series
    Mockingbird (2016)
  2. Print length
    134 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  5. Publisher
    Marvel
  6. Publication date
    October 19, 2016
  7. Reading age
    13 years and up
  8. Grade level
    8 and up
  9. File size
    307675 KB
  10. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  11. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  12. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
  13. See all details
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  • Read this book on comiXology. Learn more

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
275 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the humor full of wit, exciting, and fantastic. They also appreciate the terrific artwork and excellent plot. Readers describe the characters as great and intelligent. They describe the comic book quality as amazingly wonderful.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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HumorArtworkPlotCharactersIntellectComic book qualityOriginality
31 customers mention "Humor"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book full of wit, clever, and entertaining. They also describe the tone as wonderful, smart, and sarcastic. Readers also say the writing is excellent and the dialogue and characterizations are strong.

"...The comic is a bit refreshing as it stands out from a lot of the repetitious comics that attempt to play it safe...." Read more

"...The writing is absolutely fantastic - the character is sharp and fun and the storyline is excellent...." Read more

"...This was super fun for me...." Read more

"...believable, the cameos are memorable, and most of all Mockingbird's audacity is endearing...." Read more

16 customers mention "Artwork"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the artwork in the book terrific and exceptional, with lots of creative use of panels and inserts of funny signs.

"...Instead Marvel put Mockingbird on the Marquee and she certainly delivers with style, humor and action packed fun...." Read more

"...The art is top notch too (and full of fun little easter eggs)...." Read more

"...And the artwork is exceptional, with lots of creative use of panels, inserts of funny signs or floorplans, and amazing colors...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this volume. The artwork and script are awesome, and I think this is a great introduction for girls to graphic novels...." Read more

15 customers mention "Plot"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the plot excellent, action-packed, and quick paced. They also say the book is complex, unique, and has healthy subtext. Readers also mention the plot is eclectic, creative, unpredictable, and exciting.

"...and was able to give Mockingbird depth, personality and a fluid storyline that got stronger as issues followed suit; never losing her aesthetic...." Read more

"...absolutely fantastic - the character is sharp and fun and the storyline is excellent. The art is top notch too (and full of fun little easter eggs)...." Read more

"...Smart, witty, action filled, over the top, and adult ( not in the gross way in the depth kinda way)...." Read more

"...This book was a great introduction though. The story was clever and entertaining in the best snappy-patter Marvel tradition...." Read more

9 customers mention "Characters"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book wonderful and great to follow.

"...a fairly known character and was able to give Mockingbird depth, personality and a fluid storyline that got stronger as issues followed suit; never..." Read more

"...The writing is absolutely fantastic - the character is sharp and fun and the storyline is excellent...." Read more

"...The dialogue between characters is sharp but believable, the cameos are memorable, and most of all Mockingbird's audacity is endearing...." Read more

"I like her, attitude, philosophy, morals, a truly great new character. A post feminist graphic comic, good art, and the plot........." Read more

9 customers mention "Intellect"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's protagonist intelligent.

"Haven't had this much FUN with a Marvel book in a long time. Smart, witty, action filled, over the top, and adult..." Read more

"...but Cain makes her a solid lead here, injecting wit, whimsy, and competence (at things OTHER than bashing Holland's head) into the character...." Read more

"I liked the quirkiness of the humor juxtaposed with great action. Intelligent, thought provoking storyline. Quick and enjoyable. Good stuff, Maynard." Read more

"Wonderful, smart, sarcastic superhero book. I knew nothing about the character before reading, and it was great...." Read more

5 customers mention "Comic book quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the comic book quality amazing, wonderful, and good. They also say the final part is good and the book collects an amazing 5 issue arc.

"...Art and storylines combine for a pretty awesome comic on this one." Read more

"An amazingly wonderful series of comics. They're a blast, Bobbi's a wonderful protagonist. Alas, it was canceled after 8 fracking issues...." Read more

"This TPB collects an amazing 5 issue arc. Tight and witty writing and great art." Read more

"Final part also good. In aomw instances the paper doll cutouts were ......" Read more

4 customers mention "Originality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the story unique, clever, and memorable. They also appreciate the memorable cameos.

"...The dialogue between characters is sharp but believable, the cameos are memorable, and most of all Mockingbird's audacity is endearing...." Read more

"...Unique, funny, and some healthy subtext as well." Read more

"Eclectic, creative, unpredictable, and exciting. That's how I'd describe this book...." Read more

"Very clever and detailed. I really enjoyed this story as it was unique and clever. I am disappointed this series has been cancelled." Read more

Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda
5 out of 5 stars
Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda
I certainly wasn't familiar with the Marvel character Mockingbird and was given the first issue as a present from a Comic Book Store Owner in Portland. "You can thank me later!" she winked while slipping it into my bag!I'm a male who enjoys comics starring strong female heroines such as Jessica Jones, Misty Knight, Batgirl, Kabuki and Tank Girl. I was delighted to begin this journey and read about a character I initially had no interest in.Written by the talented Chelsea Caine, she successfully took a fairly known character and was able to give Mockingbird depth, personality and a fluid storyline that got stronger as issues followed suit; never losing her aesthetic. The comic is a bit refreshing as it stands out from a lot of the repetitious comics that attempt to play it safe. Instead Marvel put Mockingbird on the Marquee and she certainly delivers with style, humor and action packed fun. This is one of my favorite comics of 2016 and I certainly owe that Comic Book Store owner a high fiveAlso, I show My Support for Chelsea Caine by wearing my "Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda Shirt" ..issue #8Buy this before it sells out again!
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Top reviews from the United States

Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
I certainly wasn't familiar with the Marvel character Mockingbird and was given the first issue as a present from a Comic Book Store Owner in Portland. "You can thank me later!" she winked while slipping it into my bag!

I'm a male who enjoys comics starring strong female heroines such as Jessica Jones, Misty Knight, Batgirl, Kabuki and Tank Girl. I was delighted to begin this journey and read about a character I initially had no interest in.

Written by the talented Chelsea Caine, she successfully took a fairly known character and was able to give Mockingbird depth, personality and a fluid storyline that got stronger as issues followed suit; never losing her aesthetic. The comic is a bit refreshing as it stands out from a lot of the repetitious comics that attempt to play it safe. Instead Marvel put Mockingbird on the Marquee and she certainly delivers with style, humor and action packed fun. This is one of my favorite comics of 2016 and I certainly owe that Comic Book Store owner a high five

Also, I show My Support for Chelsea Caine by wearing my "Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda Shirt" ..issue #8

Buy this before it sells out again!
Customer image
Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2016
I certainly wasn't familiar with the Marvel character Mockingbird and was given the first issue as a present from a Comic Book Store Owner in Portland. "You can thank me later!" she winked while slipping it into my bag!

I'm a male who enjoys comics starring strong female heroines such as Jessica Jones, Misty Knight, Batgirl, Kabuki and Tank Girl. I was delighted to begin this journey and read about a character I initially had no interest in.

Written by the talented Chelsea Caine, she successfully took a fairly known character and was able to give Mockingbird depth, personality and a fluid storyline that got stronger as issues followed suit; never losing her aesthetic. The comic is a bit refreshing as it stands out from a lot of the repetitious comics that attempt to play it safe. Instead Marvel put Mockingbird on the Marquee and she certainly delivers with style, humor and action packed fun. This is one of my favorite comics of 2016 and I certainly owe that Comic Book Store owner a high five

Also, I show My Support for Chelsea Caine by wearing my "Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda Shirt" ..issue #8

Buy this before it sells out again!
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18 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I found this sooner!
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
I was a comic book geek in my youth and I jump back in occasionally whenever I hear about something worth checking out. I wasn't familiar with Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird until I picked up this book, and now I wish I'd found it sooner. The writing is absolutely fantastic - the character is sharp and fun and the storyline is excellent. The art is top notch too (and full of fun little easter eggs). It outshines anything I've read from Marvel or DC recently (I'd probably have to go back as far as Ultimate Spider-man to find anything from the two giants that I've enjoyed this much). I'm already mourning the fact that it had such a short run, but at least there's one more book to go in the series.
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Heather
4.0 out of 5 stars This was so much fun! But I'll warn you that some of the ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
This was so much fun! But I'll warn you that some of the rest of this review gets pretty feminist and a little rantish at times. Okay, mostly. the things is that it was so much but it was not intersectional and I'll get into that in a minute.

I walked into this one knowing that it had been touted as feminist and having read the 50th Anniversary edition already. If you have not read the S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary edition, go ahead and check out all five titles, four of which are amazing female leads with the only male lead among them being Nick Fury. And his is pretty awesome. I reviewed them together here. If you plan on ready those AND this volume, I'll include that her anniversary edition is also at the back of this volume, so you know. Also, I knew that the series had been discontinued already, which is a bummer. It was actually the discontinue notice that brought the series to my attention because it was not yet one when the anniversary editions were released. In fact, it was the overwhelming success of her title there that caused them to create this in the first place, according to Marvel. That said, there are only two volumes of this awesome comic. It was an article announcing it's cancellation that brought the comic to my attention in the first place.
It's not linked because attempts to locate this article again proved fruitless and I tried to scroll through the #standwithchelseacain on Twitter to find the source of the cancellation again, but no. I spent twenty minutes looking for it in that feed amidst all the old tweets and blog posts and articles denouncing the harassment that Cain received after the cancellation. It breaks my heart that I found this after the fact, not that I think I could have done anything about it on my own. It just may have been nice to read it with the feeling that the comic would go on. Anyway, I won't go on about what the cancellation may mean or why because I can't find it.
In my search for the article, I did come across a lot of praise and criticism of the comic itself. And I totally get it. Personally, I loved it, including the feminist agenda. Due to the climate of feminism in the world right now and particularly when the comic started last year, it seemed fitting that at least one of Marvel's female leads be an outspoken feminist who comments on the world this way. I understand some people complaining that it was this very thing that made it a bad comic in their opinions, but for those of us who often feel the way that Mockingbird does in this comic, it was a value add. It was made for us.
Yes, it was made for everyone, as all comics are....
Okay, really though, it was made for those of us who feel the way that Mockingbird does. Those of us who try hard despite what people think we are capable of, who work in male dominated fields, who work to dispel the idea that women can't do whatever it is that we want, who want more, and who aren't afraid to try for it but also those who are afraid because she was a model for the way. I know, fictional role models have it way easier than real ones because they can be orchestrated to win all the time or to only lose small, but you get the idea. It needs to start somewhere.
Anyway, whatever the reason was that this series was cancelled, I'm glad for the books we got. This was super fun for me. I was among those that wanted to see more after the 50th Anniversary edition and then was totally hooked at #1 when she kept coming in to the medical lab with strange and awesome outfits.
I especially loved #3 and the girl because yes, girl problems. As I've learned in my own working life, there are work problems, girl work problems and guy work problems and then it goes on in other intersectional ways. What's the difference? Those things that are universal and those things that are pushed on us by our social locations while we're still at work. For my specific purposes here, it's that the guys that I work with do not have a problem with people asking them for extra favors and making faces at them in plea or thinking poorly of them for saying no. It takes a pretty exceptionally gifted guy to be asked to bring food for the group while we can easily fall into the trap of being asked to bring food just because. Or why we don't. These things have happened to me over the last ten years. Seriously. So, acknowledging these issues on the Marvel world was entertaining for me.
And then, there is the obvious problem here. Despite all the beautiousness that is the feminist agenda of the volume, it is a distinctly white feminist agenda. No one of color comes into the comic in a big way until she runs into Spider-Man, aka Miles Morales. There's a nurse in the first one, a few of the girls in the bubble and then a few sprinkled into her school in the third one, a few other heroes in the background of a few panes, a couple in the "other things that people thought might work" page and Spidey in the fifth one. That's it. That's also ridiculous. While the series has fun, it does not make special effort for inclusiveness. Yeah, I get that it has a white female protagonist and has the potential to be inherently feminist, but there could have been things done to promote inclusiveness in comics for all of feminism's issues, like being intersectional in its feminism. There could have been heroes of color in the waiting room instead of Tony Stark and Natasha Romanov. There could have been some mention of it in the Y-chromosome diatribe, some snarky little comment that points that she had that going for her or that she didn't have to fight racism too along the way. But no. Not a peep. Not even one of the Y-chromosomed males were of color. So, feminist, yes; intersectional, not in this volume. And you know what they say about feminism that isn't intersectional, right?
Still, I have high hopes for Riri Williams and World of Wakanda. To be clear, the hopes are high, not the expectations. The first of issue of Riri Williams' Invincible Iron Man comes out next weekend!!! Get it from Amazon here. It's just under $3 for the issue and available for purchase already. Support the creation of new diverse superheroes!
The first issue of World of Wakanda came out last week and is also available at Amazon already for about $5. I don't know if you recall, but this one has a story written by Bad Feminist Roxane Gay and I believe it's the origin story of the Midnight Angels. In this case, you would be supporting the first ever black female comic writer for Marvel and an amazing voice in feminism and getting into what is probably a totally awesome story.
9 people found this helpful
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David Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars How do you make a life for yourself....
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
....when you are a superhero/superspy? Always a fair question. Think of the complications that ordinary relationships bring, and then add the complexities of powered life on top of that. Very enjoyable!
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Jess
5.0 out of 5 stars Sassy, smart, and funny....
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2017
Verified Purchase
Sad to say but I had forgotten the Mockingbird --who might possibly be my favorite superhero after this book. Super soldier serum and the infinity serum create some odd side effects in the Mockingbird. Smart enough to understand the stupid research S.h.i.e.l.d does and its repercussions and sassy enough to not let anything go, the Mockingbird fights crime and zombies while saving exes and current spy bfs for some super sarcastic action. Art and storylines combine for a pretty awesome comic on this one.
One person found this helpful
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Matthew Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars An Unexpected Delight
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2019
Verified Purchase
Most people buying this collected edition trade will know who Mockingbird is, her past with Hawkeye, perhaps some of the details of her time in S.H.I.E.L.D. And while the story itself addresses the life of intrigue and danger inherent in being a super-spy for a clandestine NGO, the real magic of it comes from the narrator herself. It's quite impressive that for a character who started out in minor supporting roles in the 1970s and slowly gained ground within S.H.I.E.L.D. (and in the hearts of comic readers), Bobbi Morse shows potential for bigger and better things with every turn of the page.

Nonlinear narratives like Tarantino, creeping multi-frame exposition panels like Brian De Palma, surreal "through the mind's eye" kinds of shots - this one has it all. The dialogue between characters is sharp but believable, the cameos are memorable, and most of all Mockingbird's audacity is endearing. If you want something different but somehow comforting and familiar at the same time, pick this one up. Don't say I didn't warn you but you're going to want to get the follow-up "My Feminist Agenda" too.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ian Rawlinson
5.0 out of 5 stars So, if this is perfect, how can volume 2 be better?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
I won't waste your time with a lengthy review, explaining all the plot, listing all the great cameos, fawning over the fresh and fabulous art. If I do all those things it'll keep from what's important. Reading this book, and then reading volume 2.

Volume 1 here is pretty much the pinnacle for Marvel. Volume 2 is better.

You may not have paid Bobbi much attention before. Chelsea Cain sorts that out. Now stop reading this and buy it.
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PurzelZero
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Comic Book (Short) Series I've ever read!
Reviewed in Germany on August 19, 2017
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Chelsea Cains and Kate Niemczyks short-running Mockingbird Series was one of the best things I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It was full of gorgeous artwork, awesome ideas and concepts and had Bobbi Morse as the character she always deserved to be. Tough, clever, funny. I recommend this series to everyone who is new to comics, but also to everyone who is reading comics for a long time now.

In my opinion: THE must read series. I would give it 7 stars, if possible.
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Amana
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2016
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Super funny, well written, and great art!
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VickyVic
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Yet
Reviewed in Australia on November 17, 2016
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5 Stars for a strong female lead and a strong writer.

I throughly enjoyed this comic through and through. It had me in stitches and considering the plot

Well done Team Mockingbird!
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Charlotte
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2019
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I really loved this one! I definitely want to reread it sometime to see if I can pick up on more details. It was very interesting!
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