Let me start by saying that Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is a very unique book. Similar to how North’s FF run is like a variety show, where every issue is a new adventure, every issue of Squirrel Girl is like checking in on this cast of characters in a sitcom esque way. It’s something very different from your usual comic fair, and that is to be commended and celebrated. However, this book is also very much a product of the time it came out during. It’s very much a victim of “random” humor where the characters talk like old internet memes and trying to be “quirky”. And it doesn’t stop, it’s every. Single. Issue. There’s 8 original issues and 50 of the relaunch, and boy, was I feeling the weight of it by the end. My other big gripe with the series is that I am not a fan of Erica Henderson’s art style. It is very flat and boring, and continues to be that way through the duration of the series. There are guest artists who draw the book with a lot of more style, substance and character.
I’m rambling a bit, and I don’t want to seem like I hate the book. As I said, it’s kind of awesome that a book like this exists. It’s not over reliant on superhero action, it’s not trying to be some discount Alan Moore or Grant Morrison think piece, or anything like that. This book is unabashedly itself, and that places it in its own lane. Doreen is a very fun character, very different from what we are used to with our superheroes, and her adventures reflect that. Whether it’s confrontation with Marvel’s greatest villains or trying to ask out a guy in her class, there’s always new fun to be had. If you’re a big fan of Ryan North’s work or want to get into Squirrel Girl, I recommend this series. If you’re not a fan of “quirky” or “random” humor, maybe pick up a trade or a few issues to see if it’s your speed before going full tilt on the omnibus.