THE PLOT: When the book group hears "comic book," we picture a bunch of mathletes poring over the latest issue of X-Men. Yet we were intrigued by Air, an ongoing series by G. Willow Wilson (illustrated by M.K. Perker), best known for her award-winning graphic novel Cairo. We picked up volumes one and two (the latter is out this month), and took in the story of Blythe, a flight attendant with a fear of heights, who's swept up in an international terror plot. Along the way, she finds a mythical world where a girl can wake up one day to discover she's a superhero.
SARAH (ASSISTANT EDITOR): I had a great time reading this. I'd never read a comic book in my life, but I've always dated guys who were obsessed with them and I thought they were so juvenile for it. But now I totally get it.
NING (SENIOR BEAUTY EDITOR): See, I didn't like the plot. I thought Blythe was an idiot, and the romance between her and Zayn, the secret agent who draws her into his mission, annoyed me. But I still enjoyed it. With all the cliff-hangers at the end of each section, I couldn't put it down. I read both volumes in four hours.
YAEL (ASSOCIATE EDITOR): And the dialogue was so entertaining. When Zayn sneaks into Blythe's room and calls her "love," she says, "You just called me love." So he says, "Should I not have? I forgot American girls like men who don't care about anything." When she tells him he's being poetic, he says, "Only in the 'It's 2 a.m.' kind of way." It's cheesy, but it works.
ABIGAIL (DEPUTY EDITOR): I know you're supposed to suspend your disbelief, but the narrative was too disjointed to help me do that. One minute she's a straitlaced stewardess, the next she's accepting a briefcase from a potential terrorist, and then she's chatting with a giant serpent?
YAEL: Well, the point is that it's an outrageous story. A superhero story! I mean, I'm kind of envious of people who can push their imaginations to this level.
NING: I thought the best part was the idea that a country—in this case a fictional Southeast Asian one—could literally disappear because people forgot about it. It's like there are these places where people are living, but because I'm not aware of them, they don't exist for me.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
SARAH: How about when Blythe discovers there's a whole world beyond what we see every day, and she asks her guide, "What do you do when you reach the end of the world?" The guide says, "You imagine more." It was a beautiful, lyrical moment I didn't expect to find in a comic book.
ABIGAIL: I did enjoy certain poetic moments, but the story was just too spastic. I mean, what is "hyperpraxability"?
SARAH: But that's explained. Throughout the series, you can see Blythe is some kind of time-traveling psychic, and then suddenly she has a name for it—hyperpraxability—and she learns there are others like her. I thought that was cool. I can't wait to see what happens in volume three. I'm totally hooked.
SHOULD YOU READ IT?
YAEL: Yes
SARAH: Yes
NING: Yes
ABIGAIL: No
-
The Best Hair Straighteners Add Instant Shine to Your Style
These picks are coming in hot.
By Sophia Vilensky Published
-
32 Beauty Products That Are Just So Good
Sponsor Content Created With Walmart
By Caitie Schlisserman Published
-
Are "Roe-Bots" the Future of Abortion Access?
As the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could severely curtail medication abortion nationwide, one organization showed that reproductive healthcare is here to stay—no matter what.
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
The Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far)
Including one that just might fill the Riverdale-shaped hole in your heart.
By Andrea Park Published
-
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ 2023: Everything We Know
Cue up Mike Reno and Ann Wilson’s “Almost Paradise."
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
Who Is Gerry Turner, the ‘Golden Bachelor’?
The Indiana native is the first senior citizen to join Bachelor Nation.
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
‘Virgin River’ Season 6: Everything We Know
Here's everything we know on the upcoming episodes.
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
The 60 Best Musical Movies of All Time
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell Last updated
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
By Zoe Guy Last updated
-
35 Nude Movies With Porn-Level Nudity
Lots of steamy nudity ahead.
By Kayleigh Roberts Last updated
-
The Cast of 'The Crown' Season 5: Your Guide
The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recast—again.
By Andrea Park Published