Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
Weekends are made for DC on WEBTOON! The incredible vertical-scrolling series on the digital comics platform feature all your favorite DC superheroes—with a little twist. Vixen: NYC by Jasmine Walls and Manou Azumi is no exception. What would it be like if Vixen were just starting college when she’s given her family’s mystical totem that grants animal abilities to its wearer? Find out in this refreshingly different series, which is fully complete and also available in print as a series of graphic novels.
With supporting roles from a few DC superstars and Mari’s personality leaping out of every panel, Vixen: NYC is a wild take on Vixen’s origin story. Let’s take a look at the first volume.
The Premise:
Freshman year of college is always an adventure, but is it supposed to be one this big? Mari Jiwe is about to find out! As a vacation to Ghana to spend time with her grandmother comes to an end, Mari goes straight to New York City to begin her first year as a university student. Upon arriving, she meets her quirky and sweet roommate, Karen, and tries to get used to life in the big city.
But why are the animals in NYC acting so weird around her? And why have neighborhood girls started to go missing? When Mari discovers the two questions are linked to her, she realizes college life is going to be way more exciting than she ever imagined.
Let’s Talk Talent:
This series is the first DC Comics work for both writer Jasmine Walls and artist Manou Azumi, but they’re quickly making names for themselves among DC fans. Their refreshing spin on iconic characters like Vixen, Bumblebee, Thunder, Beast Boy and more are certain to leave fans who are new to DC searching for more of these likeable heroes. Walls and Azumi’s story is perfectly paced in the vertical scrolling format for a fun, easy read over a weekend—or anytime you have a moment to jump in.
A Few Reasons to Read:
- Mari! Before she’s the superheroine Vixen, Mari Jiwe is a regular girl who makes mistakes and struggles like the rest of us. She’s just trying to find her place in a bustling (and smelly) new city, which is hard enough without throwing magic and weird new abilities in the mix. Walls gives Mari a distinct voice that makes her feel like a real person doing her best in an unbelievable situation.
- Grace Choi packs a punch. Several punches, really. No matter the story, powerhouse and erstwhile Amazon Grace Choi is always strong in both body and spirit. It’s wonderful to see a comic give Grace some time to shine, and this one does just that. She’s snarky, tenacious and determined to do whatever it takes to rescue the girls who’ve been kidnapped. If I lived in the DC Universe and something bad happened to me, I’d want Grace Choi to be the one on the case. (Sorry, Batman.)
- Character expressions that tell entire stories by themselves. You don’t have to wonder how the characters of Vixen: NYC are feeling—it’s written all over their faces in Azumi’s delightful expressions! More than one exasperated sigh, especially from Grace, made me laugh while reading this story. Mari in particular goes through a wide range of emotions, and her eyes reflect them all in magnificent detail.
- A change of heart. Can a bad guy do a heel turn to be good? It’s a question Vixen: NYC dares to ask and answer. When a young man realizes he’s had enough of being forced to be on the wrong side, he takes a huge risk to help the heroes. But that doesn’t mean he’s easily let off the hook. Mari and her friends give him a second chance, but they’re going keep an eye on him—forgiving, but not forgetting.
Why It’s Worth Your Time:
Vixen: NYC is a youthful and refreshing take on a DC Comics superhero who deserves every chance to stand in the spotlight. Mari is a quick-thinker, smart and resourceful, who always picks herself up when she gets knocked down, whether it’s by the stresses of everyday life or by an actual bad guy. In Vixen: NYC in particular, she’s a fantastic heroine for readers both young and young at heart. If you’re not already a fan of Vixen, I promise you will be after you start reading this phenomenal series.
Vixen: NYC Vol. 1 by Jasmine Walls and Manou Azumi is available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. You can also read the series in full on WEBTOON.
Kelly Knox writes about all-ages comics and animation for DC.com and is the author of several nonfiction books about some of your favorite film franchises. Follow her on X at @kelly_knox and Bluesky at @kelly-knox.com to talk superheroes, comics and pop culture.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Kelly Knox and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
