Over the years, the Phoenix Force had an incredible impact on the Marvel Universe. It's no wonder that Echo becoming the new Phoenix inspired a tremendous amount of anticipation. The Avenger's struggle to cope with her new powers is explored by author Rebecca Roanhorse and artist Luca Maresca in the thrilling new Phoenix Song: Echo #1.

Echo's first outing as the Phoenix doesn't go according to plan. While stopping a burglary, she loses control of her temper and burns one of the perpetrators alive before starting a fire that threatens to harm countless innocent people. She even shouts, "I am the Phoenix! And I will kill you all!" This display of unbridled rage prompts Elektra and members of the X-Men to confront her about the dangers of her powers, setting up the new Phoenix to seek guidance from some old family friends on the reservation her father used to take her to visit.

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Echo threatens to kill some burglars

Roanhorse has written a compelling, empathetic portrait of a woman struggling with unwanted and uncontrollable powers. In many ways, Echo's struggle is the struggle that all Marvel heroes have faced. But Roanhorse doesn't let the universal nature of the issue keep her from exploring the character as a distinct and fascinating individual. She rejects the condescending nature of Elektra and Forge's admonishments but still recognizes that she needs help reigning in her powers. This complex, almost contradictory attitude makes Echo easy to empathize with and root for despite her godlike powers. Roanhorse also introduces an exciting new character, River, whose powers are conceptually unique. River and Echo's friendship is promising, potentially allowing both individuals to grow in interesting and new directions.

Maresca's art captures both the grand scale of Phoenix's incredible powers and the subtlety of her complex emotions. This first issue also gives Maresca an incredible number of locations to draw, and he successfully conjures up images of Hell's Kitchen, Easter Island, and the moon without batting an eye. But even more impressive than his truly remarkable range is his ability to communicate the distinctions between Echo's personality and the Phoenix's. When Echo's behavior is being influenced by the Phoenix Force, her body language shifts dramatically along with her attitude. Colorist Carlos Lopez brings Phoenix to life with a fierce array of oranges and yellows that emanate from the hero. When the Phoenix's anger boils to the surface, her eyes glow with a haunting yellow to create some of the most striking images in the comic.

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Elektra and Echo argue

Phoenix Song: Echo #1 introduces several sources of tension in Echo's life and hints at the beginnings of a few different confrontations of epic proportions. But this comic's strength lies in the intimidating and fascinating character that Roanhorse and Maresca are developing in Echo. Her struggle to maintain her identity while harnessing the power of the Phoenix Force seems to be propelling this series into new and exciting directions.

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