“Storm” Issue 1 “Chapter 1: Grand Opening” – Review

After months of waiting, the Storm fandom can finally get their hands on Storm’s newest ongoing solo series. Storm issue 1, titled ‘Chapter 1: Grand Opening’, gave me everything and more as a fan of the iconic Omega-level Mutant Goddess.

Written by Murewa Ayodele with art by Lucas Werneck and colors by Alex Guimaraes and Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, you can tell that the creative team wanted to go big in the debut issue, and they sure did. There’s so much packed in Storm issue 1 that I can’t wait to read how the story unfolds. Ayodele and his team have set the stage to make Ororo face personal, political, and cosmic challenges. That’s a whole lot for a Goddess to handle having just declared herself Earth’s protector.

A major development in ‘Grand Opening’ was Ororo introducing the Storm Sanctuary to the world. It’s supposed to be a structure meant to offer refuge to those in need, including humans, mutants, aliens, and even Gods. Ororo has always fought for everyone and she will continue to do so as the Avatar of Life.

I hope we get to see more of the Storm Sanctuary in upcoming issues. I want to see the residents’ living quarters. I want to see a thriving community showing their support for Storm. And because we know that Storm’s Godhead is fueled by belief and prayer, I wouldn’t be surprised if the residents of the Storm Sanctuary are called upon during Ororo’s time of need down the line.

A gripe (but not really) would be how Ororo building the Storm Sanctuary likely surprised comic book readers not involved in online fandoms. Even though Ororo has a rich backstory and access to numerous resources, this is the first time we are seeing her display such levels of wealth. I hope the creation of the Storm Sanctuary is talked about soon and isn’t exclusive to what Ayodele has shared online.

Before Ororo made the announcement, we got to see a flashback involving a community being destroyed due to a nuclear plant explosion. It was nice to see Frenzy teaming up with Ororo to look for survivors. The way Ororo and Frenzy dealt with the incoming shockwaves made for some good action that showcased the women’s fine control of their powers.

The rescue mission emphasized Ororo’s goal to save everyone. She and Frenzy even saved a man who seemed to support Orchis. And that’s a big deal considering what Orchis recently put mutantkind through. The rescue sequence also touched upon what Ororo had to face as a child when she lost her parents. Ororo wasn’t going to allow a child to go through the same fate if she could help it.

Wanting to investigate the source of the destructive shockwaves, Ororo made her way to the site and didn’t even care about getting radiation poisoning after she realized that the source was a young mutant kid. Again, Ororo’s got to save everyone even if it meant putting herself in danger.

Of course, Ororo getting radiation poisoning will be dealt with in the second chapter. As someone who has shown levels of immunity and resistance to various types of radiation, I’m curious to see how her body will heal from an unknown type of radiation.

Rescuing the scared kid created another dilemma for Ororo. Just days away from her big announcement about declaring herself Earth’s protector and unveiling the Storm Sanctuary, Ororo was shown feeling conflicted about the child’s role in the community’s destruction. The little scene with Tony Stark helped support Ororo’s suspicions. It’s revealed that the nuclear plant didn’t explode due to the scientists messing with alien tech. No, it was the kid’s mutant powers manifesting in a dangerous manner that led to said disaster.

Knowing Storm, I knew she was going to stand up for the truth and that’s exactly what she did. There was no way she was going to lie and allow the dead scientists to be blamed. Also, their families were being ostracized by their communities. And while Ororo’s decision to speak the truth fueled more anti-mutant hate, I think the narrative also pointed out that certain people were always going to hate mutants.

Mutant acceptance due to having every mutant fall in line and being a “good” mutant couldn’t be described as acceptance in the first place. Mutants weren’t a monolith. Such a narrative theme clearly linked to real-world examples of how certain minority communities are expected to behave to be considered worthy of “respect” and “tolerance”.

While Ororo’s huge announcement didn’t go as planned, things were already at play on a cosmic scale. Apparently, the universe was out to kill Storm for some odd reason. The first attempt caused Ororo to be pierced by a sharp branch during the rescue mission. And with Eternity (who shared history with Ororo) deeming Storm worthy, the final panel left me gagging!

Look at Eternal Storm!

Fans have been hoping for Marvel writers to explore Storm’s Godhead, and it looks like Ayodele is ready to deliver. Though Ororo’s solo adventure did start on Earth, the things coming her way are truly cosmic.

If this is the type of story Ayodele will continue to tell, he’s going to quickly cement himself as one of the best Storm writers to ever exist. And that’s a win for him, as well as the Storm fandom.

Of course, Werneck’s art played an impactful role in elevating Ayodele’s story. Ororo is supposed to be the most beautiful woman in Marvel Comics canon and Werneck succeeded in portraying such levels of beauty. The incredibly detailed art in this book is so gorgeous. Also, yes to more costume changes!

As for a minor gripe, I’m not really a fan of third-person narration when it comes to solo series. I feel that this particular debut chapter would have hit harder if the narration (even if just a part of it) was from Storm’s perspective, especially during the rescue scene. I want to dive deep into her mind as she faces the incoming challenges.

With anti-mutant hate on the rise, the unfortunate turn of events puts more support behind the need to have someone like Ororo be part of the current Avengers team. A powerful mutant voice is definitely needed.

What did you think of Storm issue 1 ‘Grand Opening’? 

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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