Mom Breaks The Internet #1 had super promise from the solicitation, cover artwork and names attached to the Scout Comics book, but not sure it landed where we were hoping it would.
Written by Jay Sandlin (Over The Ropes) and illustrated by Patrick Mulholland (Power Rangers Annual), Mom Breaks The Internet centers around a laid-off computer programmer named Barbie Reed. Barbie decides to take a stand against injustice by rallying tech-savvy moms after her daughter Penny is arrested and inappropriately touched by a policeman at a demonstration in front of the Capitol. What follows is an exploration of activism, feminism, and the power of community. However, we found ourselves underwhelmed by the execution.
Mom Breaks The Internet‘s saving grace is the artwork. Illustrations by Patrick Mulholland are outstandingly done. The colors are vibrant and eye-catching, the backgrounds are detailed, and the characters are well-drawn. This is especially true for our main character, Barbie, who looks both beautiful and badass. It’s clear that Mulholland has a talent for art, and the comic wouldn’t be as enjoyable without his contribution.
However, the plot of the comic fell short of our expectations. While we appreciated the overall message of the story, which encourages women to stand up for themselves and take action against injustice, the execution left a lot to be desired. The pacing was off, making it difficult to become invested in the characters and their motivations. Additionally, the dialogue was stilted at times, lacking the natural flow that we expect from a comic book. It felt as though the authors were trying too hard to make a point, rather than letting the story speak for itself.
Overall, Mom Breaks The Internet #1 has a great idea at its core, but the execution falls short of what we were hoping for. While the artwork is stunning, the plot is off-paced and the characters feel underdeveloped. The comic does have an important message about activism and female empowerment, which we support, but we think it could have been delivered in a more compelling way.
The debut issue worth checking out for yourself as it hits local comic book shops in late-July 2023.
As we always do