Ever since breaking free of DC Comics, Brian Wood's name has been popping up on comic book covers everywhere. With Mara, Wood looks to add another thought provoking hit to his long list of brilliant stories. Read Full Review

Wood and Doyle have a winner on their hands here. “Mara” is light social commentary that is incredibly relevant, wrapped up in an attractive and fun package. Best of all, it's an incredible showcase for Ming Doyle, whose work we will all be happily enjoying more of in the near future. For someone with relatively little experience with published work, Doyle's “Mara” shows just how refined her work already is and how much she's ready for the big leagues. Read Full Review

Mara was one of the few comics released this last week of the year and it might of been one of the last comics released, but it's also a fantastic read and a standout for the stellar year that was 2012. Read Full Review

So this is a comic that's not for everyone - but as always, Wood creates a story that mystifies (in a good way) and commands your attention. Read Full Review

When all is said and done, Mara #1 delivers a strong first outing that stumbles only a bit. With plenty of emotional presence and a strong plot point that leaves the reader wondering what Mara's fate will bring her, this slight misstep can be easily overlooked. Read Full Review

A comic book about volleyball? The fun lies in wondering what Brian Wood will do with this scenario because he almost always has something to say in his comics. Read Full Review

Im looking forward to issue 2 mostly because we barely scrape the surface of the story here. Im not sure what Brian Wood has planned for the series but it could shape up to be something really different. Read Full Review

Mara #1 is an exceptionally good first outing that yields a striking future that's truly worth your exploration. Recommended. Read Full Review

As mentioned earlier, there's a surprise twist at the end of the first issue, one that upends "Mara" into a completely different direction. Is it a bad one? I don't think so. It does, however, transform the book into something that feels a little more standard. Sports comics aren't unique in their own right, of course, but most of the first issue of "Mara" felt very different than what we're getting on the market these days, and having it become something more familiar is just a touch disappointing. Still, I have no doubt that the rest of "Mara" will still be a lot of fun, and when read in a collected edition this sudden surprise will probably flow a lot more smoothly. Regardless of the slight disappointment at this surprise (and to be fair, it is handled quite well), I'm still more than interested enough in "Mara" to want to come back for #2. Still a very good comic. Read Full Review

The jury's still out on Mara overall, though, but it's a #1 issue from Brian Wood. That means it's certainly worth giving a shot. Read Full Review

Mara definitely has the potential to be a very good comic. The talent is obviously there and the ideas and themes seem strong. I would have preferred a longer first issue, with a few extra pages allowing for a better sense of where the story will go post power reveal. Despite this, Mara is beautiful to look at and I trust Brian Wood to tell an interesting story. After reading this first issue, I do want to read the next, so that must count as a success. Read Full Review

This wasn't exactly "short but sweet" but despite my initial disappointment with Mara's debut issue I can't help but look back somewhat fondly on it and anticipate the next issue. The concept of Mara is still enjoyable despite a somewhat boring announcer and a not-so-surprising ending (spoiled by news stories like mine that I didn't even know were spoilers, I swear!) and I can see this series going in a very powerful direction or going down in flames. But we've started out on a mostly positive note that has piqued my interest to see where the series will go"and while the ending unfortunately wasn't a shock because all the news stories including mine mention it, when the cliffhanger finally comes it does have me interested in the next issue. Read Full Review

Brian Wood is a good writer, but he's not the reason to pick up this first issue of Mara. Ming Doyle's art, beautifully complemented by Jordie Bellaire's colors, are the driving force in this series so far. I'm hoping in issue two Wood gives us a bit of explanation over some of the strange happenings in Mara #1, and hopefully we'll have a bit more reason to like the characters aside from what the prolific narration boxes have told us, but until then Mara #1 gets an average three out of five stars, the sub-par Wood characterizations bolstered by Doyle and Bellaire's beautiful art. Read Full Review

While I didn't find Mara to be well-written, and I'm not sure drawing people is Doyle's calling, Mara has an intriguing plot that'll definitely have me coming back for seconds.   Read Full Review

This opening chapter is a bit of a let down, but considering Wood's other work and the reveal we get towards the end, it feels like there's something more going on here. I'm unsure if that will be enough to bring me back for a second issue, but Ming Doyle's art just might. Read Full Review

Maybe the reason I’m feeling so down on Mara is because I can feel its potential. This book has a lot going for it and has a very compelling, relevant and powerful message within its pages, but it’s not there yet, and it’s really, honestly, far from getting where it needs to be. I know that this creative team has the talent to make this book something great, and I’m hoping beyond hope that they take it where it should go, but I’m skeptical. First issues are always important, and this one, ultimately, struck out. Read Full Review

Doyle's swirling, Paul Pope-like lines curl the reader around this dystopia. Her Mara is full of life despite the constraints placed on her while Jordie Bellaire uses vibrant shades to emphasis Doyle's linework. The promise of more world-building by Doyle makes this worth reading, at least for now. Read Full Review