Morning Glories

• Title: Morning Glories #43
• wiki: link
• Writer: Nick Spencer
• Artist: Joe Eisma

Although the story will eventually tie back into the larger arc of Casey‘s bid to be the next Student Council President, the focus of Morning Glories #43 is predominantly on Ike who makes some disturbing discoveries on his trip to the school’s library.

The Librarian hands the young man a series of books causing visions from his past (a ceremony performed shortly after his birth by Abraham and Gribbs and what follows in the offices of Wow-Mo! Enterprises), present (those spying on the his “friends” in the school), and future (in which he sits down with a far older version of himself).

Despite his usual banter with Casey early on, it’s obvious that the fate of Jade is weighing heavy on Ike which makes the revelation of his eyes being opened (an important phrase we’ve seen before concerning the kids reaching an important milestone of their potential) all the more interesting. Such an experience doesn’t leave the cocky young man unscathed as he chooses to join the fight and put together a team to help Casey win the upcoming election. Has a new organized rebellion finally begun? Worth a look.

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• Title: Morning Glories #41
• wiki: link
• Writer: Nick Spencer
• Artist: Joe Eisma

Quidditch time! Okay, so it’s not exactly wizards flying on broomsticks, but the latest issue of Morning Glories reveals that the school does have its own original sport for the students with specific rules and outcomes already predetermined. It’s Towerball time!

Focusing mostly on Guillaume who maneuvers himself to be the captain of the Blue Team (the team destined to lose), Morning Glories #41 continues showcasing another kind of effort the students use to fight back against the teachers and the mysterious Headmaster who has decreed that Red Team will always win… so what happens if one year it doesn’t?

I’ve got to say after 40 issues I’ve been on the fence about continuing to pick-up the intriguing, but meandering, series, but this issue sold me on the title for a least another month. Bring on Towerball! Worth a look.

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• Title: Morning Glories #40
• wiki: link
• Writer: Nick Spencer
• Artist: Joe Eisma

While spending much of the issue highlighting the underground student newspaper crew, Morning Glories #40 offers a philosophical discussion about he nature of reality with the arrival of Oliver Simon and Ellen Richmond who show up to help the class get back on track for the upcoming science fair. Although Vanessa is overjoyed at the unexpected visit from her mother, Ian is less than thrilled with his father’s arrival and lecture on the nature of observable reality. However, the debate does stir something in the young man and force him to take the first step on a dark path in attempting to rewrite history for his own ends.

Given the lecture hall set-up the issue is even more verbose than usual in throwing out ideas from ancient philosophy to modern science fiction to explain the nature of the universe as we know it. The real reveal isn’t the discussion itself (which I’m sure has clues to larger themes buried in Dr. Simon’s ramblings) but the dark nature of Ian who not only tortures the blinded Fortunato but also prepares to use the power of the Cylinder for his own dark purposes. For fans.

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• Title: Morning Glories #39
• wiki: link
• Writer: Nick Spencer
• Artist: Joe Eisma

Although Morning Glories began with Casey’s arrival at Morning Glory Academy she’s been largely absent (except glimpses of her Danielle Clarkson years) from most of the recent issues. Morning Glories #39 turns its focus back on the young woman who shows up in Ms. Hodge‘s office with quite a few questions; she won’t like the answers.

Reintroducing Casey’s high school rival Isabel as the class school president and enemy within a school which already has far too many for Casey’s liking offers a bit of extra incentive for Hodge to push Casey into the next part of her plan. Running for class president seems like an odd waste of energy in a school like Morning Glory Academy, but the rivalry with Isabel and the access the student president receives force a resentful Casey to reconsider. I wonder if we’ll get a debate issue (or what student council debate even looks like at the Academy)? This issue also suggests whatever makes Casey stand-out from the rest of the students, at least to Hodge, is more than we’ve seen in her time-travel adventure to set things right. Worth a look.

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