Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics | Tagged: squirrel girl, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl to End at Issue #50

After a 58-issue run (the series was relaunched just once, which is conservative by Marvel standards), Unbeatable Squirrel Girl with end with Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #50 later this year. The creative team revealed the shocking news in an article on the AV Club Thursday, insisting that the end is not a cancellation, but rather a planned ending by the creators.

In April, Squirrel Girl was ranked #170 on Diamond's Top 200 comic unit sales charts, which Comichron estimates at around 10,000 copies sold. That puts amongst Marvel's lowest-selling monthly comic books, ahead of only Unstoppable Wasp (which is ending) and Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (which might be ending). However, like those other two books, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl has reportedly sold well outside of the direct market, where it has been a New York Times bestseller, as well as finding success in other media adaptations. Squirrel Girl, as a character, has certainly risen in prominence over the past four years as a result, an impressive feat in a comic book hierarchy which rarely changes.

Here's what Ryan North, the writer of the series since it launched in 2015, had to say:

I'm proud that we got a Squirrel Girl book that ran for 58 issues and an OGN. I'm proud that the character became popular enough to be the core of a cartoon series (Marvel Rising); a novel spin-off series (Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World and Squirrel Girl: 2 Fuzzy 2 Furious); a TV show pilot (New Warriors); and a director's cut of Avengers: Endgame wherein it is revealed that the master of illusion Mysterio simply made it APPEAR like it was a rat who stepped on that control panel that accidentally freed Ant-Man from the Quantum Realm at the start of Endgame—thereby becoming directly responsible for saving half of all life on Earth—when it was actually a very special squirrel in a pink bow that did it with full intentionality. I can only assume this special Correct Edition Blu-Ray is being released soon.

The truth of the matter is that when you're working on a character in a shared universe, you only have a little time with her, and then someone else will take over. It's a little like being a parent and watching your kid go off to school for the first time—you've done all you can, and you'll always be in their corner, but now it's up to them. All you can hope to do—and it's something I hope we've achieved—is to leave your mark on the character in some way. I think Doreen Allene Green is a different person now, 5 years later, than she was when we started with her way back when, and I'm so proud of who she is now.

And artist Derek Charm, who took over from Erika Henderson in 2018, said:

Although I've been with the book the least amount of time out of everyone, at 18 issues it will be my longest run on a series yet. The whole team was so welcoming and inspiring when I came on. Everyone cares so much about this book and making each issue as great as it can be. Ryan constantly challenges me to level up—every issue there's something I have no idea how to accomplish at first (my favorite was "He's Ultron, but an oak tree!"). Sarah and Wil are always giving guidance and ideas on every page, but also the freedom to try new things. Rico and Travis bring each issue to life in ways I never could have imagined when they were just black and white drawings. Basically I like them a lot and will miss this.

Colorist Rico Renzi said:

This is the longest run I've had coloring a book, that's pretty gratifying. The zine issue is one of my favorite comics ever. More than those two personal milestones though, meeting readers of all ages and hearing about their favorite aspects of the comic and their favorite character moments, that's the good stuff. The real impact Doreen's method of carrying herself and handling problems has on readers is inspiring. And of course, every kid I've seen dressed as a version of Doreen has melted my heart.

And finally, editor Wil Moss:

Squirrel Girl's greatest impact on Marvel Comics is that it's proven there's room for books that are different. Editors and creative teams will always be able to point to the success that this book has had as reasoning for why a new book that doesn't quite fit the mold is worth publishing. Those new audiences are out there.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is currently in the midst of a War of the Realms tie-in, with the next issue, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #45, hitting stores in June. The comic will run for 5 more issue after that, presumably ending in November with Unbeatable Squirrel #50, which will presumably be a mega-sized (and mega-priced) special anniversary and goodbye issue.

Check out the full interview here.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #45
(W) Ryan North (A) Derek Charm (CA) Erica Henderson
WAR OF THE REALMS TIE-IN!
• The historic team-up of Ratatoskr – Asgardian chaos squirrel god – and Squirrel Girl – Midgardian squirrel, uh, girl – has not gone well!
• Well, that's not technically true: it's gone well for Ratatoskr, who now has a human identity to play with…but this team-up hasn't technically saved anyone yet.
• And now it probably never will! Squirrel Girl realizes that Ratatoskr isn't playing by the rules, and they split up!
• But can one girl save all of North America? And does one Asgardian chaos squirrel god have machinations going on beneath the surface?
• Answers to these questions, plus fights, plus friendship, plus Frost Giants, PLUS some public domain poetry all await you! THERE IS NO MORE ALLURING A SENTENCE THAN THE ONE WE JUST TYPED. WE CHECKED, THIS IS IT!
Rated T
In Shops: Jun 12, 2019
SRP: $3.99

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