Comic Review: Steven Universe #1

How does the comic series stack up to the tv show?

Spoilers Below

While hanging out with Lapis and Peridot, Steven finds a baby bird on the ground. The trio are unable to find the bird’s nest so Steven calls the local wildlife rescue. Unfortunately, the rescue isn’t very helpful. The woman there claims that they can’t help the bird since it isn’t endangered. And Steven can’t help it because it is illegal. The only thing anyone can do it build a new nest for the baby and hope the mother comes back. Saddened by this turn of events, Steven builds a nest out of a basket and paper towels. He puts the bird in the new nest and hangs it from a nearby tree branch. After watching the nest for awhile with no sign of the mother, Lapis tells Steven to go to sleep. She will watch the nest.

In the morning, Steven wakes up to find Lapis feeding the baby bird. At first, he is horrified that they are breaking the law. But he gets over it pretty quickly when Lapis and Peridot note that they are already rebels. So, together, the three friends raise the baby bird, which they have named Susan. Steven builds it a bird bedroom, Lapis teaches it how to fly, and Peridot…well…Peridot tries to make it turn into an eagle. Eventually, Susan grows up and is ready to leave the barn. Steven is sad but Lapis makes him feel better.

The next day, Steven asks if Susan has returned. When he hears that Susan has not returned, he is disappointed. Lapis takes him outside to “water the garden.” Instead, she takes him to a secret spot in the trees where he can visit all of the birds, including Susan.

There were so many awesome things about this issue. Even though Lapis is still very awkward in the cartoon, she carefully and lovingly walks Steven through raising Susan. She is the one that helps him take care of the little bird and she is the one that helps him when it is time for Susan to leave. I think this is the first time that we have seen Lapis be truly caring and motherly. Peridot? She is definitely a lost cause.

But the best part of this issue was the pronoun game. Since none of the characters knew what gender Susan was, they all refer to the bird as “they” and “them” instead of assigning a gender with “he” or “she.” No one assumes facts that they don’t actually know. If anyone ever asks why Steven Universe is the best show on the air, you can point to this issue as a great example.