Models, Inc.

Now here's a comic book that definitely wasn't designed for me.

But Millie the Model is a classic Marvel character, dating back to the '50s, and this seemed like a clever repackaging of the concept, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Did I mention this wasn't designed for me?

I suppose the question is, who is Models, Inc. designed for?

If the idea is to attract more female readers, I suppose it has a chance - but the story is so thin and the characters so one-dimensional, it's difficult to imagine anyone feeling driven to come back for the second issue.

Written by Paul Tobin, the comic features several of the classic female characters from Marvel's Silver Age line for girls - Millie, her feisty pal Chili, Patsy Walker (who's also the Hellcat, though not seen in costume here), Hedy, Jill and Toni.

They take part in a photo shoot, they chat with what's supposed to be catty and clever dialogue (but isn't), and then Millie finds herself in a deadly mess. If it sounds interesting... it really isn't.

The artwork by Vincenc Villagrasa is solid and loaded with cool fashions, but the artist doesn't get to do much more than draw lots of pretty girls.

The backup story reads like a spoof of fashion, with real-life icon Tim Gunn turning to super-hero fashions to fight an army of AIM agents. Silly at best.

Really, the best thing about the comic is the cover by Scott Clark, a nifty send-up of a fashion magazine cover - and Millie never looked better.

I wish this comic was a success, or at least something that I could recommend for readers who like this kind of Project Runway-type story. Given the lack of similar comics, there must surely be a real need for a series (or more) that's aimed at young women. But this isn't it.

Grade: C-