Book Info: This collection contains Black Panther issues #39-41.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars} (Rounded Up)
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
[image]
Due to its vast reserves of vibranium, the African country of Wakanda has enjoyed a large degree of self-sufficiency and technological dominance for very many years. But it's this very same substance that has caught the attention of the Skrulls – a shape-shifting alien race with a long track record of planetary conquest. While the Secret Invasion rages on elsewhere on the globe, Commander K'vvvr is sent to requisition the rare and durable metal for the Skrull Empire. But, of course, T'Challa and the Wakandans aren't going to make this too easy for K'vvvr and his fleet. Wakandans are a very proud people – and understandably so; throughout their long history, they've never once been conquered, and have always managed to fight back their would-be colonists. So in Black Panther: Secret Invasion, an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, and a hell of a lot of blood is spilled.
[image]
The very first thing that caught my attention (in a good way) was Commander K'vvvr's non-traditional Skrull persona. I think when most of us think of a Skrull soldier, we think of a blindly loyal, bloodthirsty brute. But in just the first two pages, Aaron turned that stereotype on its head, and I found myself actually sympathizing with the character. In fact, it's extremely rare to find a comic book antagonist quite as compelling as he was, and I thought that using him as the book's central narrator was a great idea.
[image] [image]
The first issue was virtually perfect. Cool to the fucking core. So cool in fact that it was very misleading; while I really enjoyed this volume overall, I felt a bit let down after issue #1. It promises so much, but delivers only about 75%, which fortunately, in the end, proved to be enough. Ultimately, it turned out to be more or less a traditional stronghold attack/defense paradigm, including the obligatory inspirational speeches before the charge. Very Helm's Deep.
And though somewaht minimalist, I found the art for this volume to be strong, particularly when it came to portraying the Black Panther in costume. Palo was able to make him look like an actual panther, and I think the savage look suits him very much. And together with Lee Loughridge, Palo depicted some very stylish background sketches, all of which were able to create an appropriately solemn atmosphere.
[image]
If you're like me, and hunger for a good Black Panther comic book, this would be a great selection; it's action-packed and fun, and doesn't assume you know more about the character than you should if you're a newcomer. I only wish there were more cool Black Panther stories like this out there....more
Book Info: This collection contains Rat Catcher issue #1.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars} (Rounded Up)
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
As a mystery-slash-thriller, Rat Catcher gets a lot right; it's smart, fast-paced, and keeps you guessing from beginning to end. In terms of the writing, I was most impressed with how Diggle managed to keep the story rolling along quickly without slowing down to hold my hand hand or spell everything out, and at the same time not leaving me feeling entirely left behind. But to me, this story is slightly better as a mystery than it is as a thriller. While one of the most defining aspects of a thriller has to do with it's fast pacing, perhaps just as important is getting the reader/viewer to connect with it's world and characters. Once a writer can achieve that, all subsequent twists and turns become substantially more satisfying. So although Diggle managed to put together an excellent plot, I was never quite comfortably invested with what was going on.
Probably the single biggest explanation for my discomfort was that, unlike most other thrillers I've read, Rat Catcher doesn't immediately make it entirely clear who the main characters are – far less give you a chance to get to know them – but rather reveals bits and pieces in alternating snippets, and at the same time that it dives head-first into events. For this reason, it took me a little longer than I would have liked to feel grounded. But even in the face of that, I have to admit there were times when my mind would somewhat eagerly race to evaluate and sort out all the possible scenarios of what would happen next, based on what I had already been shown. And that's always a plus when it comes to any effective mystery.
Now I should say that although I've only just recently begun to develop a taste for black-and-white illustrations, this has got to be a candidate for the top comic book artwork I've seen without color. In fact, I never even missed it. So maybe if you're a fan of black-and-white comics, you'd be even more pleased than I was, and – believe me – I was plenty pleased.
Sometime in the future, I think I'll give The Losers another shot. Besides this and Green Arrow: Year One, I haven't really read any of Diggle's other stuff, but I'm beginning to think I should. I think he's just about proven to be a fairly promising talent when it comes to action stories and thrillers....more
Story Synopsis: (view spoiler)[Due to near-fatal injuries incurred on a mission in South America, James Rhodes is given advanced cybernetic implants tStory Synopsis: (view spoiler)[Due to near-fatal injuries incurred on a mission in South America, James Rhodes is given advanced cybernetic implants that allow him to incorporate foreign pieces of technology into his armor, granting him the freedom to physically transform into whatever form is most suited for the task at hand. With the help of Parnell Jacobs, Bethany Cabe, and Suzi Endo, Rhodey sets out to rescue his childhood sweetheart from Eaglestar – a corrupt and dangerous private security firm. Managing to fend off both Eaglestar's soldiers and Ares, Rhodey successfully kills Eaglestar's CEO and frees Glenda. But in the aftermath of the operation, Ares releases the Ultimo virus, infecting Glenda and numerous inhabitants of a nearby city. Fortunately, Suzi is able to calibrate an EMP device that successfully counteracts the virus before the death toll rises too high. Refusing Osborn's offer of the new body grown for him – which was recently stolen from Bethany by H.A.M.M.E.R. forces – in return for his heroic services, Rhodes and his team become fugitives, determined to hunt down whoever provided Eagestar with the virus. (hide spoiler)]
Additional Notes: This collection contains Sin City: Family Values issue #1.
Miller doesn't seem to be particularly adept at writing dialogue. He's much better suited to narration. And ever since the last volume, his increasingly numerous attempts at humor have been embarrassingly ineffective and annoying. All this, combined with a weak introduction, caused me to give up about halfway through this volume....more
Story Synopsis: (view spoiler)[After a renown Sin City cop is killed in Old Town, the truce between the cops and the girls of Old Town is put in jeopaStory Synopsis: (view spoiler)[After a renown Sin City cop is killed in Old Town, the truce between the cops and the girls of Old Town is put in jeopardy. On his mission to hide the body, Dwight contends with Manute, the mob, and their hired Irish mercenaries. After a betrayal by one of the girls, Gail is captured by Manute. With the help of Miho and the other girls, Dwight is able to ambush and kill Manute and the mob, save Gail, and get rid of the dead officer's body, keeping the truce intact. (hide spoiler)]
Going into this, I was interested to read the only Sin City story (so far) I wasn't already familiar with through the movies, and wanted to compare it against the previous two. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't more than a little disappointed with the quality of this volume. I can see why Miller might have decided against including this storyline in either of his two Sin City films so far, and I'd advise him against doing so in the future. Just a little too convoluted and awkwardly artsy, I just hope this is as bad as it gets for a series I still have fairly high hopes about.
Lastly – and I'm just putting this one out there – why the fuck couldn't all of Sin City look like this?
[image]
[image]
It amazes me what just the addition of color does for Miller's pencils. And I'm not just talking aesthetics here; it also adds coherency to the illustrations. Whatever stylistic edge Miller intended when he decided on black-and-white should have been drastically diminished in his eyes when he had Lynn Varley – his now ex-wife – contribute her coloring. But maybe that's just me....more
Story Synopsis: (view spoiler)[Framed for murder and driven by a powerful sense of guilt and anger, ex-con Marv sets out on a brutal quest to avenge tStory Synopsis: (view spoiler)[Framed for murder and driven by a powerful sense of guilt and anger, ex-con Marv sets out on a brutal quest to avenge the death of a woman he loved. Tearing through hit men, corrupt police, and a dangerous cannibal who practices human taxidermy, Marv works to uncover the identity of the man responsible for his misfortune. Losing a friend along the way, and constantly questioning his sanity, it was a long and hard road before confronting Roark – the perverted Catholic cardinal behind his suffering. After brutally killing him, and finally avenging his beloved Goldie, Marv is convicted of murder and meets his end executed by electric chair. (hide spoiler)]
"It isn't long before I break into a run. I can't help myself. No shaking now. No cold sweat. No doubts. The fear got out for a little while there but now it's crawled back in, far away, a small cold thing lost in a belly that's full of fire. Even the woods don't scare me anymore because I'm just one more predator and I'm bigger and meaner than the rest. All I've ever been good at is killing so I might as well enjoy it." – Marv
Book Info: This collection contains Wolverine issues #1-5.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {2.5/5 stars} (Rounded Up)
STANDARDIZED RATING: <2/5 stars>
In Wolverine Goes to Hell, Wolverine goes to Hell. His soul is tormented by the Devil, and they end up fighting each other. While all this is going on, his possessed body – under the control of demons – sets out to hurt all those who mean anything to Logan in the world of the living. Also, Mystique, Ghost Rider, and Hellstorm all make appearances.
Without revealing exactly how it ends, in just those brief sentences I hope I've saved you the trouble of reading this tedious volume. You shouldn't gain much additional insight by doing so, and Aaron did almost nothing to spruce up this basic plot into something worthwhile to read. But if you do decide to go ahead and read this, I only ask that you don't make the mistake of using this as a judge of the writer's capacity for writing Wolverine; he does much better work in Wolverine: Weapon X and Wolverine: Wolverine's Revenge.
[image] [image] [image]
But I guess I shouldn't give the impression that the story goes nowhere. It's really more accurate to say that it's spectacularly unimpressive. For instance, to say that the Devil is just an evil, oversized gargoyle, doesn't leave much unsaid about his character. In the end, he fails to be very scary, clever, or particularly powerful. And as bland as Hell turned out to be, I can hardly blame the Devil for his lack of enthusiasm, or Logan for his monotonous and self-pitying narration that carries from issue to issue.
The plot itself is limited to Logan mustering the endurance necessary to survive in Hell long enough for his allies to find a way to retrieve his soul. Unfortunately, and contrary to all the Devil's grand claims and posturing, I'm pretty sure I've seen Logan in similar, if not *more* troubling situations. Or at least it feels that way.
Story Synopsis: (view spoiler)[In an attempt to discover the "real reason" the government disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D. following the Secret Invasion, Nick FStory Synopsis: (view spoiler)[In an attempt to discover the "real reason" the government disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D. following the Secret Invasion, Nick Fury infiltrates the Carousel – a S.H.I.E.L.D. datacore facility located in Chicago. There, using his maximum security clearance, he makes the startling discovery that HYDRA has always been directing S.H.I.E.L.D. behind the scenes. A month later, Fury sneaks into the White House to inform the President that it was he who broke into and destroyed the Carousel, and provides the location of another covert S.H.I.E.L.D. base within the country. Knowing, after what happened to the Carousel, that HYDRA would put together a strike force to secure the base, Fury sent the Secret Warriors to see if H.A.M.M.E.R. showed up as well; if they did, that would indicate that although HYDRA had influence over much of the political and military infrastructure in the world, their reach did not yet extend into the highest levels of US government. The base in question was Black Ice – a deep storage S.H.I.E.L.D. containment facility in Texas – and the mission went bad when the Secret Warriors were forced to engage HYDRA and H.A.M.M.E.R. forces. In the end, HYDRA manages to secure a package from the site, and teleport it away.
One month prior, and following Fury's assault on the Carousel, Baron von Strucker assembles Madama Hydra, The Hive, Kraken, and Viper to meet in Gehenna and discuss their plan to destroy Nick Fury once and for all. One of their first steps toward this end is to strong-arm the Hand into resurrecting the Gorgon to join von Stucker's ranks. Back at the Cocoon – Fury's most top secret installation, and the main base of the Secret Warriors – Fury brings his team up to speed, and explains that one of them will have to go undercover as a HYDRA agent. Within the next two weeks, HYDRA has managed to infiltrate or destroy every notable S.H.I.E.L.D. shadow facility except two. Of the two, Fury has instructed the Secret Warriors to focus on retrieving the telepathic psi-agents from the Red Worm installation, determining the power these agents possess would be too dangerous left in the hands of HYDRA. At the base, after the team observes HYDRA killing two of the psi-agents, they decide to engage HYDRA. Kraken is able to escape with the agents, and the Secret Warriors are forced into a retreat after Slingshot's hand is cut off by the Gorgon. Slingshot is treated at a nearby base, and Fury orders Daisy to find a replacement for Slingshot.
In Australia, Daisy and Sebastian recruit Eden Fesi – an aboriginal teleporter. Meanwhile, in Gehenna, von Strucker and his group decide to take their war against Fury to the next level and openly attack him. In Sudan, Fury meets with old friends Dum Dum Dugan and Gabriel Jones, and they discuss planning their next move. Using the ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that left with Dugan when H.A.M.M.E.R. first started out, Fury decides to attack the Dock – a heavily guarded H.A.M.M.E.R. base – so that he could retrieve his old Helicarriers. While the attack is already underway, the panic button Fury gave Daisy goes off, so Fesi and the Secret Warriors teleport onto the Dock and lend their assistance against both H.A.M.M.E.R. and HYDRA; the latter arrived on the scene soon after the fighting began. Fury's side is ultimately victorious, sending HYDRA into retreat, and von Strucker pondering which of his men gave Fury advanced notice of his arrival. On top of that, many of the remaining H.A.M.M.E.R. agents stationed at the Dock are recruited by Dugan's Howling Commandos. After things settle down, Daisy confronts Fury and demands to know what he has planned for the Fesi and the Commandos, as well as who pressed the panic button. Fury refuses to disclose any of that information and only compliments her for her leadership of the team, and their performance in battle. Fury dismisses Daisy from the room and calls Contessa Allegra de Fontaine – a spy and one of his former lovers. Although unbeknownst to him, it is revealed that she it is she who has assumed the identity of the current Madame Hydra. (hide spoiler)]
"…There was a time when it would have made me physically ill to share the same air with something like you – an animal, appearing as a human. Your destruction, I'm sorry to say, would have been a necessity... But, times have changed and my ethos has evolved in what is a more tolerant, and enlightened view of global society. You see, I no longer need to cleanse the world, I simply wish to rule it. So understand, what is about to happen is a personal indulgence for me – a flight of nostalgic fancy. I'm trying to enjoy life more that I'm older. Come for me. I wish to feel young again.” – Baron von Strucker
[image]
In this volume, Nick Fury and his Secret Warriors take on Baron von Strucker and HYDRA. Issue one does a great job setting things up for the remainder of the volume, and ends with a rather outrageous cliffhanger. If you've read Pax Romana or The Nightly News, you ought to be familiar with Hickman's meticulous writing style and vision. And while somewhat kept in check, he does indeed take that approach into Secret Warriors, still managing not to make things too overwhelming; if you can survive issue one, you'll have nothing to worry about for the remaining five issues.
[image] [image] [image]
Hickman really does nail the character of Nick Fury very well. This mastery is demonstrated in the very first issue, and only becomes more clear with subsequent ones. I think that most everyone who enjoys Secret Warriors would attribute much of that enjoyment to Fury, and fortunately, he's by far the most central of the protagonists. He's one of those characters you love to hate, but at the same time deeply respect. But this wasn't wholly a good thing; for me, I respected the guy so much that, with the exception of Daisy, the members of his Secret Warriors seemed juvenile and incompetent in comparison.
In reality, I've really enjoyed stories that feature main characters similar to the cast of Secret Warriors, and oddly enough, these are characters that I'd normally find no fault with. But in this context, the contrast was pronounced enough to be just slightly damaging, rather than very funny or cute. But I suppose that has its benefits; for one thing, at least this keeps Fury on his A game. Still, at the end of the day, I can appreciate the situation Fury has put these kids in, and understand if they're having difficulty shouldering, as Daisy puts it, "the burden of working for a badass."
[image] [image] [image] [image]
[image] [image] [image] [image]
And although the same sensationalized writing I've begun to associate with Hickman was more palatable this time around, it still comes off as pretentious and melodramatic at times. It worked extremely well for Pax Romana, and when it works here, which is most of the time, it's satisfying to read. You might be surprised how much quotable material lies in these six issues alone.
This has been my second reading of volume one, and this time around I've given it an extra half star. There's a lot to appreciate here, but just like so many other things out there, Secret Warriors ultimately suffered from too much compression of events. And the final battle was a bit of a let-down, considering all that went into its lead-up. But I'm cautiously optimistic; this is the first of six volumes for the series, and it managed to pull off four stars. With Hickman at the helm, I imagine that I might be really impressed with where he takes the story next......more
Story Synopsis: (view spoiler)[After Matthew Risman – leader of the Purifiers – infiltrates a S.H.I.E.L.D. base and steals what can only be assumed asStory Synopsis: (view spoiler)[After Matthew Risman – leader of the Purifiers – infiltrates a S.H.I.E.L.D. base and steals what can only be assumed as a very dangerous object, killing several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in the process. At Angel's Aerie – or Angel's home located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains – Cyclops updates Wolverine on these events. Cyclops explains that the only way the Purifiers have been able to accomplish so much against mutants without being noticed by S.H.I.E.L.D., is that they must have agents embedded in the organization and within the government, who have been covering up the vicious exploits of the extremist group. To fight against this threat, Cyclops reassembles the X-Force, and against Wolverine's vehement protests, includes Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair) and X-23 in the team roster. When Wolverine orders Rahne not to have anything to do with the team, for personal reasons, she decides to sneak away and hunt down Risman herself. Meanwhile, Risman and the Purifiers resurrect Bastion – a futuristic android dedicated to the eradication of mutantkind. Using X-23's intel, she, Wolverine, and Warpath break into the Purifier base, only to find themselves surrounded by Purifiers and Rahne chained and held at gunpoint by Risman.
After a feigned surrender, X-23 detonates an explosive, destroying much of the base and killing many Purifiers. Risman survives and is able to escape via helicopter. Back at the Aerie, Cyclops explains to Angel and the team that Rahne went after the purifiers to find her father (Reverend Craig) who she previously discovered had joined the Purifiers. At another Purifier base, Rahne is tortured and brainwashed, and Risman begins to have serious doubts about Bastion's ultimate vision for the group. Bastion implements his plan to recover Magus – a powerful techno-organic life-form – from the ocean and use it as a means to brainwash several influential anti-mutant figureheads, and draft them to his cause. It horrifies Risman that Bastion would even think to transform these people – all of whom he greatly respects – into monsters, but he keeps his disgust to himself, and makes plans with loyal Purifiers against Bastion. After slaughtering countless Purifiers and raiding their bases, Wolverine and his team are able to retrieve the location at which Rahne is being held. After they find her with a near-lethal dose of heroin in her system, she is taken back to the Aerie to be treated by fellow X-Man Elixir. While Warpath, Wolverine, and X-23 are outside, Wolfsbane has recovered, and regains consciousness. As a result of Craig's programming, she attacks Elixir and brutally rips Angel's wings off his body. When X-23 returns to the house, she prepares to fight Rahne, but – wishing to honor Wolverine's protective feelings towards Rahne – ultimately allows herself to be mauled, allowing Wolfsbane to escape and take the wings back to Risman. Without Bastion's knowledge, Risman uses the advanced particles found in Angel's wings to endow his trained men with sharp metallic wings, creating a deadly "choir" to combat Bastion and his mind-controlled puppets.
During the augmentation of Risman's men, Angel feels the pain of the process, and flies away from the Aerie after growing a layer of metal over his skin and newly-grown wings. In pain, and blinded by rage, Angel searches for the Purifiers, followed closely by the X-Force. After a bloody battle between Risman's choir and Bastion's Purifiers, and just as Risman prepares to kill Bastion, Angel and the X-Force drop in and start killing men from both sides of the dispute. Meanwhile, Wolfsbane escapes containment, and savagely kills Reverend Craig in a blind rage. During the massive battle, Eli – one of Risman's most trusted men – kills Magus after bonding with part of its essence. When Risman finds him, Eli reveals himself to be a monstrous creature who always intended to betray and kill the Purifiers. Suddenly, X-23 enters the room, killing Risman, and with the help of Warpath, causing Eli to retreat. Although the X-Force was able to kill most of the Purifiers and Risman's choir, some manage to escape, including Bastion and his puppets. While Rahne recovers from the psychological trauma of her recent experiences, Cyclops and Wolverine plan their next target. (hide spoiler)]
Book Info: This collection contains X-Force issues #1-6.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3+/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>
"This team is happening, Logan. You think I don't know the line I'm crossing? I do. This isn't X-Men work. This is X-Force. No one can know." – Cyclops
[image]
Although the first three issues read better than I remembered, my overall enjoyment of the volume as a whole hasn't changed since the first time I've read this. However, what has changed is that I now recognize a potential for this series that I had missed the first time around. For this reason, there may be many respectable readers out there who are able to enjoy this volume more than I, but in the end, it suffered from several flaws that held it back from being "good," rather than just "okay."
The X-Force is reintroduced as a covert arm of the X-Men, put together by Cyclops, ready to employ whatever methods necessary to neutralize any threat to the ever-dwindling mutant population. This team consists of some of the most deadly, badass, and emotionally damaged members of the X-Men. In Angels And Demons, Wolverine leads Warpath and X-23 against the mutant-hating Purifiers, and works to uncover whatever mysterious plan their leader has in store to rid the entire planet of mutantkind. If you have any knowledge of the members that make up X-Force's team roster, you'd know that Cyclops isn't fucking around, and gallons of blood will be spilled before the volume is up. If that sounds enticing to you, you're in luck, because Kyle certainly doesn't disappoint in that particular department.
[image] [image] [image] [image]
But oddly enough, it's actually the characters, rather than the action, that ends up stealing the show. To me, while he's not really among the most interesting of Marvel's heroes, Wolverine has a certain charm about him; it, in part, comes from the fact that although he feels fully justified to cross moral boundaries in a heartbeat for what he feels is the greater good, in his position as mentor and father figure for some of his younger teammates, he feels duty-bound to steer them all away from the same path that has consumed his humanity. But in the end, he submits to Cyclops' judgment and allows his younger and more innocent peers to join his ranks, which, not surprisingly, ends up having dire consequences.
[image] [image]
X-23's character is probably the most interesting; her clinical exterior hides a sliver of subdued humanity, and her struggle to please Wolverine by fostering that humanity against her better judgment is fascinating to watch. Meanwhile, Warpath serves as the conscience of the group, balancing out the natural bloodlust of Wolverine and X-23. So far, Wolfsbane is the most damaged of the lot, and as the story progresses, some very shocking revelations about her past are explored. And as Kyle explores the tensions that arise within the Purifiers once they fall under new leadership, it was surprising to see how this gradually unfolds, culminating in an unexpected way at the story's conclusion.
[image] [image]
So far, I've only discussed the good things about this volume, but at three stars, you'd think there must have been some bad as well, right? Well, for one thing, the artwork still remains a questionable fit. Because although it's visually striking, and helps to create the dread that is, for the most part, suitable for the story, scenes can get pretty difficult to interpret on certain panels. Another thing is that the story loses steam after the first two issues, and never regains it during the remaining four: from issue #3 and beyond, the story morphs from an action thriller to more of a political one, and Kyle was unable to revive the heart-pounding suspense that preceded it.
In addition, there's just too much shit going on in the story, and some of it just won't be nearly as familiar to newcomers (or even to moderately familiar readers) as it would be for very seasoned X-Men fans. For instance, there were at least two cliffhangers between issues that ended up pretty flat because I personally lacked the prior knowledge to discern their current significance. Finally, and even more damaging, the religious theme got feel a bit tedious with time, and kinda interfered with me getting more into the characters of the Purifiers, or being as captivated by their internal strife as I could have been. It's like, if only the villains weren't reduced to such stereotypical roles as religious zealots, they'd probably have been nearly as interesting as the heroes.
Considering the fact that X-Force isn't part of Marvel's MAX imprint, it's quite impressive to see how far it pushes moral boundaries, and just how brutal it's willing to be. In my experience, it's exceedingly rare to bump into a mainstream book that's like this, and I commend the writer(s) for accomplishing as much as they did here. So right now, I'm just hoping the creative team is able to smooth out these jagged edges, because I really think this is a comic that has everything it needs to be good. I guess I'll stick with it for another couple issues and see what they come up with. Just to be sure....more
Story Synopsis: (view spoiler)[Zack Anderson and his identical twin brother (Xander) were criminals who worked for a man known as Black Death (formerlStory Synopsis: (view spoiler)[Zack Anderson and his identical twin brother (Xander) were criminals who worked for a man known as Black Death (formerly Kenneth Lee). Doctor Lester, who also worked for him, took the twins at a young age and endowed them with superhuman abilities. One day, while the "Overkill Brothers" were on a mission, a group of armed men attacked them, killing Xander and wounding Zack. It is revealed that their boss attempted to have them both killed; Black Death was taken into custody a week prior, and instructed his men to kill anyone who might give up incriminating evidence against him. Upon his return to consciousness, Zack wakes up in the custody of the S.O.S. (Special Operations Service), run by Professor Zeppelin (at the time), and is taken into witness protection, put on a prescription of power-dampening drugs, and assigned a job as a file clerk. Some years later, Zack starts taking a special recreational drug that counteracts the inhibitory effects of the other drug. Because of this, Zack regains his abilities and secretly fights crime, attributing his increase in power to the possibility that his brother’s death may have transferred some of Xander’s power over to him. He begins to develop a sexual attraction to one of his coworkers (Amanda), and has developed a trusting friendship with another (Farmer). Meanwhile, one of Black Death’s men visits him in prison and notifies him that Doctor Lester has located Zack (who was previously thought to be dead), and they correctly deduce that he has been feeding the authorities information. Farmer soon figures out Zack’s secret, and threatens to tell the S.O.S. all about Zack’s nightly escapades unless he helps Farmer rob a bank. While Zack is in the process of figuring out a way to get away with killing him, Farmer has him engage in petty crimes that suit him, and once the two are in the process of discussing the bank job, two mid-level men working for Black Death locate Zack and take it upon themselves (against orders) to kill him. Farmer is killed in the crossfire, but Zack is able to outsmart and defeat both super-powered individuals, escaping the scene. In what appears to be Zack’s motel room, Zoe Zeppelin (Professor Zeppelin’s daughter) is waiting for him, and is able to subdue him. While being interrogated by her, Zack recalls learning that when the S.O.S. was run by Professor Zeppelin, captured agents working for Black Death were surgically brainwashed and turned to work for the S.O.S. According to Zack's recollection, Black Death was a survivor of such an operation. Zoe explains that she and the S.O.S. know about Zack's activities, so he is again put on the same drugs, and put back into his original role with the hopes of drawing out Black Death and his organization. Spiraling into a desperate paranoia and fearing for his safety, Zack begins planning his escape. But before he can do this, he's knocked around by Zoe, who, even in the face of the danger Zack is in, demands that he stay on course. She is suddenly incapacitated by Ava Destruction, one of Black Death's top field agents, who claims she has come to help Zack escape. Ava is a grown woman who's permanently stuck in the body of a sixteen-year-old, and former lover of Xander's. She takes Zack to a remote ski-lodge, the two get intimate, and Ava shares the secret history of the metahumans. She explains that over two hundred years ago, something that could have been an asteroid or alien ship crashed in New England, and escaped inmate Kenneth Lee became empowered upon contact with the object. Any of the current superpowered individuals are thought to be either descendants of people who came in contact with the object, or creations of genius scientists such as Doctor Lester and possibly Professor Zeppelin. The next day, the two of them head for an old facility that was used to conduct Project Overkill, where Ava intends to show Zack his other twin, as well as save herself from dying as a result of whatever biological alterations gave her powers. They find the twin is gone, and the two are captured and restrained by Doctor Lester, who explains that Zack is a clone of Lazarus (a metahuman killed by Black Death during WWII). Years ago, Zack and Xander were found among the bodies grown by Lazarus, which were all intended to house his own consciousness after previous bodies were used up. The final and unstable twin – Yuri – was hidden from the other two, and the doctor claims it was he who killed Xander. All this suggests that it was Lazarus (not the doctor) who gave Zack, Xander, or Yuri their abilities. Doctor Lester uses an energy beam to induce the rapid aging of Ava's body, but she is able to escape, kill the doctor, and free Zack. Due to the ageing, she dies soon after. Meanwhile, in order to frame Zack, Yuri has been tasked by Black Death's cult to engage on a huge killing spree at a City Hall building. Zack meets Zoe there, and the two of them work together to kill Yuri and his associates. Intrigued by the idea of killing people who actually deserve it (for a change), Zack meets Black Death in prison to let him know that he's prepared to fight anything sent his way. (hide spoiler)]
Book Info: This collection contains Incognito issues #1-6.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars} (Rounded Down)
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
[image]
Zack Anderson (formerly Zack Overkill) is a retired super-villain that's forced to give up his life of crime, eventually becoming an informant for the S.O.S. (a law enforcement agency). When the opportunity arises to creep back into his old life, he jumps at the chance, but inevitably, this is when things get complicated. On the run from both the S.O.S. and the Black Death – his former criminal boss – Zack fights to break free of his past, as well as mediate his hedonistic impulses in the face of his harsh, new-found reality.
As is the case for several books written by Brubaker, Incognito is a crime noir book, but it also classifies within the superhero genre. It's a thriller that offers action and suspense, but at the same time sets things up at a steady pace, revealing more and more background history to fill in the blanks with each issue. Although not as good a read as I had initially hoped, I was drawn in enough by the protagonist's eventual paranoia and desperation that I really enjoyed this starting from the first issue right up until its conclusion.
Considering Brubaker's level of talent as a writer, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that he's able to take a smug, jaded, and self-deprecating character such as Zack, and get you to like him; very early in the story, it's easy enough to and begin to care about him and his struggles. And it certainly doesn't hurt that Brubaker embeds him in a very well thought-out universe that's clearly ripe for expansion. It takes an exceptional level of care and commitment to invest as much effort in the plot as the writer does here – as well as in finding a way to present all the colorful characters in a credible and natural fashion – but it's easy to see how it paid off to deliver a product that so competently merges the genres of noir, sci-fi, and superhero fiction.
[image] [image] [image]
[image] [image] [image]
But honestly, I've seen him write deeper and more gripping characterizations. So it could just be that here, Brubaker very cleverly appeals to our personal experiences of loneliness and our longing for emotional connection, and facilitates just enough of a connection to hold our interest in the character, while sweetening the deal by placing him in a world filled with violence, sex, and drugs. It's more than a little sneaky and convenient an approach, but works about as well as I'm sure he intended it to.
[image] [image] [image]
[image]
In the end, what really kept this volume short of four full stars for me was probably a combination of two factors. If I had to list both of them in order of most to least damaging, I'd say they were as follows: (1) the undue attention (i.e. "panel space") given to less interesting secondary characters like Amanda, Farmer, and Doctor Lester; and (2) the excessively intricate backstories. The story rarely dragged whenever Zack was the focal point of the narrative, but these diversions contributed little, and started to add up in a bad way. I suppose the exposition and flashbacks were more interesting than the other characters, but it all actually turned out to be enough material for like two whole volumes stuffed into one! So unfortunately, the complexity did reach the point of diminishing returns, and there were quite a bit of additional little details that could just have easily been omitted without harm.
With Incognito, you get: mad scientists, flying cars, kickass/seductive women, and some satisfying action sequences. Plus, you get all this illustrated by Sean Phillips! I'm not convinced you can ever go wrong pairing his art with Brubaker's genius. In essence, consider this as a slightly watered-down Sleeper. Fortunately, most people who have read Sleeper could tell you it's more than good enough for that actually to be a compliment....more
Story Synopsis: (view spoiler)[Three weeks since the final events of the previous volume, we find Moses has remained in the new camp with Paul. It is Christmas time, and the weather is tremendously hot. On top of that, the camp's water supply is running dangerously low. Moses has not heard his inner voice since the ceremony, so he hasn't been feeling his usual violent inclinations. Unfortunately, he's thrown back into the thick of it when he is informed that the medicine supply contained in the camp's local clinic has been stolen by the LRC. Later that night, an elderly woman named Alice finds that her granddaughter has died in the middle of the night. She is told by the doctor that the infant died of malnutrition and sickness, but Alice blames the prostitute (Rose) who lives next to her, believing her to be a witch who cursed the baby. In an attempt to make peace between Alice and Rose, the doctor heads over to the part of the camp where both women reside. Things escalate, and the doctor is shot and killed. At this time, the perpetrator, or the proximate events that led up to the shooting cannot be seen by the readers' perspective. Alice cries over the doctor, and publicly condemns Rose for the camp's troubles, and attempts to rally the observing members of the camp to against Rose. As Moses continues to investigate the killing, a fire is spreading in the forest surrounding the village, and is expected to destroy all the huts. Also, Moses is slowly starting to hallucinate, sleepwalk, and psychologically break down. When returning to the clinic one night, he finds Jonathan Kern – a U.N. official who's ransacking the clinic to see if the medicine was falsely reported as missing. Moses attacks him, and forces him to divulge that he has a partner who is also concerned about the medicine and its whereabouts. In an attempt to find out more and control the situation, Moses tells Kern that he is the man who stole the medicine, and sends him out to speak with his partner about devising a deal for its return. Meanwhile, Sera enlists the help of Momolu Sengendo (a reporter) to help track down Moses. Back at the other camp, Rose confesses to Moses that she had been sleeping with Captain Kamalie Christian (leader of the UPDF soldiers guarding the camp), and explains that his plot to steal the medicine and sell it in exchange for guns was foiled, as the medicine was stolen the day before Kamalie could get his hands on it. When Moses forcefully confronts the Captain about it, it is revealed that Kamalie intended to use the guns (which were confiscated) he got from the transaction and sell it back to the rebels that they were confiscated from in the beginning. Moses becomes involved in the deal between Kamalie and Kern, and demands one-third of the acquired guns as payment for giving up the medicine. Moses figures out that it was Alice who stole the medicine, and she explains that she got wind of Kamalie's plot, and uses the camp's local defense league to bury the medicine early so that Kamalie couldn't get his hands on it. Because she knew the camp could always get more medicine, she too intended to sell it for guns, since the UPDF presence protecting the camp would soon leave them after the dry season. Moses is suddenly devestated as he remembers that his sleepwalking incidents have been caused by the return of his own alternate personality. Apparently, this drived him to learn (at an unconscious level) all about Kamalie and Alice's plot long before. Previously, and while under the influence of the other personality, he plots with Alice to keep the medicine for the camp, kill the Captain, and acquire the weapons to arm the local defense league. Moses was also the one who killed the doctor to prevent him from ruining the plan after Alice, in her distraught mental state after her granddaughter died, exposed everything. Rose is killed by an angry mob, and Moses is forced to leave Paul and the town. He's determined to stop the transaction by any means, and is able to use the packaging of the buried medicine to fool Kamalie into thinking that he's brought it with him; in reality it's still at the camp. At the site of the arms deal, Moses surprises everyone – his other personality included – when he destroys all the guns and kills Kamalie and his UPDF troops to prevent the guns from going back into circulation. He's chased into the desert by the remaining cattle raiders who were to be sold the weapons by Kamalie. Fortunately, Moses is able to mount a defense against the many waves of his attackers on top of a tall rock formation with the help of a small family and their cattle. In the end, Moses is almost overrun, but the CIA steps in to kill the leftover tribesmen, and intend to take Moses with them. (hide spoiler)]
Additional Notes: This collection contains Unknown Soldier issues #15-20.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {4/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
Although this volume starts off pretty slow, I was quite shocked to see that issue #17 ended with a WTF moment of almost the highest caliber. This was clearly a potential game-changer, and it really increased my interest in what was left of the Dry Season arc. It was quite impressive to see Dysart so skillfully build on the small hints that were given throughout the story in order to present a climatic revelation. But overall, I remain skeptical of the decision to include such a story in the series; it isn't really consistent with what has come before, and I'm sure something much better to take up the first four issues could have been worked out, while still including a similar plot twist. The remaining two issues were decent, but certainly not enough to push this above the four-star mark.
By this time, the cracks in Moses' sanity are beginning to become too large to hold his psyche together. This is made clear numerous times in the volume, and this was a good thing (for me, the reader) but it really got me thinking about my initial expectations for the series after the first volume, as well as how it hasn't yet lived up to its full potential. So far, due to the involvement of others, I feel that not enough emphasis has been placed on Moses' individual character. Because of this, his descent into madness can merely be enjoyed, rather than savored. I'm just much more interested seeing things from the perspective of Moses, compared to that of any of the secondary characters involved. If it isn't able to deliver this, I'm hoping the final volume at least picks back up to what I've come to expect from Unknown Soldier. I can live with that, I guess....more
Yet another woBook Info: This collection contains Invincible Iron Man issues #501-503.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>
Yet another wobbly volume for the series. I'm becoming a little concerned at this point. I want Fraction to stop messing around, and go back to what made this series so appealing in the first place. And I would much rather do without any more backstory at the end of these issues, at least if they're illustrated by Chaykin. I remember skipping an entire Captain America issue he drew after reading just one or two pages.
Alone, the three central issues in the arc involving Doc Ock were good enough to get a rating of 3.5. It certainly had its charm, and although Octavius came off as somewhat silly, he still managed to be quite formidable. But like I just said, he was silly, and this – coupled with Tony's blatant teasing (right in Otto's face) and the petty involvement of two other villains – made more of a mockery of heroes like Spider-Man than it did for the villains. I found that both amusingly peculiar and depressing at the same time.
The Rescue one-shot was cute, but certainly disappoints when held against Fraction's writing standard. I recently read Osborn (also written by DeConnick), and was very pleasantly surprised by her writing ability. The Rescue story doesn't really do that justice, but then again, I'm hardly ever impressed by one-shots; they're most often too short to be good. Still, I've often found that female comic writers struggle a bit to write at the same level as their male counterparts (especially when writing about male characters). Or at least they almost never are able to satisfy me to any comparable extent....more
During my first Book Info: This collection contains Invincible Iron Man issues #20-24.
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>
During my first attempt at reading this a couple months ago, I actually gave up and moved on to the next volume. But I decided to go back for two reasons: (1.) I wanted to see if I made a premature assessment of the quality of the arc – especially due to the fact that the user average rating is pretty much consistent with previous volumes, and (2.) I told myself that I had discipline enough to finish this (since I stopped halfway through), and it might prove more beneficial to read and make sure I didn't miss anything noteworthy.
Although in hindsight I should have seen that Fraction was off to a wobbly start, and expected some missteps, issue #20 (the best issue of the bunch) had me very optimistic. I really don't understand how people who've read the previous volumes could say that this holds up to that standard. It just doesn't. There isn't too much by way of compelling character moments – although it's clear Fraction tries to create some throughout – and the closest you get to that is at the beginning with Pepper. But the outburst that led to her brief, self-pitying inner monologue seems unnatural, and contrived only as a way to distinctly communicate to readers that she is the kind of independent woman who is quite likely to become a painful yet central complication in Tony's life; this is an understandable tactic, but didn't do enough to connect me with her as a character. And this whole dream-like struggle Tony was having in his head while unconscious wasn't very good at all. It was curious at best, but mostly just tedious and somewhat formulaic. And this ordeal concludes with a corny and imaginary encounter where Stark denounces his old self, and promises to change. Well maybe "corny" is a bit harsh, but it was preachy, and felt a bit rushed (as does much of the story). I think Fraction could have made it an effective character moment if only it did not occur in Tony's silly dream. Essentially, this story suffered from the absence of the true Tony Stark. Seeing him that whiny and pathetic was not an enticing tease for his inevitable return, and rather got to be pretty damn frustrating (and not in a good way). Simply put, the payoff doesn't easily justify the effort.
After having read this, and looking back at the events that transpired here, I think I get where Fraction was coming from, and how he could have thought this would be an interesting arc. And by implication I can forgive the otherwise intelligent readers, some of whom I respect, for rating this as highly as they did. By now, Fraction has proven to me that he's a better writer than this, and I can't figure out how he managed to get this one to turn out the way it did. It was a failed attempt at an epic resurrection story, and just turned out "okay." To those of you who – like me – were disappointed by this volume: don't worry; things do pick back up again....more
This one packs quite a punch in under 50 pages. It's just another reminder that Ennis must be the most capable Punisher writer of all time. He will truly be missed here....more
Sorry, that person's shelf is private.
Loading...
