C.O.W.L. #3 – Review

By: Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel (writers), Rod Reis (art)

The Story: Never cross a picket line or an underappreciated woman.

The Review: Radia is a very different member of C.O.W.L. From the first scene of the series, it’s been clear that Kathryn’s power set is distinct from her partners’. In a world of photon guns and energy blasts, Radia’s telekinesis is a powerful and nuanced ability. Ever since she ended the Chicago Six, she’s been the character to watch, in my eyes.

Oh, and she’s the tactical division’s only woman. In fact, she’s the only woman we’ve seen within the league.

If there’s been a weakness in C.O.W.L. so far, it’s probably been that the world feels a little too big for this format. There are so many characters and the pace is, if not decompressed, measured. Engrossing as the series has been, there’s been a gnawing anticipation for the moment when we get the chance to really meet these characters. That’s what makes this issue’s spotlight on Radia so satisfying.

Higgins and Siegel’s dialogue has a natural pop to it, the kind that usually marks good TV. Each line knows just how long it can hold your attention and conveys crucial information without ever feeling like exposition. Admittedly, some readers will probably roll their eyes at the obliviousness of some characters’ ignorance, but I expect if you actually ask a woman’s opinion, they’ll feel that it’s far more true to life than you expect. And, of course, this is the early 60s, so magnify that a couple times.

Magneto #6 – Review

By: Cullen Bunn (writer), Javier Fernandez (artist), Dan Brown (color artist)

The Story: The Marauders; or, The Modern Prometheus.

The Review: If you’re like me and have, at some point, sought a summary of the complicated mess that is X-Men continuity you’ve probably heard of the Marauders. The villains of the highly successful 1986 crossover “Mutant Massacre”, the Marauders name has long carried connotations of power and sheer black-hearted villainy. The group decimated the peaceful Morlocks, nearly killed Kitty Pryde, forced Colossus to kill before paralyzing him, and cost Angel his wings. The massacre of the Morlocks was long held up as one of the few long-lasting tragedies of the Marvel universe, before finally being eclipsed by bigger and more recent events like the destruction of Genosha or M-Day.

The Marauders have escaped true retribution thanks to their fairly unique ability to be cloned back to life by Mister Sinister, but Magneto’s decided to change that. What follows is a roaring rampage of death and destruction through the ranks of the Marauders that highlights just how vicious Magneto can be when properly motivated. As Bunn introduces a weapon so natural for Magneto that it’s almost shocking that it hasn’t become a staple of the character, Erik whispers, “I discovered how it could be used to slip past your defenses[…]the third time I killed you.”

Though we’ve been conditioned to only acknowledge the elements of violence actively considered by the story, it’s hard to overlook just how frightening Magneto is here. In one of the most interesting lines of the issue, Bunn affirms that there is no continuity between the different lives of the Marauders. While I’m personally fascinated by what changes and remains consistent between clones, this moment humanizes some of the worst that Marvel’s mutants have to offer and reminds us that each time Magneto catches up with them it is murder.

The way I describe it there, the issue sounds a bit like torture porn, and maybe it is. Nevertheless, while the book has more than earned the small parental advisory notice on its front cover Cullen Bunn does have a method to his madness. Bunn uses Magneto’s monologues to distract not only from the gruesome deeds his protagonist commits but from the dramatic arc he’s crafting throughout the issue.