Secret Warriors #28 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Alessandro Vitti (art), IFS (colors), and Dave Lanphear (letters)

The Story: 27 issues have led to this, the final issue of Secret Warriors.  Who’s left standing?

What’s Good:  As a final issue that came over 30 issues to soon, Hickman plays this one well.  There aren’t any other slam-bang events of climactic moments in this final outing.  Indeed, it’s important to recall that this was actually a “bonus issue,” and it certainly feels that way.  This functions as a sort of epilogue to Secret Warriors, and I’m really happy that it is, as were Secret Warriors to have ended last month, it would have been a disservice to the series.

In fact, this issue made me all the grumpier about Secret Warriors abbreviated run and consequently overly compressed story.  The series would have been a lot better served if it had more issues like this one.  You get strong character moments and time for the characters to reflect on and soak in recent events.  Instead of crazily rushing through big events, here we have characters able to outline the gravity of everything that’s happened.

The end result is that in retrospect, Secret Warriors ends up feeling less haphazard than it often was.  This epilogue manages to cast the series in better light, one that almost lured me into re-reading the entire run to see if it holds together better in such a format.  Hickman manages to retroactively inject more emotion into his story and its characters than we’ve often gotten.  It’s unfortunate, but in this epilogue, Secret Warriors is allowed to truly breathe for the first time in a while, and it’s elegant and affecting.

Secret Warriors #23 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Alessandro Vitti (art), IFS (color), and Joe Caramagna (letters)

The Story: John Garrett tells Druid he’s not done and trains him to reach his true potential.

What’s Good: It’s great to see Sebastian back.  He was always my favourite of the Caterpillars, as I found him to be likable and the most relatable.  He’s a cool character with a lot of untapped power and I’ve been looking forward to this issue ever since Alexander’s prophecy about him being a great hero.

And really, watching the transformation process here is a treat.  It’s really fun to see Druid go from portly, incompetent dude to spec ops badass.  Jonathan Hickman also pulls no punches when it comes to Druid’s power levels here; once trained, he does some truly amazing, “holy shit” type stuff.

The bond between Garrett and Druid is also a good one and happily fulfills the always-enjoyable gruff teacher/student lacking self-confidence dynamic as Garrett cuts to the heart of Druid’s psychology.  In many ways, I think Druid’s story here is wish fulfillment for many readers here.  Hickman’s work has often been about defying limitations, and while these limitations are often cosmic in scope, here we see him applying the same message to personal limitations.  Basically, if you want to be in shape, work out.  If you want to be good at your job, apply yourself.  And if you want to be a badass, learn to believe in yourself.  It’s the sort of message, and narrative, that is easy for a reader to get behind and it’s hard not to love Druid even more afterward.

Alessandro Vitti delivers what you’ve come to expect from him, and his depiction Druid’s power is impressive.  More than that though, I was especially impressed by Vitti’s depiction of Druid’s physical transformation.  After his training, he’s not ripped or anything, but it’s clear he’s a different guy and that he’s in shape.  Despite that though, Vitti makes it clear that the character is still most definitely Sebastian.  It’s no mean feat to so dramatically change a character’s body type while keeping him completely recognizable.

Secret Warriors #22 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Alessandro Vitti (art), IFS (colors), and David Lanphear (letters)

The Story: Nick Fury and the Secret Warriors try to make good their escape from a soon-to-explode Gehenna.

What’s Good: I’ve made it no secret that the Night arc has been dismal thus far and a low-point for the series as a whole.  It made me question whether Hickman had let the series get too unwieldy for him to control and I couldn’t help but worry that we were heading to an unsatisfying, possibly haphazard ending.  Thankfully, Hickman does his very best to right the ship this month and ends up churning out a very good issue of Secret Warriors, one that’s probably better than it had any right to be.

Hickman makes the wise decision of letting his character’s emotions take center-stage over the fighting and running.  What results is a comic that steers far clear of the mediocrity that it could have fallen into.  Instead, we have a book that’s sincere and, for the team, traumatic.  Daisy and Nick’s reactions to Alexander’s death last month are simply expressed, but effective and the bonds between these kids are emphasized even under these hectic circumstances.

What really steals the show this month, however, is an event that is absolutely shocking, perhaps one of the biggest jaw-droppers in a series that’s been full of them.  I won’t even hint at what it is, but suffice it to say that Hickman writes a very tense scene and conversation that leads us one way, before dropping us in the complete opposite direction.  Nick Fury has never been more of an ice-cold badass and Jonathan Hickman has balls of steel.  This was the most shocking moment of any comic I’ve read this month, and I’ll leave it at that.

But it’s not just this one scene that carries the comic; much like his new issue of Fantastic Four, Hickman actually gets a lot done this month, story-wise and at a perhaps uncharacteristic speed.  JT’s betrayal of the team reaches its head and, perhaps, its resolution and the fate of Gehenna is decided.  Meanwhile, very interesting new plots are opened up: Daisy is placed in a very tough emotional situation and a power struggle for HYDRA’s top spot looks to begin, as Baron Strucker takes a stiff left hook.

Secret Warriors #21 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Mirko Colak & Alessandro Vitti (art), Andres Mossa & IFS (colors), and Dave Lanphear (letters)

The Story: Nick Fury and the kids try to make good their escape and Phobos clashes katanas with Gorgon.

What’s Good: This issue is basically one gigantic action scene or, more accurate, one extended escape attempt.  As such, the book has a fast, frenetic pace that really feels frantic and desperate.  In that sense, it’s a fun, exciting, and easy read.  Don’t expect to have your brain challenged, but this is basically Jonathan Hickman going Michael Bay on us without tumbling cars in the air.

There’s also a really cool sword fight at the end of the issue that is genuinely epic.  The conclusion of it was breath-taking, leading to a really big ending for the issue and a really important event for the series, unless we’re being baited.

Part of the reason this sword fight is so enjoyable is Hickman’s use of Phobos’ prophetic abilities, which also lends a very engaging tone to the entire issue.  Fury’s escape route’s being dictated on the fly by Alex and what he has “seen” was both effective and foreboding.

Secret Warriors #20 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Mirko Colak (art), IFS (colors), and Dave Lanphear (letters)

The Story: The series’ conclusion looms in site as Nick Fury initiates the assault on Gehenna.

What’s Good: Jonathan Hickman does a solid job this month of establishing the scope of the current status quo in Secret Warriors.  As things come together, it is abundantly clear that there is a war going on, and it’s huge, finally exploding outward in a big way, no longer capable of being kept in the shadows.  Everything that’s made the series all cloak-and-dagger boils over in a big way.

Mirko Colak’s art does in many ways help to establish this feel.  The opening few pages are haunting in the gravity of the destruction they convey.  There’s a disquieting sense of silence and desolation despite the explosions illustrated and a grim, desperate feel throughout.

Secret Warriors #8 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Alessandro Vitti (art), Sunny Gho (colors), and Dave Lanphear (letters)

The Story: The kids get stuck in front of Norman, Hawkeye, and Ares.

What’s Good: This month’s issue in the always solid Secret Warriors was a bit of a jump in quality from last month’s book, and that’s largely due to two big surprises.

First off is Norman Osborn/Dark Reign’s presence.  Often cringe-worthy whenever he shows up to disrupt a book, Hickman writes him amazingly well and manages to load Osborn’s scenes with such a malevolent intensity, that it seeps off the page.  Norman’s monologue to Nick Fury about his rise and Nick’s respective fall pinpointed what Dark Reign should be about and this scene really showed the potential that this status quo can have, if used properly.  Osborn was fantastic, written perfectly, and his presence actually enhanced a book for once.

The second surprise is Alessandro Vitti’s art.  Vitti still isn’t Casselli, but he felt a lot more comfortable this month, feeling more consistent in style and detail.  Sunny Gho’s change of heart aids this significantly.  Last month, it felt like Gho had worked the colors to make Vitti’s art as similar to Casselli’s as possible, which invited unflattering comparisons and ultimately exposed Vitti’s weaknesses.  This month, Gho actually adds colors more appropriate to Vitti’s style, and the book is the better for it.  Gone is the gloss and sheen, and in its place is a lot of darkness and shadow, making this feel like more of a cloak-and-dagger spy comic than the all-out action of Casselli’s arc.  As such, Vitti’s work finally manages to shine on its own, working with the more subdued, less action-intensive story, while evoking a different sort of Japanese/anime influence.

The other big hit this month is Phobos.  It’s always great to see a character, especially a kid character, act like a badass and show his superpowered muscle.  His interplay with his father, Ares, was also well-done.  Hickman avoids any possible overwriting and goes minimalist, making the interaction between the two speak volumes as a result.

Outside of Phobos, we also get some solid character moments and promising new issues for the Caterpillars and a mandatory “Nick Fury is a badass” scene.

What’s Not So Good: It’s better and he’s standing on his own, but Vitti’s art still isn’t perfect.  While he hits far more than he misses, this is particularly noticeable in some of his facial expressions, which can feel a bit off, strange even.

There’s also the Nick Fury scene.  While funny, this was so detached from the rest of the book, that I wondered how necessary it really was, aside from its fulfilling the need to have Fury in every issue of Secret Warriors.  Worse still, it felt a little too stretched out and decompressed.

Conclusion: This book is at its best when the kids are at the forefront, as they are this month.  Though still not perfect, Vitti is also coming into his own.

Grade: B+

-Alex Evans

Secret Warriors #7 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Alessandro Vitti (art), Sunny Gho (colors), and Dave Lanphear (letters)

The Story: Fury and the Caterpillars get some much needed funding and Baron Strucker asks for help from a surprising source.

What’s Good: The opening sequence of the issue, which sees Fury and the Caterpillars pulling off an old-fashioned bank heist, is easily one of the best scenes of the series thus far. It’s definitely my personal favourite, anyway. It’s just flat-out cool and sees nice touches of characterization as well. It also reminds me just how much more attached I am to the kids than I am with the older Howling Commandos. It’s great to see them being the badasses and the focus for the second issue in a row.

Hickman also continues to write a perfect Nick Fury. Gruff and uncompromising, Fury this month again shows a sense of humor in his unwavering resolve, even if that humor comes at the expense of the kids.

JT, and Alex in particular, are also given some needed characterization this issue. JT provides the usual humor, while Alex is a fun character, as “wise beyond their years” children always are. In just a couple of pages of dialogue, Hickman makes these two incredibly likable in a light-hearted way.

I also enjoyed the conversation between the Baron and Osborn. Hickman gives a good sense of the war of egos going on here, and apparently the term “it takes one to know one” applies to megalomaniacal sociopaths as well. Seeing Strucker and Osborn call each other out for their obvious failings was fun and fresh.

What’s Not So Good: Stefano Casselli isn’t drawing this. Alessandro Vitti’s art is very good overall, but coming after Casselli, it’s hard not to be extra critical of his work here.

That said, there are some obvious “first issue jitters” for Vitti. Several characters, Daisy and Osborn in particular, look different from panel to panel. Nastasha Romanoff also just doesn’t look quite like Natasha Romanoff.

Vitti’s style also shows some difficulties as well. When drawing close-ups, his work is absolutely outstanding. However, the moment the camera pans out, so to speak, there is a huge drop in detail. It’s as though Vitti puts in a huge amount of work for his close-ups, only to slack off on the other panels. At times, it’s as though the guy doing the close-ups is a different artist. It’s certainly very odd.

Furthermore, while I enjoyed the dynamic of Strucker and Osborn’s conversation, I’m still not entirely certain how Strucker is getting Osborn to do his bidding. The logic here is a little hazy and it’s never exactly clear why Osborn actually decides to help Strucker. Also, I had no idea we were entering a full-fledged crossover with the Thunderbolts; I’m a bit burned out on crossovers at the moment, and I doubt I’m the only one.

Conclusion: It’s still a good issue and a fantastic comic, but it’s hard not to see this as a transitional comic, setting up a crossover and a Dark Reign-related conflict. It’s a book that’ll read better as a chapter in a trade. Also, Vitti, while good, isn’t in Casselli’s league.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

Secret Warriors #6 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Stefano Caselli (art), Daniele Rudoni (colors), and Dave Lanphear (letters)

The Story: The Caterpillars join the battle between the Howling Commandos, HYDRA, and HAMMER.  Meanwhile, HYDRA takes possession of a mysterious box.

What’s Good: Whelp, the Caterpillars are back and I’m a happy man. Some might say that there isn’t enough time spent on individual character development, but for Hickman, that time isn’t necessarily needed. One conversation later between Daisy and Fury, and Daisy grows exponentially as a character. Even when characters only get a single line here and there, Hickman does the most with those little bubbles. His grasp of his characters is so solid, that even isolated, seemingly throwaway lines carry unique personality.

Of course, one character that no one can complain about is Nick Fury himself. The mastery over Fury’s voice never fails to impress with its grit and nuance, a heady mix of salt, vinegar, and dry-as-vermouth humor.  Whether he’s disarming a whole mess of HAMMER troops or giving Daisy a reality check, Hickman has created a Fury that you both love and respect; and that’s exactly the way it should be. For these reasons, the afore mentioned conversation with Daisy is a highpoint; when he compliments her, it truly resonates, yet as always, Nick Fury always knows more than you do, whether you’re a member of his team or a reader of his book.

It would have been all too easy for Hickman to make this issue entirely devoted to the battle, but that would be far too straightforward  for this spybook.  While giving adrenaline junkies the fix they need, Hickman also provides further mysteries with a new, now HYDRA-owned artifact. The artifact continues the trend in this book of things always being bigger than they seem, or at least of there always being something bigger/worse looming around the corner.  As big as the battle is, there’s always something else going on behind the scenes that’s scarier than what you’re looking at.  And as for the ending of the book?  Let’s just say that my jaw just about hit the floor while my eyebrows hit the ceiling.

It’s hard to give Stefano Caselli and Daniele Rudoni enough praise for their work on Secret Warriors. It’s obvious that Caselli’s work is that of a perfectionist, with its level of detail, heavy inks, and distinct without being overwhelming Japanese influences. I  love Caselli’s action scenes, which are fluid, dynamic, and hard-hitting and, thanks to Rudoni, serve as a brightly lit contrast to the dark, greyed out scenes in the bowels of Fury’s base.  This is the best looking book Marvel is currently putting out, and this issue provides further proof of that argument.

What’s Not So Good: I guess the only complaint I have is not getting more frames of seeing the Helicarriers in action or really getting any idea at all of the impact they had on the battle.  Their activation is meant to be a moment that turns the tide of the battle, and yet we don’t really see their weapony in action, or at least their effect.  A couple more frames would’ve been nice.

Conclusion: Forget Dark Avengers, this is the real blockbuster.

Grade: A-

-Alex Evans