Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 – Review

By Mark Waid (Writer), Kenneth Rocafort (Art), and Sunny Gho of IFS (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The great looking first issue of Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer definitely started things off on the right foot for the Mark Waid and Kenneth Rocafort mini-series. Though Waid used a tried-and-true formula to set up the crossover, I found myself appreciating it because I’m fairly new to both the Cyberforce and the Hunter-Killer stuff. Sure, they were in that Fusion mini-series with the Avengers that I reviewed, but it was hard to really get a bead on the teams with so many characters running around.

The Story: Ellis desperately tries to smooth things over between Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer as he reveals the truth behind Morningstar and his connection with the Cyberdata Corporation.

What’s Good: The main reason you should pick up Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 is because Kenneth Rocafort is just so damned good at what he does. His work may look gritty and rough at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it’s hard to deny how sleek and sexy Rocafort’s style is, especially when it comes to his character work. And thankfully, as far as the art is concerned, Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 isn’t a case of style over substance in any way (though, thanks a great deal to Sunny Gho’s color choices, it is definitely stylish). Rocafort’s action scenes are dynamic (I really like how he handles Velocity’s powers), his attention to detail is mighty impressive (seriously, check out the panels that feature some sort of complex technology), and his smooth storytelling is complimented by some slick panel layouts.

So the artwork is quite kick-ass in the second Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer issue. How about the writing? Mark Waid does a nice job of handling the necessary exposition while moving both teams forward towards an interesting enough goal. In particular, I really like the “Jett” technology concept that’s revealed to be driving the overall plot. Also worth mentioning is the dialogue that’s exchanged between Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer. Waid nails the tension, yet also tosses in some sharp, surprisingly funny lines to keep things from feeling overly serious or pretentious.

What’s Not So Good: I’ve only got one complaint about the artwork and one complaint about the writing. The negative thing about the artwork is that occasionally backgrounds look a bit plain, bland, and sterile. It’s not such a big deal, but it’s noticeable enough to mention. The negative thing about the writing is that there’s no avoiding the sense that a portion of the book is dedicated to an information dump. It’s necessary for the plot, yet it feels a bit clunky.

Conclusion: Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 is well worth picking up. Kenneth Rocafort’s artwork is great and Mark Waid’s definitely got some cool ideas driving the story along.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 – Review

By Mark Waid (Writer), Kenneth Rocafort (Art), and Sunny Gho of IFS (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll admit to not being all that familiar with either Cyberforce or Hunter-Killer. Truth be told, it is the creative team that got me to pick up the first issue of the heavily hyped Top Cow mini-series.

The Story: The Hunter-Killer team, working to track down other Ultra-Sapiens, launches an attack on Cyberforce. As it turns out, the members of Hunter-Killer may have bitten off more than they can chew.

What’s Good: Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 is really welcoming to new readers, which is a good thing because it’s a book you’re probably not going to want to miss once things really start rolling. Right from the odd opening, writer Mark Waid lays down a solid foundation for a crossover while doing a nice job of introducing both teams (and the universe they exist in) that are going to be fighting and (probably) joining forces for the greater good. The artwork by Kenneth Rocafort, meanwhile, manages to be gritty, sexy, and stylish all at once without ever failing to tell a story (for the most part). Rocafort’s work makes Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 look truly unique and almost worth the price of admission alone.

What’s Not So Good: You’ve read Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 before. I don’t mean that literally, but I mean it in the sense that it feels exactly like almost every other crossover that’s come before it. The stage is set, the teams are introduced, there’s some revelation, and then…uh oh…to be continued. You’ve seen it before, you’ve read it before, and there’s no getting around that fact. Now, that’s not to say that the formula doesn’t work, because it does. It still warrants a mention though, so that’s why I bring it up.

Conclusion: If you can get pass the generic “beginning to a crossover” feel that dominates the book, Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 is well-worth checking out. Mark Waid’s got some cool ideas in play and Kenneth Rocafort’s work deserves to get noticed.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny