Agents of Atlas Vol. 1 – Review

By Jeff Parker (writer), Carlos Pagulayan (artist), Jason Paz (inker), Jana Schirmer (colorist)

Following Norman Osborn’s rise to power and abuse of the peacekeeping organization now known as H.A.M.M.E.R., James Woo and his comrades use the vast resources of the Atlas Foundation, the criminal empire Woo was destined to control, and take the only course of action that make sense to them.

They become the bad guys.

Although “Dark Reign” has been a largely an underwhemling storyline, it has nonetheless produced a handful of incredibly fun, inventive comics, of which Agents of Atlas has proven to be one of the best.  This assemblage of D-list sci-fi heroes from the 50’s first caught peoples’ attention with Parker’s 2006 miniseries, and enough people noticed to sanction the release of this ongoing series, which has thus far defied description with its deft blend of spy, superhero, and science fiction genres.

At the heart of this quirky comic is genuinely wonderful characterization that resonates through every page.  Under Parker’s guidance, the Agents of Atlas are written with great intelligence and gusto.  You can tell from the nonchalant way members interact with each other and the seeming ease with which they oppose the Marvel Universe that this is a team of old, dear friends that have been in the superhero business for longer than most; an advantage that has enabled them to find all kinds of clever ways to bend and sometimes break the rules in pursuit of their agenda.  In fact, Woo and his allies seem more like super-powered con artists than artists, walking a perilous line between order and chaos as they methodically work a long con that would make Paul Newman and Robert Redford grin with pride.

Being able to maintain such consistently strong writing over the six issues that comprise this graphic novel, while at the same time weaving in plot threads from “Dark Reign” as well as integrating the Agents into mainstream Marvel continuity, is a monumental task. Yet Parker pulls it off with ease and still finds time to make every issue entertaining.

If I have one critique of this title so far, it’s with the nauseating use of flashback sequences.  These moments were clearly designed to highlight the Agents’ past missions over the years as well as recount times when they have brushed up against mainstream Marvel society.  In theory I think that’s a fine idea and it opens the title up to a wealth of new stories that they can’t otherwise tell in current continuity.  However, in practice so far I have found these segments to be irritating and of little relevance to the rest of the comic.  Going forward, I would prefer to see any flashback sequences expanded in standalone issues or annuals where they can still be enjoyed, but not at the expense of the main storyline.

One disappointing thing with this volume was the included Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #1, an oversized issue in Marvel’s youth orientated line that was included here seemingly for no other reason than to increase the book’s page count (and because it happened to feature the Agents of Atlas).  Why couldn’t these pages have instead been used to include, say, Parker’s script to the first issue, or samples of Pagulayan’s original pencils and character sketches?  I always found that the extra features that highlighted the creative process were so much more interesting than wasteful filler issues. I strongly advise Marvel to consider such measures in the release of future graphic novels.

Other than that, it’s hard not to love the hell out of this book.  The art of Pagulayan, Paz, and Schirmer is lush and dynamic, as it captures perfectly all the bizarre nuances that is making this book such a critical success.  Whether you choose to buy this comic in monthly issues or graphic novels, Agents of Atlas is an entertaining story that will not disappoint.

Grade:  B+

-Tony Rakittke

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter – Review

By Darwyn Cooke (writer and artist) from a novel by Richard Stark

In 1962, author Donald Westlake (writing under the pen name Richard Stark) took the world of crime fiction by storm with the creation of his most enduring legacy, the ruthless antihero Parker.  A professional heistman and contemptible bastard, Parker’s nearly fifty-year crime spree has entertained fans through books and movies, and now for the first time his exploits are being translated into a series of four graphic novels by Darwyn Cooke and IDW.

Based on Westlake’s first book in the series (and produced in collaboration with Westlake, who unfortunately died before this graphic novel was released) Cooke’s translation of The Hunter is an amazingly faithful piece of storytelling; and Cooke’s retro-styled artwork has never seemed more appropriate than on a story like this.

In 1960s New York City, Parker storms across the Brooklyn Bridge like a vicious force of nature hellbent on destruction.  A consummate professional criminal, Parker has used his mind as well as his fists to build a reputation for himself as the guy who’ll get the job done no matter what.  Driven by blind, relentless determination, he crosses the country in pursuit of the almighty dollar, and has no problem lying, cheating, stealing, and killing to get what he wants.

The day Mal Resnick came into his life with the offer of a sweet score, a tiny voice in Parker’s head warned him against buying into things that sound too good to be true, but Parker disregarded it and took the job anyway.  The job was a success and Parker was $45,000 richer, but there was one thing he didn’t plan for.  Turns out Resnick owed a huge sum of money to the national crime syndicate he was desperate to rejoin.  So desperate, in fact, that he was willing to manipulate Parker’s wife into helping him kill Parker and take his cut of the money to repay Resnick’s debts.  They thought they had killed Parker.  They thought they had gotten away with his money.  They were wrong, and now Parker’s in town looking for payback.

Fan of stories like Ed Brubaker’s Criminal will strongly appreciate and identify with this book, which is understandable as Parker is one of crime fiction’s most notorious and beloved characters.  Cooke’s art perfectly captures the style of the times; every panel is saturated with a deadly, suave coolness that only the best in crime fiction can call their own.  This is a dense graphic novel, although sometimes to the detriment of the story as text, dialogue, and panels can sometimes fight for space on the page.  I thought that to be a minor complaint though, and one easily overshadowed by how exhilarating the story proved to be.

Delighting in Parker’s quest for revenge is the ultimate guilty pleasure.  You know full well that Parker is as much a villain as the gangsters he’s hunting down, and yet you can’t help but root for him to succeed because part of you would love to be just like him, taking command of your life in a way that only he can.  This is one graphic novel that needs to be on your bookshelf.  Not to be missed!

Grade: A

-Tony Rakittke

The Invincible Iron Man Vol 2: World’s Most Wanted HC – Review

By Matt Fraction (writer), Salvador Larroca (artist), Frank D’Armata (colorist)

On the run, depowered, and dethroned from the seat of power he built in Civil War and held through Secret Invasion, Tony Stark is now the world’s most wanted man; compliments of his usurper, Norman Osborn.  Through a complex series of lies, executions, and skillful manipulations, Osborn has assumed control of all the trophies of Stark’s once formidable power and corrupted them in his own image.  S.H.I.E.L.D. has now become H.A.M.M.E.R., Stark’s Mighty Avengers have become Osborn’s Dark Avengers, and even Stark’s Iron Man costume has been cruelly transfigured into Osborn’s Iron Patriot armor. But such symbols are just that, and Osborn is hungry for something more meaningful; namely, the superhuman registration database Stark compiled following the events of Civil War. The same database Osborn is enraged to discover is residing in Stark’s brain! The stage is set and the hunt is on as Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca take us on the first half of their greatest epic to date in “World’s Most Wanted”.

And that’s right, I said this graphic novel only represents the first half of the story.  When the dust settles and all is said and done, this epic will clock in at a massive twelve issues, practically unheard of anymore.  Because this is such a deliberately paced story, this volume has the tendency to feel slow at times. The emphasis here is primarily on Stark, his girls Pepper Potts, and Maria Hill, and their attempts at evading the relentless Osborn and his vast, newly-hijacked empire. In Osborn, Stark has found his most formidable and compelling villain since the Mandarin, and he seems much more appropriate here in the pages of Iron Man than he ever did in Amazing Spider-Man. Osborn is truly a dark personification of Stark and a corruption of everything we admire about Tony; and one of those central themes to the story has been to remind us why the man inside the Iron Man armor remains one of Marvel’s greatest heroes.

Of course, a hero is only as effective as his teammates, and Stark is graced here to have Potts and Hill as allies. Fraction skillfully writes these two as fiercely intelligent, strong women who are both committed to keeping Stark safe at all costs.

Fraction has never been better as a writer than he is on this title, (except when he was writing Casanova, which sadly seems to have fallen to the wayside) one of the few under Marvel that has maintained consistent quality month after month. Even more surprising is how Fraction has taken the utter mediocrity of “Dark Reign”, filtered it through this title, and inexplicably made the event storyline far better than it has any right to be.

On all levels, this is stellar entertainment and a beautifully-produced book. The pencils of Salvador Larroca and colors of Frank D’Armata are incredibly gorgeous to behold, and I’m tempted to follow these two wherever their next projects may take them. Slick and polished lines pop off these glossy graphic novel pages, which in turn are sumptuously wrapped in computer rendered colors. I know, sounds sexy doesn’t it?  But it’s like I said, this is one hell of a quality production!

On a final note, I’m happy to report that the length of “World’s Most Wanted” is what finally motivated me to stop collecting this title as a monthly comic and only as a graphic novel instead. I’m glad I made this decision, as the overall reading experience on this title is smoother and more enjoyable than ever. If you aren’t reading this book, do yourself a favor and go buy this and its precursor, “The Five Nightmares.”  You won’t be disappointed.

Grade:  A

-Tony Rakittke