Revolutionary War Supersoldiers #1 – Review

by Rob Williams (Writer), Brent Anderson, Tom Palmer (Artists), Ruth Redmond (Colorist)

The Story: I suppose an invasion by demons sent by Mys-Tech might make the wait just a bit longer for the Super Soldiers movie.

The Review: It can be easy to fall into hype mode when reading about future projects and potential revivals. Publishers are, after all, business that do have to present with a sort of hyperbole their products to the market, to make sure people buy them. It’s common knowledge, of course, but it’s not so easy to be completely objective when certain factors are in play.

I really liked Captain Britain and MI:13, a fun super heroic book presenting one of my favourite character along other British heroes fighting weird threats, while I also loved Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning on many cosmic titles. Pushing ahead a whole mini-series of one-shots intended to revitalize the UK corner of the Marvel universe with Andy Lanning as one of the main driving force seemed like a dream come true, yet reality can be a harsh mistress. With some being quite decent while others not so much, we’ve had quite a fluctuation of quality, with this week’s offering being just another example of trying very hard, yet achieving little in general.

Rob Williams, the writer of this story trying to bring back the Super Soldiers, tries quite a lot in many ways to make this count, as if this was but the first chapter of a new ongoing. Presenting us his characters in a semi-satirical manner as well as throughout action, there are a number of ways where there is a genuine affection for the character permeating the issue, yet there is a multitude of elements going against the book.

Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon #1 – Review

by Rob Williams (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist), Veronica Gandini (Colorist)

The Story: Magic is getting changed toward something altogether as Mys-Tech tries to make sure it stays like this forever thanks to the help of zombie King Arthur. Thankfully, some of the old Knights of Pendragon are there to try to save the day.

The Review: There are times when you do not know what to think after finishing an issue. Whether it is actually better or worse than your actual initial analysis, there some comics that are transcendental in terms of quality. Despite what it might try to do, its success and its actual intentions are lost in the sea of confusion that finishing the issue leaves the reader in, with naught but the ambiguity of the general appreciation in terms of company.

This is pretty much how I felt when I finished the last page of this comic. While it decidedly does feel British in many of its aspects, there are many oddities in this comic that are a bit indiscernible in terms of intents. Was this supposed to be weird and confusing? Was it supposed to be funny? How does this tie-in to the general story behind Revolutionary War? All of these questions, unfortunately, aren’t that clearly answered, even with a second reading, making this something that is hard to render in objective terms.

As far as the humor goes, it range from genuinely funny to downright bizarre, with some lines of dialogue, especially those made by Union Jack, that are downright entertaining. However, there is a certain dedication to randomness and destruction of expectations here that make some of the elements here rather unclear in terms of their legitimate worth as humor. It might be because I’m from Quebec, but there are several jokes that felt either a bit too light or forced to make them actually funny. There’s an uneven execution of jokes which makes some of the better jokes really great, yet they are balanced by downright weird jokes that make close to no sense.

Revolutionary War Alpha #1 – Review

by Andy Lanning, Alan Cowsill (Writers), Rich Elson (Artist), Antonio Fabela (Colorist)

The Story: Pete Wisdom and Captain Britain needs to gather the crew back as trouble arrive in the UK with Mys-Tech rearing its ugly head back.

The Review: Marvel has a rather large library of characters. Mutants, magic users, cosmic beings, street-level heroes, monsters, oddities and many more are but a selection of the kind of characters one can see when reading one of their books. While the very same is true for the Distinguished Competition as well, the new 52 reboot kind of crushed this large selection for them in unfortunate ways.

We all have some characters we especially like for various reasons. Nostalgia, a certain cool factor, a presentation or a concept that resonates with what we generally like to read and many others can indicate why we like some characters more than others. One of those character, for me, is Captain Britain. A man that tries to protect the whole omniverse with other people from various universes with the same power sets and similar codenames? Now that’s cool.

My general appreciation of the character made me go out and buy this comic, which was sweetened by the fact it incorporates other elements like Pete Wisdom and writer Andy Lanning, a part of the DnA duo that gave us many excellent cosmic stories. Teamed with Alan Cowsill to revive old UK characters and reintegrate them in the larger Marvel universe and its continuity, this book certainly has potential to be particularly fun.

X-Men Legacy #14 – Review

Simon Spurrier (Writer), Tan Eng Huat, Craig Yeung (Artists), José Villarrubia (Colorist)

The Story: For a big strategist and mastermind, Peter Wisdom sure seems to be easily manipulated by David…

The Review: Great ideas don’t necessarily make great comics. As much as concepts can bring some interest in a particular title, they need to be executed well in order for quality to be in on the whole thing.

X-Men Legacy could very well be one of the poster child of such a saying, as it has some really fascinating ideas revolving around the whole notion of what mutants are and what they could do, as well as the flaw behind the very idea that is the X-Men. The sheer notion that David Haller, the son of Charles Xavier, a powerful yet absolutely unstable mutant could helm a title of his one was something that seemed unrealistic, yet it still manage after a dozen issues to keep on going.

From what can be seen, the reason for the continuation of a title that seems to be that the main direction of the title is simply full of potential: what if Charles Xavier methods of unification between mutants and the rest of humanity were wrong? The very notion that building a small army that would use violence in order to protect mankind from mutantkind with bad intentions do come as somewhat trite as we see what David is trying to do. As Spurrier tries r push the idea through the character of David, we get some very interesting insight on what it could mean to be a mutant in the Marvel universe.

Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #1 – Review

By Ed Brubaker (writer), Dale Eaglesham (artist), Andy Troy (colorist)

The Story: Steve Rogers, now America’s premiere Spymaster and national security czar, infiltrates a party held by Nextin Pharmaceuticals to investigate rumors that the company has perfected the Super Soldier Formula and is planning to sell it to the highest bidder.

The Good: Not much, which sucks because I was really looking forward to this story when I first heard about it. While I love the idea of Steve Rogers taking over Nick Fury’s role as America’s top superspy, the execution of that idea has left me feeling very underwhelmed. I have yet to see Rogers in any comic ever really acting like a spy; even though his mask is off and he’s now prone to wearing black turtle necks, he still acts like a superhero and, more to the point, a soldier. He’s still given to charging headfirst into a battle and pounding his opponents into a pulp whereas any other spy, like…oh, say, Fury, would have done his very best to avoid that same conflict. It occurred to me, reading this issue, that Rogers really doesn’t do subterfuge very well; don’t get me wrong, I rather liked that scene of him zip lining into the hotel in Madripoor in the middle of the night, but he still had to resort to busting some heads, in a conspicuously pro-American, Captain Americaish costume, to get the job done. What I can’t get my head around right now is whether Rogers is supposed to be a superhero pretending to be a spy or a soldier reassigned to law enforcement. For me, this issue was a little too much superhero and not enough superspy, and I’m hoping Brubaker can correct that next month.

Captain Britain and MI:13 #15 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Pencils), Jay Leisten (Inks), and Brian Reber (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Here’s to hoping that Paul Cornell ends Captain Britain on one hell of a high note.

The Story: Pete Wisdom watches his grand plan unfold while he shares a tender moment with his new lady friend. Needless to say, Dracula’s day goes from bad to much, much worse…

What’s Good: You know what’s the best thing about the final issue of Captain Britain and MI:13? It’s that it’s all about superheroes being superheroes. In addition, they are being superheroes in a way that brings some resembling closure to a series that should never have been canceled. In short, it’s pretty much everything I could have asked for. The action is nearly non-stop, the character work is as strong as ever, the dry humor is spot on, and the conclusion leaves the door open for Cornell to work with the team in the future if given the opportunity.

I really don’t want to go into much detail for fear of spoiling anything, but you can rest assured that Paul Cornell and his team make the most of Captain Britain and MI:13 #15. From the incredibly well-written opening with Pete Wisdom, to the chaos that takes place on Dracula’s ship, it’s clear that the creative team is firing on all cylinders. And you know what? That’s the way it should be.

What’s Not So Good: My only complaint is that occasionally the action becomes hard to follow. Does it hurt the quality of the book as a whole? Not really. There is a LOT going on and in all honesty, I’m shocked Leonard Kirk and the rest of the art team are able to keep it in check as well as they do.

Conclusion: The finale of Captain Britain and MI:13 does the series justice. If you’re a fan, there is a whole lot to like about Captain Britain and MI:13 #15.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain & MI:13 #14 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk w/Adrian Syaf (Pencils), Jay Leisten w/Craig Yeung (Inks), Brian Reber (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: With only two issues of Captain Britain left, I hope Cornell and his team really make them count… The under-appreciated series deserves to go out with a bang.

The Story: Unfortunately, I really can’t go into much detail about the issue without wading into heavy spoiler territory.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Since I really can’t say a whole lot about Captain Britain and MI:13 #14 without ruining things, I will keep things short. Paul Cornell overcomes what is initially a disappointing opening with some great character work, awesome dry humor, and clever use of a past arc to bring make the latest chapter of “Vampire State” a very good read. As for the art, it’s absolutely solid all around as Leonard Kirk and his team do a fine job of delivering action that could easily come across as muddled or confusing.  While some of the artwork looks a bit rushed, there’s enough good stuff to make up for it.

Conclusion: You can rest assure that the creative team behind Captain Britain is in no way half-assing the final issues of a tragically canceled series.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain & MI:13 #13 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Ardian Syaf w/Leonard Kirk (Pencils), Craig Yeung w/Jay Leisten (Inks), and Brian Reber (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Paul Cornell’s Captain Britain and MI:13 series is crazy; crazy in a way that’s entertaining, fun, and downright satisfying. It’s easily one of the most underappreciated books Marvel puts out.

The Story: With the skull of Quincy Harker destroyed, Captain Britain and MI:13 scramble to figure out a way to counter Dracula’s plan. The stakes are high and, magically cut off from the rest of the world, Britain looks to be in serious trouble. Will it fall?

What’s Good: Paul Cornell definitely knows how to make the shit hit the fan! Dead heroes, nonstop action, vampire violence, a sense of hopelessness, and a scene of wooden vampire battleships flying through space… Yep, Captain Britain and MI:13 #13 jacks the insanity of the series up a few notches. And you know what? It makes for a fantastic, intense read that pulls no punches and really takes advantage of the fact that no “A” (or even “B”) list heroes star in the book.

It’s a creative success almost all around as Paul Cornell masterfully builds a sense of dread throughout the issue while the art team crafts some truly unforgettable scenes that simply couldn’t work in one of the bigger Marvel titles. I wish I could go into specifics more, but I don’t want to spoil the fun. So let me just say that, long story short, the latest Captain Britain is a must read in every way.

What’s Not So Good: I can’t help but wonder what a little more detail and polish might have done for the artwork in Captain Britain #13. The art team does a good job handling the challenging story and action, but a few scenes fall a little flat because of the lack of detail. It’s not a huge complaint, but, if anything, it definitely lessens the impact of the rather chilling final page.

Conclusion: “Vampire State” is quickly turning into one of my favorite arcs of all time. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain and MI:13 #9 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk & Mike Collins (Pencils), Jay Leisten & Cam Smith (Inks), and Brian Reber & Rain Beredo (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: When I picked up the debut of Captain Britain and MI:13 during the Secret Invasion, I never expected it to become a favorite of mine. But nows, I find myself eagerly awaiting each new issue. The latest, the conclusion to the insanely chaotic Plotka storyline, is no exception. It’s a shame that the numbers for the series are so slow, because it absolutely deserves the attention of nearly every comic fan. It’s that good.

The Story: With the majority of the team stuck in one part of Plotka’s dream corridor thanks to Captain Midlands’ betrayal and Captain Britain still trying to find a way out of another part, things look grim for pretty much everybody. But Pete Wisdom has a plan, as does the person studying the trapped Mindless One outside of Cloverfield Estate. Soon the tides are turned and the team goes on the offensive.

What’s Good: Simply all the factors that make this title wildly imaginative. That’s the only way to describe the conclusion of the latest Captain Britain and MI:13 arc. Despite all the crazy magic, chaotic action, and elements of the occult, Paul Cornell and his art team somehow manage to keep everything in line long enough to wrap up one hell of an entertaining story that also plant the seeds for what promises to be another. In short, if you’ve liked what the series has offered so far, you won’t be disappointed what it offers this time around.

What’s Not So Good: There is one “elephant in the room” element regarding the latest Captain Britain arc that has nagged at me from the start. And guess what? It nagged at me a whole lot more while reading Captain Britain and MI:13 #9. Basically the whole thing is so filled with action and chaos that it rarely stops to take a breath long enough to really work through and explain what’s actually happening. Sure it’s a lot of fun to read and look at, but I just can’t help but wish I had a better grasp on the storyline as a whole. It made sense well enough, but I just can’t shake the feeling I missed out on a few things here and there.

Conclusion: Despite being almost overwhelming at times, the latest issue of Captain Britain is loaded with high-quality, high-concept entertainment. And, while it isn’t the greatest jump-on point if you haven’t checked the series out yet, it’s strong enough to make hunting down back issues a worthwhile endeavor. Consider it highly recommended.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny