Exiles #1 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Art), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll be totally honest and admit that I’ve never read an Exiles comic before. But since it was a light week for me, I figured a new number one issue would be a pretty good place to start.

The Story: The Exiles are a team of (B, C, and D list) Marvel heroes plucked from their respective realities mere moments before death. The mission? To travel from reality to reality in order to put things right so that existence (as a whole) continues. Beast, Forge, The Witch, Polaris, Blink, and The Panther are given the rundown on the situation in the first issue and then sent to fix the first of many realities.

What’s Good: Exiles #1 really gets the series off on the right foot. From the characterization, to the artwork, to the execution of the necessary plot introduction, everything feels absolutely full of energy. And that, my friends, is a very good thing.

Jeff Parker’s script is clever and humorous while also intelligently dealing with both the dense concept and the unique challenge that comes from introducing characters from alternate realities. It is perfectly complimented by artwork that effortlessly manages to be humorous, clever (Beast’s look rocks), vibrant, and lively all at once. Throughout the book there are great examples of how the visuals can elevate the writing and vice versa. And almost all of those examples involve the brilliant use of the character Morph. I never thought I’d see the “Hitler as a baby” dilemma delivered in such a humorous manner…

What’s Not So Good: Despite the entertaining script and eye-catching visuals, there is no denying the fact that Exiles #1 is a fairly standard “team introduction” comic. The formula is a formula for a reason…because it works. But that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t point out it’s use.

Also worth noting is that some of the smaller panels look slightly rushed and/or lack detail. While excusable for the most part, it proves to be a distraction when the rest of the issue looks so nice.

Conclusion: What else can I say? Exiles is now the latest addition to my pull list. Take a chance with the first issue, I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.

Grade:  B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Bizarre New World #1 – Review

By Skipper Martin (writer), Christopher Provencher (art), Wes Dzioba (colors)

Bizarre New World is another one of those, what I like to call “reality super hero” books. It’s when the creators take a very ordinary person living in modern times, give him powers, and let the rest play out. Mark Millar’s Kick-Ass is another book in similar vein (though a bit more on the extreme side). With Bizarre New World, everything is subtle and more grounded.

The story’s premise is a simple one. Paul Krutcher is your average joe working as a programmer (or editor) at a movie studio in Los Angeles. He’s divorced, has a son whom he gets to see every once in a while, and lives a painfully normal life. Then one day, out of the blue, Paul discovers he can fly. From there, the rest of the issue revolves around his discovery, testing his limitations, and basically just trying to figure out if he’s got any other powers.

Skipper Martin (who Paul is modeled after), writes a very believable person with Paul. His mannerisms and reactions are genuine. It also helps that he’s a like-able guy. Much of the credit has to go to penciler Christopher Provencher who’s been burdened with the task of making this story work. I’d say a third of this book is completely silent with Paul just flying around and seeing what he can do. Provencher not only pulls off his storytelling with flying colors (no pun intended), but the expressions he puts on Paul’s face hammer home the array of emotions he’s feeling.

Weighing in at a hefty 48 pages for only $3.50, Bizarre New World is well worth your money. It’s an origin story that reads very quickly, but you’ll also stop every once in a while just to take in the art. It’s not flashy by any means, but the storytelling is done masterfully. I caught one grammar error in the book, but hey, no one’s perfect. And someone get Provencher an inker, his stuff would look so much better! (Grade: A)

Kick-Ass #2 – Review

By Mark Millar (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Dean White (colors)

If you read Secret Invasion #1, the pacing of Kick-Ass #2 will feel all too familiar. The story commences at a slow pace, but once the Millar / Romita train gets rolling, there’s nothing that can stop its momentum. And as per usual, the creative team delivers another frantic issue that’ll tickle your funny bone, make you gasp in disbelief, and make you nod your head in that “Well, what did you expect would happen, you idiot?!” sort of way.

Our hero, Dave, goes through months and months of rehabilitation after getting beat up, stabbed, and hit by a Mercedes. We see the emotional trauma he goes through, but even worse, we see how his foolishness has devastated his father. And it’s really Mr. Lizewski who’s the real hero of this story. He occurs tons of debt after paying for Dave’s multiple operations and other medical expenses. When Dave finally comes home from the hospital, his father spares no expense in making sure his son has the very best of homely comforts.

Dave, it seems, has finally realized the pain he’s inflicted on his father and intends to make things right. He swears off stupidity, burns his comics, and eventually makes it back to school. But like a recovering alcoholic, there’s never a real cure for the sickness. It’s a fight you have to stave off everyday. And Dave’s real weakness is exposed when he puts the tights back on.

Again, Mark Millar does what he does best. He mixes violence, controversy, and human drama into a tight package. Yes, there’s another brawl this issue, and this is where the controversy may come in. Is sheer will-power enough to tackle a group of grown men twice your size? Or is it just dumb luck? I don’t have an answer for you, but in a demented way, it just works and it’s completely acceptable.

If anyone does any real ass-kicking this issue, it’s John Romita Jr. Naysayers will silenced not just by his storytelling, but by his action sequences as well. There’s no gratuitous single or double page splashes filled with crazy over-extended limbs. In fact, there’s not any real gratuitous violence in this issue at all. It’s just real. This is where the sure brilliance of the creative team comes into play. Showing a lot of restraint, they keep the action grounded. When Dave’s on the ground being beat, he doesn’t do some crazy move to get back on his feet, he flails his legs and arms just hoping he’ll connect with a devastating blow. And that’s what this creative team does: They connect with us on a primal perverse manner. It’s we, the readers, who are the gratuitous ones. (Grade: A+)

– J. Montes