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

Fusion #2 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Tyler Kirkham (Pencils), and Sal Regla (Inks)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Fusion #1 was a fun ’90s throwback comic. It was dated as hell, but if you just went with the crazy stuff going on, there was far more to like than hate. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

The Story: The Avengers and Cyberforce battle it out because of the Ripclaw situation. It’s soon learned that something is linked to Ripclaw in some way and that something is now in the hands of Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts….

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: You can look at Fusion in one of two ways: it’s either an action-packed crossover that delivers where it matters most or a dated, tired crossover that serves as a reminder of why comics like Fusion no longer work well. That’s why it’s so difficult to write a review about Fusion #2. In fact, I’m fairly certain that the second chapter of Fusion is “review proof.” If you like it, I can totally understand why. If you hate it, I can totally understand why. It’s a great example of what made some of those “bad” comics so much fun, but also a great example of how silly and nonsensical they are. Make sense?

Now, on a technical level, Fusion #2 is surprisingly solid. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning do a nice job of bringing out every personality that’s part of Fusion’s cast. They write a number of entertaining character moments and have come up with an interesting enough reason to throw four different teams from two different companies together for a showdown. As for the artwork, Tyler Kirkham does a fine job of handling a number of chaotic scenes, though a few panels look awkward and rather “pose” heavy.

Conclusion: If it sounds like your type of thing, then by all means pick up Fusion #2. If it sounds like your comic book version of hell, then be sure to stay far, far away.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny