Vescell #4 – Review

By: Enrique Carrion (writer/creator), John Upchurch (art), Rafael Diaz (letters)

The Story: A pop-star is sick of fame and wants to transfer out of her body.

Five Things: 

1. Why is this title getting zero chatter?  – I’ve been really mystified at how little I’ve heard about this title because it is really good.  You wouldn’t expect the guys who only read Big 2 superhero books to comment on Vescell, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any jabber even from people who DO read a lot of non-Big 2 comics.  My only speculation about why a great comic like this has no buzz is that it launched right when DC sucked all the oxygen out of the room during the fall.  If you like things that are a little different and you missed this, check it out.  I keep waiting for the issue where it takes a turn for the mediocre and it hasn’t happened yet.

2. Fun science-fiction story. – The basic premise of the series is that there is this corporation called Vescell Corp who has pioneered a method of transferring a person’s mind into a new body.  Interestingly, they only focus on oddball cases.  There’s no “giving Steve Jobs’ a fresh body” or explorations of the societal impact of immortality.  It’s all pop-starlets who want to be normal again, women who want to be men or artificial intelligences that want a body.  Each month, there have been some interesting scenarios cooked up by the creator to keep us interested.

3. Sexy too.  – Vescell Corp employs this dude named Agent Barrino to bring in their more famous cases.  Like if the starlet really wants to be “normal”, she can’t have the media knowing what she did, right?  That’s what the Agents do: maintain the anonymity of the customers.  But, along the way, it seems like Barrino has sex with any hot woman that he comes across.  And that’s always fun.  But, there’s also a perversity to Vescell that is refreshing.  For example, in this issue, someone inhabits the starlet’s old body that has major issues, so we’re treated to this highly kinky/disturbing scene with the starlet and a strap-on.  You’ll have to read it, but it’s enjoyable to read a comic that isn’t making any attempt to be all-ages or tone things down.

Dean’s Top Picks

Best Of The Past Week: Batman #3 – The goodness just keeps on flowing with this story.  You have to disconnect the part of your brain that wants you to think that Bruce Wayne is the master of Gotham; this is a new Batman and maybe he doesn’t know everything.  The whole owls concept where the Waynes have been funding these architecture students to build buildings with hidden 13th floors serving as secret society hideaways for the last 100 years.. Sheesh… Creepy.  Although one does wonder where they put the building’s mechanicals if the 13th floor is full of steampunk owl armor… Hmm…  Anyhow…  Great stuff and wonderful art from Greg Capullo who is finally getting the props as one of our best sequential storytellers.  Bravo!  Runner-up: I Zombie #19 which had a really strong issue that was about a good of a jumping on point as you’ll get on a series like this one.

Most Anticipated This Week: Fantastic Four #600 – I have a feeling that this will let me down because FF hasn’t been great since the first few issues, so I’m trying to temper my enthusiasm.  So why make it “the pick” when all the comics I’m listing below will probably be better?  Well, it is a milestone issue for Marvel’s “first family” and that alone makes it exciting.  Maybe this issue also will serve to jumpstart this stalled and complex narrative?  We can only hope!

Other Picks: Scalped #54, Vescell #4, Captain America & Bucky #624, Secret Avengers #29, Wolverine & the X-Men #2