I'm still a little hurt about the series "Civil War." A number of Marvel Comics characters I thought I understood from the Fantastic Four's Reed Richards to Iron Man were so offbeat I thought I was reading a "What If?" series.
Then I had to check myself. I'm one of those fans who want fresh takes on old stuff. And "Civil War" changed the game in the Marvel Universe, like it or not.
The 'Civil' writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven re-team on the "Wolverine" comic arc "Old Man Logan" which takes us 50 years into the future and the picture aint pretty. The heroes have fallen and from what we know the country, maybe even the world is under the divided mercies of different villain factions.
Logan A.K.A. Wolverine is still alive and only two issues in we are given glimpses of the past events that kept the tough guy X-Man on the sidelines operating a farm in Sacramento. The character has gone from berserker avenger to docile farmer.
Logan
needs money and he takes a paid road trip across country with another former hero, an old, blind and bitingly funny Hawkeye.
In almost everything written by Millar (I was lost on "1985") he proves a heightened sense of finding the elements of a character that intrigues readers and exploits them to the extreme.
In "Wanted" you are nothing and this is how you become something. Even if that something is a killer.
In "Kick-Ass" a scrawny kid gets to dress up like a superhero and try to beat the crap out of creeps who deserve it.
In "Civil War" superheroes are weapons of mass destruction and have to register themselves with the government.
In his latest work "War Heroes," regular soldiers are offered superhuman powers by the government to help America win a war against Iran.
At his best Millar's work asks a number of moral and political questions while entertaining audiences every step of the way.
This work cannot be carried off without the artists who make it possible. JG Jones, John Romita Jr. and Tony Harris on "War Heroes" who also makes "Brian K. Vaughn (Y: THE LAST MAN) look good on "EX Machina."
In "Old Man Logan" there is Steve McNiven on pencil chores. Some artists have certain stories their work compliments and for McNiven this is one. From the illustration of the clothes worn by the inhabitants of this future Earth to the desolate terrain that surrounds them, McNiven reminds me what good graphic fiction really is.
While attention and comic sales are with Marvel's "Secret Invasion," I would shout out "Old Man Logan" as the series to catch. It's two issues in and somewhat friendly to newer readers.
Mark Millar and artist Tony Harris are hitting California this weekend and will appear at Golden Apple Comics Friday August 22 to promote "War Heroes." Here's some info.
In almost everything written by Millar (I was lost on "1985") he proves a heightened sense of finding the elements of a character that intrigues readers and exploits them to the extreme.
In "Wanted" you are nothing and this is how you become something. Even if that something is a killer.
In "Kick-Ass" a scrawny kid gets to dress up like a superhero and try to beat the crap out of creeps who deserve it.
In "Civil War" superheroes are weapons of mass destruction and have to register themselves with the government.
In his latest work "War Heroes," regular soldiers are offered superhuman powers by the government to help America win a war against Iran.
At his best Millar's work asks a number of moral and political questions while entertaining audiences every step of the way.This work cannot be carried off without the artists who make it possible. JG Jones, John Romita Jr. and Tony Harris on "War Heroes" who also makes "Brian K. Vaughn (Y: THE LAST MAN) look good on "EX Machina."
In "Old Man Logan" there is Steve McNiven on pencil chores. Some artists have certain stories their work compliments and for McNiven this is one. From the illustration of the clothes worn by the inhabitants of this future Earth to the desolate terrain that surrounds them, McNiven reminds me what good graphic fiction really is.
While attention and comic sales are with Marvel's "Secret Invasion," I would shout out "Old Man Logan" as the series to catch. It's two issues in and somewhat friendly to newer readers.
Mark Millar and artist Tony Harris are hitting California this weekend and will appear at Golden Apple Comics Friday August 22 to promote "War Heroes." Here's some info.
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