This Weeks Comic’s Reviewed: IN A NUT SHELL

Andy-and-Joe-Kubert
Posted on: June 27th, 2012
Comic Reviews

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HYPERNATURALS #1

 

 

Writers(s): Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

Art:  Brad Walker & Andres Guinaldo

 

 

Synopsis:

This July…A UNIVERSE TREMBLES. It is the far future; the human race has finally colonized the galaxy, preserving an era of prosperity that’s only possible because of The Hypernaturals. They’re a celebrated, galaxy-wide superhero task force that keeps the peace. That is, until they all mysteriously vanish.

Now, as the galaxy teeters on the brink of chaos, it’s up to a group of retired and long forgotten Hypernaturals — and their novice recruits — to save the galaxy from complete destruction. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, the superstar writing duo behind ANNIHILATION and THE LEGION, launch an all-new original series that takes cosmic super-heroes to a new frontier. 

 

In A Nut Shell:

Abnett and Lanning have a history with Cosmic team books; Legion, Guardians of the Galaxy, they’ve even tried their hand at more earth based team book action with Heroes For Hire. The point is; they do team books well, and even better when they’re set in space.

The Hypernaturals isn’t anything new in that sense, and at times just feels like an extension of these other great series’. That isn’t a bad thing either and Walker and Guinaldo’s art more than cuts it.

Hypernaturals is a great example of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as style wise DnA have it nailed. This is a great jumping on point for new fans. And I say – take it!

 

Verdict:

Buy

 

 

HIT-GIRL #1

 

 

Writer: Mark Millar

Art: John Romita Jnr.

 

Synopsis:

Hit-Girl spins off into her own blood-soaked series by the sales-busting creative team of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. This story takes place between Kick-Ass Volumes 1 and 2 as Mindy McCready tries to settle into life as a regular school-girl, but wants nothing more than to be dispensing hot justice to the scum of New York City.

Her mother and step-father think she’s doing her homework, but in reality she’s taken Kick-Ass on as her sidekick and is training him up to punch, shoot and stab … just like Daddy would have wanted. 

 

In A Nut Shell:

Usually I’m not a fan of prequels, but lately I’ve been getting my comeuppance for a lot of moaning about them as they’ve all been turning out quite good. Here is definitely another case of BAD MAN humble pie. Hit-Girl, while in essence is the connective tissue between  Kick-Ass series #1  and #2 is really it’s own unique story and Millar’s take on Mindy, as with most of his characters, jumps between the relatable and insane fantasy wish fulfillment.

She’s a pre-teen kill machine who has issues with fitting in at school and it’s hard to resist that dichotomy and the inevitable violence that’s being teased on the periphery.

Romita’s art also looks a lot cleaner than it has throughout his AvX issues and if anything this is his nicest stuff to date.

 

Verdict:

Buy

 

 

BEFORE WATCHMEN NITE OWL #1

 

 

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Art: Andy & Joe Kubert

 

Synopsis:

‘The hero known to the public only as Nite Owl announced his retirement today.’ Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS! 

 

In A Nut Shell:

In another case of I-got-it-wrong-itus I found myself really enjoying Nite Owl. Not only are the father/son artistic compliments of the Kuberts working to great effect, but they also seem to mirror the transition between the original Nite Owl Hollis Mason and Daniel Dreiberg – his soon to be inheritor.

JMS writes 60′s dialogue full of moxie and informs an interesting origin for Nite Owl II that is both dark but full of hope and inherent lightheartedness. One of the most enjoyable sections is Dreiberg’s burgeoning friendship with Rorschach, although the mid section training montage also had the stolid sensibilities of the best Rocky’s.

This isn’t the gritty series I was expecting, but a well rounded old school take on an old school character, by two of the most accomplished pencillers in the biz.

I can’t wait for issue #2

 

Verdict:

Buy

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Comments
  • http://guerrillathoughts.wordpress.com/ RepStones

    Ok, with regards to The Hypernaturals, that first page info dump is just ridiculous. Its incoherent and much of it remains so, even after going back and re-reading after finishing the book. Unlike the art which i thought was pretty solid and contiguous throughout, given that we are treated to 4 different artists. I just love the single panel page 7 with Hatch lying in bed, beautifully art and great detail.

    One of my criticisms of this first issue is that it is very wordy in some places. Not as bad as say Jonathan Ross’ first piece of work ‘Turf’ (which is good but ridiculously wordy – check it out if you haven’t already) however there are a little too many word balloons on some of the pages for my liking.
    The book could also be trimmed of much of its scientific babble talk and you are correct the central characters are all cut from the same stale cloth of hero’s we read about elsewhere.
    As it stands, even with whats shaping up to be a good villain, the book offers nothing new and so it has nothing to hook readers in. The problem as i see it is that this is an indie title trying to stick its oar into the spandex market of the Big 2. First off, any people new to comics looking to read about superheros are going to pick up the titles they have heard of, ergo the Big 2, so quite obviously to draw readers to this Abnett and Lanning needed to present potential pull-listers with something new. To my mind they have failed to do this. Even the taboo love story angle feels like its lifted from Justice League with the Steve Trevor and Wonder Woman thing given a Mrs Robinson twist. All in all an inauspicious start unfortunately for the Hypernaturals.
    Not sure im gonna get #2 – I’ll give it a sneak read in-store and then decide

    As for Nite owl #1, we must have been reading different books. Its by far the weakest of the series so far and has basically taken us to Watchmen era with the first crimebusters meting. So unless they’re gonna keep popping back and forth with flashbacks (which can be really annoying if not done right) this doesn’t hold much hope. A bit more time given over to the relationship between the original nite owl and his protege would have been nice, even devote this whole first issue to it perhaps instead of rushing forward to the Watchmen present.

    I must admit to not having read any Kickass but i did buy Hit-Girl (that OC thing i have about #1′s) and enjoyed it immensely. Whats not to like about a ‘Lolita Nikita’ kind of figure. That teddy bear gun glove panel is just beautiful.