Welcome to another edition of Marvel Compendium! The Beat’s elite team of Marvel experts are once again providing a detailed analysis of House of Idea’s latest book. Our main review focuses on the first issue in the latest series featuring Marvel’s Blade of the Sunwalker. In the meantime, our quick recap looks at what’s next for Rising from the Ashes, with Sentinels #1 debuting, the Fantastic Four in trouble, and our coverage of The Ultimates continuing.
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Blade: red band #1
writer: Brian Hill
artist: CF Villa
Colorist: Java Tartaglia
Writer: venture capitalist Clayton Cowles
One has to appreciate Marvel going all out with the new Red Band format. Launched during Blood Hunt Incident, certain Marvel books are getting ultra-violent versions of the books (i.e. Wolverine: Revenge) or simply published as a red band book (i.e. night werewolf). our own Beau Q. asked in their comments night werewolf #1 How is it different from Marvel’s MAX series. That’s a good question, especially when there’s little to distinguish it other than what they call “2 or 3 pages of fairly mild violence.”
So far, the Red Band books appear to be the Marvel version of the VHS/DVD era; the “unrated version.” You can get a theatrical cut of the movie, or you can get a version that might have more violence and sex. Generally speaking, a few extra seconds of gore or a slightly longer sex scene in a horror movie might go almost unnoticed. At the moment, it seems like Marvel is just using these books as a marketing ploy, especially the current horror books.
latest cover blade The series almost promises something truly brutal. Take a look at the artist’s cover CF Villa and colorist Java Tartaglia! The blade cut a man directly from the middle! The cover is how you sell your book. The internal content is definitely more bloody than the issues seen The Amazing Spider-Man. Vera draws a few beheadings, and the final splash page is pretty gruesome (heads on spears!) but honestly, none of them are truly offensive. It’s violent enough for a Marvel comic, but not to the point of being super violent. violent or a question Invincible. That is to say, if it is late Kentaro Miura I did draw one blade Comics, it can look pretty amazing.
rotated out Blood HuntBlade now isolates himself from the world. He now lives on an island and spends most of his time making swords as a penance of sorts. Being possessed by the soul of the first vampire and causing a near vampiric apocalypse can do this to a person. Of course, no one can let him go, and once again, everyone’s favorite daywalker must slay, you guessed it, a vampire.
This script is written by Brian Hill The script largely establishes Blade as an old mercenary being dragged out of retirement for one last mission. If you guess that the Blade doesn’t meet this requirement, give yourself a “no award.” The only real problem in this predictable setting is that Blade has no interest in anyone using him as a tool, especially after Blood Hunt. Hill plays the role perfectly. You can imagine Wesley Snipes delivering this dialogue. it’s a shame After the first few pages, he couldn’t think of a more interesting setting to explore this question. The characters here are interesting, but so far, there’s nothing in the story that’s really exciting.
Vera makes this seem more exciting than it actually is to read. Their art sets the beat of the action through a true commitment to the grid. Even though not every page looks like this, they all run on a grid, making it easy to work with. This is an artist with a real sense of design about storytelling. But Vera also likes to use her blade to slash her enemies. The comic may not reach the level of extreme violence one would hope for from a book called Red Band, but there’s something satisfying about the character decapitating and dismembering monsters. It’s a pity that the colors of Java Tartaglia are too literal and not lively at all.
The interior still doesn’t live up to the promise of the first issue cover. This cover portends some pretty nasty stuff, especially for something published as a Red Band book. The blade can really cut some monsters into pieces, which is a bit brutal. However, nothing in this book is more dangerous than a cover that looks so rough.
judgment: Browse
Quick burst
- Sentinel #1
- writer’s sentinel Alex Packard and artist Justin Mason It has always been my most anticipated new installment in the X-Men series. There are two reasons for this: First, Parker Nadel is one of the funniest and most brilliant writers working in comics today. A series he created with Caspar Wijngard, all against allis an extremely beautiful satire on violence and capital. I hope that same sentiment translates to this comic. When there is some commotion on social media sentinel When it was first announced, there was unease about Marvel focusing on or celebrating their oppressors after scattering the nation of Krakoa and re-dividing mutants into divided minorities. Of course, that’s a silly concern given Paknadel’s body of work. I’m more concerned about writers working within the constraints of a publishing establishment that avoids controversy. But the first issue is a great start. From a purely craft perspective, Packnard manages to balance exposition, continuity callbacks, and character development without the book suffering in any way. He drops us off at the beginning of the mission, and through the day-to-day work of the Sentinels, we are more exposed to their power, their mission, and their threats. Justin MasonThe art is grungy and heartfelt. The characters look tired, gray-haired, and like they’ve been eaten from the inside. Federico BlighThe book’s colors are restrained and sterile—these sentinel soldiers are prisoners and scientific experiments, and the book visually traps them. VC Travis Lanham Well done, but some of the title boxes have some rough font choices that make the setting difficult to read, but that’s a minor factor. Although the first issue is great, this book may be a tough sell. The art isn’t as slick and pretty as the X-Men style, and there are no familiar protagonists, these are complex characters doing unpleasant things, and are treated with complexity and humanity. But Parker Nadel’s use of sentinels as police officers is an unsubtle and rich metaphor for investigating thorny issues like the structure and social costs of authoritarianism in the way superhero comics excel. If Marvel is bold enough to commit and readers are willing to get uncomfortable, there’s the potential for something special here. –TR
- Ultimate #5
- This latest incarnation ultimate battle It didn’t shock me, but the question made me reconsider my opinion of the title. The Ultimates builds up to 14 months of suspense on the ticking time bomb of the Creator’s return, and that’s when Iron Lad (aka Tony Stark) prepares himself for what could have been a hero of people gathered together to form this ultimate team. writer Denizkampof The latest recruit is vengeful archer Hawkeye, but instead of the dysfunctional Clint Barton we’ve known for decades, this Hawkeye is a different kind of indigenous resistance fighter than the one the Ultimate Warrior was originally looking for, Kemp’s spin on is a new take on Reckless Archer and his relationship with Cap, and the reveal of his real name is a great moment between them. Juan FriggeriSolid art and design work gives the book a real sense of fun and funky energy as the two engage in an initial heroic battle that eventually leads to a big battle with the bad guys. What I loved most about this show was the funky mix John Byrnefirst year alpha flighta team book where readers don’t see the team until the last two issues. I’m curious to see what happens next in Countdown to the Return of the Creator. –GC3
- Fantastic Four #26
- In this comic, Reed Richards and Johnny Storm sweat profusely while trying to unplug and plug a hole in their basement. Take off your shirt and put on jeans and boots. You now have enough knowledge to make a purchasing decision on this wonderful question. If not, you may be familiar with the author of this issue, Ryan Northtrapped in a hole, and chirping to figure out how to get out, because the question reads like the psychological transcript of two wolves within the confines of Nos. North was able to effortlessly write a Reed-driven story in which the guy wasn’t a sociopathic tool in his science-driven mission. It’s refreshing to see the Reed/Johnny friendship untapped when the book is essentially “scientific methods applied near idiots.” Ivan Fiorelli Effectively rendering complex visuals into a relaxing breeze without missing a beat of comedy. There’s an interesting dichotomy here, with angled panels depicting Reed and Johnny’s wilder moments, juxtaposed with horizontal panels depicting their calmer moments – just one of the many Easter eggs Fiorelli uses to communicate with readers One of the… Yes, Reed has dazzling hands. Brian Leiber Rendering multiple shirtless characters in different lights can be a daunting task, but by keeping the light source single, it actually gave him a north star to follow when switching palettes. Maybe not as much mood lighting FF#26but Reber kept the spectral glow festive and natural, rather than contrasting with the issue’s color key; that would be too bad! Joe Caramagna, VC accomplished the difficult task of cramming North’s lengthy balloon into the panels Fiorelli left with virtually no negative space—the result is incredibly effortless and requires no pinch-to-zoom moments. Where Caramagna failed was in matching the special effects aesthetic to Fiorelli’s imagery, but given some production leeway, I’m sure the effects would have seemed less tacked on. Regardless, do yourself a favor and pick up this instant classic all-in-one! — Bo Q
Next week: We’ll be hosting a roundtable on Trolls #1 and Moon Knight: The Fist of Kongshu!
