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Review: Nextwave - Agents of H.A.T.E. Vol. 1 HC
Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. Vol. 1 HC
Written by Warren Ellis
Pencils by Stuart Immonen
Inks by Wade von Grawbadger
Published by Marvel Comics. $19.99 USD
When Warren Ellis first started doing stuff again for Marvel, I avoided it on the assumption that he was just taking a paycheck and the work would be cynical. I'm not sure if I was entirely wrong, but the thing is, I do believe one can do quality work even with a large dose of cynicism about it. At least for a while. I don't think Nextwave is something Ellis could stand doing for more than another year, maybe two, but that's fine. Even books creators are completely passionate about often lose the thread by that time.
Nextwave is pretty much The Authority in the Marvel Universe, done more overtly funny. The Nextwave is comprised of mainly minor league Marvel characters, so Ellis can do a solid for the company by maintaining trademarks even as he largely ignores or reworks past characterizations to suit his style. Like, Elsa Bloodstone is just the latest example of his tough chick British character who emasculates men, figuratively and sometimes literally. Machine Man is now sort of bitchy. Boom Boom is pretty much the same. The black Captain Marvel is more of a hardass. And there's a crazy piece of ambulatory id called The Captain who's sort of Midnighter meets Lobo. They work for Ellis' parody of S.H.I.E.L.D., so he can make fun of Jim Steranko's kitschy '60s design aesthetic as well as present an analogue of Nick Fury who's totally batshit crazy. The team goes up against monsters, robots and even H.A.T.E. itself, in two issue arcs. What can I say? It's a quick read, very lightweight, but very enjoyable. Ellis has a good time in both his dialogue and the narration, essentially spoofing himself as much as the M.U., and Immonen comes up with a new, sharper art style that's hip and cartoon-friendly without being the latest imitation of Bruce Timm. No matter what reasons Ellis takes a gig, he's a pro and he tries his best, and this time he finds a good take on a series and makes a good time out of it.
Written by Warren Ellis
Pencils by Stuart Immonen
Inks by Wade von Grawbadger
Published by Marvel Comics. $19.99 USD
When Warren Ellis first started doing stuff again for Marvel, I avoided it on the assumption that he was just taking a paycheck and the work would be cynical. I'm not sure if I was entirely wrong, but the thing is, I do believe one can do quality work even with a large dose of cynicism about it. At least for a while. I don't think Nextwave is something Ellis could stand doing for more than another year, maybe two, but that's fine. Even books creators are completely passionate about often lose the thread by that time.
Nextwave is pretty much The Authority in the Marvel Universe, done more overtly funny. The Nextwave is comprised of mainly minor league Marvel characters, so Ellis can do a solid for the company by maintaining trademarks even as he largely ignores or reworks past characterizations to suit his style. Like, Elsa Bloodstone is just the latest example of his tough chick British character who emasculates men, figuratively and sometimes literally. Machine Man is now sort of bitchy. Boom Boom is pretty much the same. The black Captain Marvel is more of a hardass. And there's a crazy piece of ambulatory id called The Captain who's sort of Midnighter meets Lobo. They work for Ellis' parody of S.H.I.E.L.D., so he can make fun of Jim Steranko's kitschy '60s design aesthetic as well as present an analogue of Nick Fury who's totally batshit crazy. The team goes up against monsters, robots and even H.A.T.E. itself, in two issue arcs. What can I say? It's a quick read, very lightweight, but very enjoyable. Ellis has a good time in both his dialogue and the narration, essentially spoofing himself as much as the M.U., and Immonen comes up with a new, sharper art style that's hip and cartoon-friendly without being the latest imitation of Bruce Timm. No matter what reasons Ellis takes a gig, he's a pro and he tries his best, and this time he finds a good take on a series and makes a good time out of it.
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