QUick aside to pay triute to one of the best self contained issues I've read in a long time. The initiative just finished its current arc which saw the recruits that we've followed for the past 12 or so issues graduate to become full fledged heroes, this issue may have been the start of a new arc but works equally well as a standalone piece. The new recruits arrive at camp hammond, as well as Prodigy, the load of new recruits includes indestructable ex frycook Boulder, or as he becomed known, Butterball. As a nice idea though, while completely impossible to damage, he's unfit, clumsy and weak, and due to his powers, can't get fit or stronger. But he's possibly the most enthusiastic amongst the new recruits. By the end of the issue he is washed out, and while most peopel count him lucky, only ex villains Taskmaster and Constrictor actually understand and give him a very nice parting gift. Just a nice, well written and strangely touching story, possibly because you really identify with the enthusiastic but clumsy butterball who only wants to be a super hero. It also has one of the better showings of registration. He leaves camp hammond registered and War Machine even suggests he has a bright future working in hazardous environments or search and rescue. So not everyone with powers has to join a super-team or even pass camp hammond.
I'd thoroughly reccomend this issue to everyone, even if you haven't previously read The Initiative, or indeed a marvel comic.
Personally, I'd hope to see butterball appear in any future Damage Control series.
:squee:
16 years ago
Picked this up today to read on the train based on this review, and really loved it. It was brilliant seeing the positive side of the registration act for a change (something that's generally been demonised in the Marvel Comics, despite genuinely being a good idea).
ReplyDeleteAnd Taskmaster. He's a softie at heart.
It was a lovely story wasn't it. I'm also wondering if this new direction on the initiative is based on the events of teh previous arc and hopefully means now War Machine is more firmly in charge.
ReplyDeleteHells last issue Iron man even gave the New warriors a chance to get away and basically said "Keep your heads down and we'll have no trouble"
I really need to nab the trades of the first 12 issues. This is just one of those series that seems to be slipping under the radar as a sleeper hit, as I've been reading a heck of a lot of positive comments online
ReplyDeleteIt may actually be Marvels undoing on thsi one, it gets good reviews, but It may not be setting sales on fire. My worry is that they spend a hell of a lot of time pitching big events And I still blame One More day for the axing of The Order, saying taht I've started to blame Knife crime on One more day as well.
ReplyDeleteI guess that's an advantage of DC's structure. One huge universe-altering event, followed by a 52week comic to allow the dust to settle.
ReplyDeleteThinking about it, its been 2 years (allowing for both 52 and Countdown) since DC's last huge event, whereas Marvel's been having them annually.
I do actually hope Marvel takes it back a notch after Secret invasion, perhaps do more Title sized events for a bit World war hulk was going that way, but something like a big X-Title event (so I don't buy it)
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. Same for DC really. More self-contained stuff like the Sinestro Corps War for a bit would be nice.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there's no doubt these huge events generate a lot of buzz and sell well for both companies. So even if they don't go down the "Everything will Change!" route next year, I imagine they'll still do something.