KILLED IN ACTION PART 1 Training is almost over for the cadets. Some will graduate. Some will washout. Some will die! Plus, the new recruits are here! Including new Marvels, old Marvels, and the Irredeemable Giant-Man?
Several books this week impressed me on an artistic level. The Initiative is one such book. Stefano Caselli's work prior to coming to Marvel both irritated and impressed me. His style carries an inherent energy, but can often veer into a territory that is too quirky and too animated, particularly when it comes to facial expressions. With seven issues under his belt, I feel like Caselli is rapidly improving, eliminating eccentric qualities while still retaining individuality and power. The result is stunning, and this series is definitely the better because of it. I'll take some manic storytelling if I get art this solid. Read Full Review
If thats not clich enough for you, I give up. Read Full Review
This issue feels like a soft re-launch of the book in many ways. It successfully revisits Civil War, reaffirms its own core concept (far more convincingly than in the earlier issues) with the addition of a couple of new cast members, and moves many of its existing characters into new places, capping things off with an intriguing cliffhanger which makes me interested to see where the story goes next. A pleasant surprise and one which might work to reel in those readers who had written the book off based on earlier issues. Read Full Review
So this issue gets 3.5 Bullets from me. Ive been with the series from the start and think its one of the best bits of fallout from Civil War, and one of the better series Marvels got going on (that isnt written by Fraction, Ellis, or Brubaker, anyway). This issue launches a new four part storyline that, if youve been along for the ride, should pay huge dramatic dividends. On the other hand, if youve never picked up the book or gave it a try and passed early on, I dont know if it will hold any appeal. Fans of Hank Pym might want to take notice but prepare to be offended if you dont like to wallow in his psychoses and bad career decisions. Read Full Review