Perhaps it's a sign of weakness that Straczynski chooses to leave readers with a surprising cliffhanger pulled from later in the series. I think he realizes as much as anyone else that The Twelve is getting off to a fairly slow start. I don't really care, though, because it's this cliffhanger, more than anything else, that has me anticipating the next few issues. The Twelve has a real chance to shine even with the other major events taking shape in the Marvel universe at the moment. Let's just hope the highly competent duo of Straczynski and Weston can make this series live up to its potential. Read Full Review

Straczynski's story and script aren't without their strengths. The narration is presented in the voice of a hero named The Phantom Reporter, a classic crimefighter in the style of the Shadow and the Crimson Avenger. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm a crime reporter myself that I'm so taken with the character, but I think it's more in the way Straczynski writes him. He's perceptive, determined and suspicious. He comes off as particularly intelligent and reflective. Since the narration is in his voice, he's the most well-developed player in this drama as well. I also enjoyed the eerie quality that the writer brings to the Electro concept. The reader is left wondering what came of the controls for the robot and what's in store. Read Full Review