By Mark Millar (story), Tony Harris (pencils), Cliff Rathburn (inks), JD Mettler (colors)
War Heroes has all the makings of an epic tale, and uncharacteristically (for a Mark Millar helmed title), this book doesn’t start off with a punch to the face. Instead, it feels very restrained in its approach. Millar isn’t usually very good at writing socially relevant books unless he fills them with annoying pop-culture references. But with this book, again, he uses restraint and manages to weave a modern tale that touches on issues very close to home, all while adding a slight, yet familiar, twist that’ll keep the reader interested. Throw in some gorgeous art by Tony Harris and you have all the trappings of a blockbuster action/political thriller.
The story’s foundation rests on the escalation of terrorism against the United States and the spread of war in the Middle East. Suffering horrible attacks and a huge loss of life in the Homeland, the US finally comes up with a measure to bolster the ranks of its army: the creation of a 24 hour pill designed to give its soldiers super powers. Immediately, there’s a surge of enlistments and here’s where we’re introduced to our cast of characters.
This is a fascinating concept that feels very much like a modern twist on the whole Captain America mythos – except everyone can now be a super soldier. Hell, there’s even a Steve Rogers inspired character in the cast. We all know that the military’s full of people who want to do the right thing. But how about the opportunists – the ones that slip through the cracks? Millar touches briefly on this possibility and I’m pretty excited to see where he runs with it.
Perhaps the only thing I found lacking is the amount of time spent developing these characters. We get a few panels of each person and that’s pretty much it. Again, it’s easy to get lost in the concept of the series, but without a backbone of fleshed out characters it’s really tough to say if this book will fly or not. I have faith in Millar. He’s got a good track record.
Next issue promises us “basic training”, so I’m sure we’ll get to know our recruits *really* good. But please Mr. Millar, don’t stray too close to Full Metal Jacket! (Grade: B)
- J. Montes
A Second Opinion
I am going to have to agree with the main review on this one. The debut issue of War Heroes sets up a fantastic concept, but leaves a bit to be desired in the character development area. While I have no doubt that Millar will bring some memorable characters to the story, this first chapter leaves me wondering exactly who will stand out and how. Millar seems to be more worried about setting up the situation than the players, which works fine here, but may cause problems if people aren’t better established next issue. The artwork is attractive, though, to be honest, it really isn’t my style. Everything looks clean and detailed enough, but part of me thinks a slightly more realistic look would have fit the story better.
It may sound like I am coming down fairly hard on this first issue, but I really enjoyed what it had to offer. The concept is great, the writing is solid, and the art visually attractive. I can’t ask for much more than that. (Grade: B)
-Kyle Posluszny
Filed under: Image Comics, Reviews Tagged: | Cliff Rathburn, Image Comics, J.D. Mettler, Mark Millar, Tony Harris, Ultimates, War Heroes #1
