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The first titles I planned on reading from Marvel's "Now" initiative have come out. I've now read three issues of Deadpool, two issues of Indestructible Hulk and two issues of Thunderbolts. I'm also going to be picking up New Avengers (for my Black Panther fix) Superior Spider-Man (despite the recent revelation that it will not be Miguel O'Hara) when those hit the shelves. The three titles I've picked up so far have been a mixed bag over all. I also have to say that my interests have not played out as I thought they would. So, here are some words on what I'm thinking so far.
Indestructible Hulk
Indestructible Hulk definitely seems to have the quality I was expecting from the team of Mark Waid and Leinil Yu. I don't have any strong feelings regarding Yu's artwork. There are probably artists out there I would "prefer" to see just because I'm more familiar with their style, but Yu does seem to have a certain "something" when he draws the Hulk (most of the time). I'm not big on how he does humans, but I have a feeling that he's really going to deliver something good when it comes to how he illustrates the Hulk in large battles.
Mark Waid is definitely delivering on the premise of the new title. The words of Bruce Banner in the first issue spoke much to how authors have dealt with the Hulk over the years and how he has been seen by readers (much as Geoff Johns had Aquaman do the same in that character's recent first issue). I like the idea (seen in the movie version of the Avengers) that Banner will now be using both his intellect and his power as the Hulk for the greater good. Banner accepting that he has been attempting to change something that he cannot change carries great potential in it. Not just in the obviousness of creations in the comic, but also for growth of the character. Again, we saw some of this acceptance in the most recent big-screen version of Bruce Banner.
I do have to say though that I'm concerned about the new "armor" that the Hulk is sporting. I'm sure it's part of how the Hulk will be "aimed" at the problems S.H.I.E.L.D. wants him to deal with, but for now it just seems awkward. Hopefully as the title goes forward the new armor will go through some revisions or be abandoned for something else. I would definitely like to see Banner evolve his new bio-monitor contact lenses for other uses.
I have the same feeling about this title as I did about the recent Daredevil relaunch, but hopefully this title will bring more action and less crossovers. If it does that then I should be staying around for well beyond a year.
Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts was the title I had the least expectations for out of the three recent Marvel NOW titles I picked up. The plain and simple truth was that I decided to read the title in order to get more Deadpool. Other than Deadpool the character I'm most familiar with on the current team is Venom. I read that character's title for a short time, but as with other titles I have started with Marvel in the last year I found myself being bored most of the time and having an overexposure to crossovers. As far as the Punisher, Elektra and the Red Hulk go, I'm not into any of those characters. I do get a bit of a kick out of the connection between the team's name and Thaddeus Ross' nickname though.
The first two issues of the series have been a build to seeing how this team will operate and what exactly they will be doing. The first issue focused greatly on the Punisher, but in my eyes that made a large amount of sense as he's the member of the team that is least likely to be part of a large team on a regular basis. Daniel Way's writing on the title seems to be methodical, but with decent action. I find it to be a good balance so far. When it comes to the artwork, I've always found Steve Dillon's art to be a bit of a mixed bag with me. I like it with some characters but dislike it with others. He's great with standing and posing, but I find that I think his style is lacking when it comes to action as people look incredibly stiff.
As the title currently stands I can definitely see myself continuing forward with it for a while as long as nothing changes too drastically. I'm very interested in seeing how the teamwork and interaction between the characters is handled. I will also admit that one of the reasons I'm thinking I may need to continue with the title for a while is that it may shortly become my only source for my Deadpool fix.
Deadpool
I have been reading comics with Deadpool since he originally appeared in New Mutants. I have the X-Factor issues with him, I bought The Circle Chase, Sins of the Past and was thrilled when I found out the character had finally gotten his own series. I thought the take on Deadpool by Joe Kelly was great and I am glad that became the basis for the Deadpool we know today. Deadpool's comedic tendency is why I believed having Brian Posehn as a writer on the new title would be great. I was not familiar with Gerry Duggan, so that didn't impact my interest. I figured Tony Moore would be a nice touch on the new title as I enjoyed his work on The Walking Dead. Plus, it's Deadpool so I figured my enjoyment of the title would be guaranteed. I couldn't not have been more wrong.
One of the foundations of Deadpool since the first issue of his original ongoing series is that he's basically a crazy loudmouth in a normal world. Sure, he has his weird adventures, but the reality he inhabits (not in his own mind) is the "real" Marvel Universe. So, you have a "crazy" character in a "normal" world. The current Deadpool title has completely demolished this idea. While I have seen a lot of positive reception for this title by others, I have to say that I am greatly disappointed in it. I feel like those that have written the reviews don't know Deadpool at all. I learned to deal with Daniel Way's take on Deadpool's "crazy" because he kept true to the basic formula that Joe Kelly set. Posehn and Duggan are so far off the mark I don't even know what they're trying to do with the title.
While Deadpool still has his quick wit and pop-culture references, the delivery is way off. The humor seems unnatural and forced. Worst of all, Deadpool is now in a funhouse mirror corner of the Marvel Universe. This is the same corner where the original Damage Control mini-series and New Warriors: Reality Check took place. It's a comical take on the Marvel Universe, not the "real" Marvel Universe. In the past Deadpool has fought staple villains and heroes of the Marvel Universe. Now, he's fighting dead presidents . . . for S.H.I.E.L.D.? I'm sorry, but this first story is a joke. An unfunny, painful joke that is being written and drawn by a team that seems set on destroying Deadpool as people know the character.
I'm going to finish out this first story as I'm really, REALLY hoping that Posehn and Duggan are just off their game (I like Posehn's non-Deadpool comedy so I'm being forgiving). Unfortunately I'll still have to learn to deal with Moore's artistic take on Deadpool. Apparently Moore doesn't understand that Deadpool's power is like a controlled cancerous growth. He seems to think that Deadpool is a slightly-fleshier zombie. Sorry, but I'm not accepting that. Plus, it seems like someone on the creative team enjoys having Deadpool being diced up on a massive level on a regular basis. His healing factor has been taken from a power to a shtick.
So, now you have my take as far as these three new titles from Marvel go. I'll be staying with Indestructible Hulk and Thunderbolts for the foreseeable future, but I can't stay the same for Deadpool. It feels very odd to say such a thing, but the current creative team on Deadpool just may bring my 15 year following of the character's main title (even as Agent X) to an end. I'm a very forgiving reader, but the current creative team of Deadpool has burned me out faster than any new title has in years.
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