2 out of 5

No.  Why are super hero comics so damn hard to write?

Quick note: I didn’t actually read issue #6, but rather the ‘True Believers’ version of the issue, which is a dollar reprint format Marvel uses.  And kudos to them, because it’s a great issue, and it got me to jump into the series.

Quick followup note: Series wasn’t that great, though.

…Or maybe it was.  I’m reading some things from the internet world that suggest that I might appreciate the build-up of the story here – Strange and some magic-ers fighting off a “Super Science” zealot from outer space as said Science-er depletes the planet of its magical resources because something something magic killed his ma and pa – had I read the first five issues, but I’m also reading agreement that there seems to be a threat imbalance in this last arc, which was really my main problem with it.  Or sorta my main problem with it.  My other frustration was that every issue read like that first issue: re-stating the threat, ultimate stakes, etc.  I know it is a struggle to write for the Big Two, and I’ve had to learn to separate my appreciation of some writers’ talents on indie books from their Marvel / DC offerings.  After getting into Aaron via Southern Bastards and then finally wrapping back around to look at – and dig – Scalped, the dollar issue intro seemed like a good time to give his hero books a chance.  (A second chance, really, as I had glanced at them before, but with much more cynicism.)  So: I don’t read that much of the triple A stuff for various reasons, and the reader hand-holding is one of them.  Aaron wasn’t exactly obnoxious about it, as it wasn’t a lazy info dump, there was just the casual “Hey we’re doing this thing, just confirming!” dialogue, and it’s quite silly when you’re reading the arc in one go.  …This also prevents you from having some panel / page space for proper escalation, though, or to write in some helpful details, so after establishing the death of magic in issue 1, issue 2 has our heroes globe-trotting to pick up the last remnants, and there’s zero explanation of the time frame, or how, exactly, they’re traveling.  So when science guys’ minions show up on the hunt, it’s hard to feel antsy about it; a page later we’ll be in a different country anyway, so is there really a threat?  Oh – wait, there totally is, because you tell us so every few pages, re-explaining how these few wands and occult items of note won’t possibly be enough to conquer the vaguely-defined baddie…

…Until there is, spoiler, when apparently it’s established that if you say one-liners while brandishing weak weapons, it totally makes them crazy powerful.  It’s like vocalizing while doing a karate chop; mad strength imbued, ya’ll.

It’s just such a shame, given that strong first issue, or how well each issue sort of stands on its own, that there doesn’t appear to be enough actual story – given the way it’s written – to support the whole arc.

Chris Bachalo’s art and color is at least a highlight.  While he’s still guilty of executing some really stylized expressions that end up just looking child-like or dumb, on the whole, he’s cleaned up his paneling so much over the years to maintain his excellent flow but not sacrifice clarity.  In general, it seems he’s achieved this by shifting his sprawling lines around to be framing elements instead of having them cut over and under and through every frame.  The book looks exciting, and the black and white science versus color magic is effected well.

But the super super star is letterer Cory Petit.  I’ve seen Cory’s name before, but I haven’t really noticed his work as I did here, and maybe it’s just that it syncs up well with Bachalo, but I’ll certainly be paying attention going forward.  There’s a big Workman influence – the large bubbles and sound effects – but Workman’s lettering is so flourished that it becomes it’s own separate thing (a wonderful thing, but all the same); Petit’s work layers with the art seamlessly, while adding a huge element of style and energy.

Now, with all this negativity aimed at the writing, I do want to underline that my main issue here was that the story wasn’t effective as a five issue arc, whereas the writing itself, and moments taken in isolation, were generally good.  So I’m not completely against checking out those first five issues.  But… perhaps my Marvel / DC cynicism hackles are back up again.