Welcome back Bart, right? Been reading a few of the background issues in the past – Bart’s return and his skills. And this time around, his inking is much finer. Or perhaps the penciling on his art… Really… I have no idea how much of the actual art process works – but this art has improved leaps and bounds. I actually had a discussion with Colin – the Pittsburgh Comics owner – today about how painful so much of the nineties art was to see. And this didn’t fall under that umbrella. Perhaps computer advances – or changes – or abandonment? Whatever it is – this art is much more palatable to enjoy than the nineties garbage. And the story isn’t bad, either. It really feels a lot like the HARD Corps origin issue – even though that mess is still on the horizon, as well. Telling the parallel stories – the history – and the confrontations back and forth really show the depth that the story can reach – while still seeing the past, too. As a pig, I also liked the ‘hooking up’ of Flatline and Genius. Both that the characters were reacting to an extreme scenario – and the way it played out – adult and innocent at the same time. Both embracing each other – and Flatline being a a little more than honest about her past – and Genius being honest – but perhaps not completely so. Bloodshot’s response to Vagabond? Pointed – and brilliantly so. He shouldn’t have to justify himself to this piece of garbage. Ever. And when he does – it cuts to the bone. This Specialist group, now. An interesting concept – placing the group from the past – and I have to look this up – but pretty sure that Big Boy was the guy that Shakespeare eliminated way back when in HARDCorps issue 2. But the fight between Sharpshooter and Bloodshot took me back to the enemy at the end of the Bloodshot run. For now, it’s a nice hook to the story – and great to see that Valiant didn’t feel the need AGAIN to include a 1:50 comic in the run. Thanks.
Opposites attract.
The comic brought out a new vigilante - and re-explored some of the changes in the post-Pitt era. I liked the real look at Pitt-Aid. Of course celebrities woulr raise money for a city that fell apart. And then the group and conflict around Seraph. A great counter to the new Justice. Even this book became a little simpler - almost too easy now - but it has gotten MUCH better with the whole abandoning the strangeness at the front end of the book. I liked the inclusion of yet another bad mutant - the big eared guy. And seeing how he'd really work is one of the strengths in the New Universe. Returning to these essential parts made this a bit more memorable.