I remember reading the first two Magnus arcs - and they were SO beautiful. Wrapping around themselves - and becoming so much more than either one really had any opportunity before. This one is trying so hard to wrap itself within an enigma of a puzzle - that nothing can really make any sense of anything anymore. So - Magnus is metal, right? Like before - only more so. And his mentor is a can - and eats humans - and wants them to fight back, right? THEN STAY WITH THAT STORY. I like the basics - and putting a few nuggets in there that may lead back somewhere else. But the passing between seventeen times and fourteen places is TOO MUCH. What was the old line in Funny Farm? "It’s all those flashbacks. You never know when anything’s taking place. In the first 20 pages alone, I counted three flashbacks, one flash-forward, and I think a page in, you have a flash-sideways." That's the problem.
Versus THEMSELVES!
That battle was pretty awesome. To see the three battle each other and attempt to win - really fun. Then, turning the table a bit - forcing each man to fight against another - that was brilliant. Got the sense that each one was on the offense - not the defensive. Then Ben's lines back and forth with Reed were pretty funny. "Nah. He's bluffing." And Reed responding so insanely to him. It was a trip. And while thee world within worlds thing is going a different direction - thankfully - this diversion was much better. I also loved the diversions given to Sue. "Is that some giant planetoid falling toward the earth to demolish and kill everyone?" "uh.... No. Just some protesters..." I laughed out loud. This must end, but while it's going on, I am really enjoying the dated feeling of the comic.