FIRST ISSUES: An admirable first issue must, above all
else, contain such matter as will compel a reader to buy the second issue. At
the same time, while provoking curiosity through mysteriousness, a good first
issue must avoid being so mysterious as to be cryptic or incomprehensible. And,
thirdly, it should introduce the title’s principals, preferably in a way that
makes us care about them. Fourth, a first issue should include a complete
“episode” — that is, something should happen, a crisis of some kind, which is
resolved by the end of the issue, without, at the same time, detracting from
the cliffhanger aspect of the effort that will compel us to buy the next issue.
NEW ULTIMATES
Marvel’s New Ultimates has undoubtedly the most spectacular roll-out ever in
comics — a six-page fold-out cover featuring a massive agglutination of monstrous
gorilla-like demons attacking a mere handful of heroes (Thor, Captain America,
Ka-zar, Shanna, and a couple of others, nearly submerged in the morass).
Six-page fold-out!! Beautifully rendered by Frank Cho at his favorite subject — gorilla-like creatures. Cho also
draws the rest of the book, displaying his usual adroitness at pacing and
managing the resources of the medium for dramatic effect. And that’s the best
thing in the first issue. The story, by Jeph
Loeb, is a mish-mash that will appeal only to the most deeply-dyed of the
marching Marvel minions, all devoted to keeping track of continuity threads
that most of us have long ago given up trying to untangle. Herein, too many
names of characters not on the scene (but who we are supposed to know in every nook
of their personal histories), too much backstory; can’t tell who the good guys
are let alone the bad guys unless you’re steeped in Marvel continuity. Tony
Stark has brain cancer? He was/is romantically involved with Black Widow, who
lives up to her name in “every way.” What ways? She’s not black. Is she a
widow? Or are we talking about eating husbands here. Who is “Danvers”? The blonde. Then we have Ka-zar and
Shanna strolling in the park. Loki arrives on an incoming cold front, and Tony
and Danvers
take time off for a roll in the hay. So what of Stark’s commitment to the Black
Widow? Confusing enough? An object lesson in how comic books can lose audience:
how does a newcomer get into this? You can’t grow the industry without
attracting new readers. And even an oldcomer, namely yrs trly — I’ve been away
from the Marvel Universe for some time now; it’s a religious thing—has trouble
sorting it out. This issue, however, is worth keeping for the six-page
fold-out. And Frank Cho.
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