I really didn't know what to expect from this book, and I pleased to discover that Arcudi and Velasco have offered up a different spin on super-villains. Fans of the previous direction of the series shouldn't come here looking for some sort of connection, though. The tone of the plot and art are completely different... so much so that I'm surprised Marvel didn't opt to relaunch the book with a new first issue.
Tucked away in the dark, hidden corners of the concrete jungle is a new form of entertainment. Metahuman men beat on one another until one falls, and the fights have taken on a life of their own. Like mainstream boxing, there are managers and money men, trainers and gamblers. The underdog star of the system is the one-time villain known as Armadillo, and the time has come to recruit someone new to enter the fray. Meanwhile, a reformed villain named the Battler ekes out a frustrated living, forever reminded of his failures.
Velasco's artwork here manages to achieve something that's all too rare in comics: uniqueness. His exaggerated approach suits the over-the-top powers of the main characters, and it captures their rougher qualities as well as the dark, gritty settings. I also enjoyed how the colors give the visuals a sullen, painted look, and the linework reminds me more than a little of Frank (The Dark Knight Strikes Again) Miller's style. Most impressive, though, is Velasco's depiction of the Armadillo. He conveys his size and raw power nicely, but there's also an innocent, wounded quality that shines through in his face.
This new direction has been likened to Fight Club, but the only thing they really have in common is violence. The premise and themes are radically different. This is more like Rocky in reverse, in which the fighters aren't determined to be winners, but rather just try to survive the dead end into which they've been forced by themselves and others. Wisely, Arcudi opts not to focus on the fights, but rather, on what brought these men to the ring in the first place.
This book is all about feeling trapped by one's choices. Daniel Axum's a guy that to whom we can all relate. Feeling smothered as an adult by one's parents is a universal experience. Feeling haunted by one's mistakes... again, universal. Daniel Axum may boast superhuman powers, but his character traits are all too human, and therein lies the key to the story's success.
