|
PARADISE X #0
Recommended (7/10)
|
Marvel Comics
Writer: Jim Krueger & Alex Ross
Pencils: Dougie Braithwaite
Inks: Bill Reinhold
Colors: Pete Pantazis
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Mike Marts
Price: $4.50 US/$7.25 CAN |
Well, here we go again.
I read little of Earth X, and that's part of the reason that I found Universe X to be so confusing. Now the final book in the Ross/Krueger trilogy is upon us, but the same inaccessibility doesn't plague this opening chapter. Sure, a little more information would have been welcome, but the story is a compelling one, and Ross's designs continue to impress.
Mar-Vell has helped to create a utopian afterlife, but only those in Purgatory who actually realize and accept that they are dead are admitted. Of course, such a paradise of power must also be protected, and Steve Rogers, better known as the late hero Captain America, is entrusted with that task and an angelic transformation -- as are six others. Meanwhile, Mar-Vell's machinations have also resulted in the death of Death, and though immortal, the people of Earth are suffering as a result.
Braithwaite's art captures the maturity and humanity of the story wonderfully. This book celebrates the colorful and diverse array of characters in the Marvel stable, and while the more sombre tone of the story is reflected in the art, the sense of wonder out of which these characters grew is maintained as well. Pantazis's colors are rich and they reinforce the atmosphere of the tale solidly as well.
Ross's designs are imaginative and wondrous. Like the pencils, they capture the lighter origins of the characters while boasting an evolved maturity, even plausibility in some cases. The artist's affection for these characters is clear, and that appreciation bolsters his already-stunning work.
Krueger's script is informative and boasts a genuine sound. Still, it's too bad that he couldn't find room for a little more in the way of exposition. I'm not certain who some of the other Paradise Angels are, for example. To his credit, though, Krueger does manage to sum up the events of Universe X nicely; Mar-Vell's cosmic manipulations were spelled out clearly and concisely.
The plotlines are certainly far more intriguing this time around. The notion of an afterlife that must be protected from outside influence is compelling, as is the unimaginable horror of life without death. The wisest choice, though, was to anchor the story with Steve Rogers's desire to share paradise with a family he hardly knew.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
