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DEADLINE #2
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics
"Deadline, Part 2"
Writer: Bill Rosemann
Artist: Guy Davis
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Tom Brevoort
"Jay Leno & Spider-Man: One Night Only! (Don't Forget to Tip Your Waitress), Part One"
Writer: Ron Zimmerman
Pencils: Greg Capullo
Inks: Danny Miki
Colors: Avalon Studios
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Axel Alonso
Price: $2.99 US/$4.75 CAN |
Deadline: Rosemann has developed a nice mystery for his readers here, but the only reason that it's so engaging is that our guide from clue to clue -- and through the Marvel Universe -- is a well developed character that's believable despite her unbelievable surroundings. Davis's haunting art is as strong as ever, but there's a playful quality to be found in it as well.
Kat Farrell continues to investigate the strange fate of Michael Hart, trying to piece what might have transformed him into a villain-killing metahuman. She uses her contacts in the super-villain underground to sniff out some information, bringing her to the attention of the Judge, as well as some more unsavory types who want her fact-gathering to come to an end.
Davis's gritty style was an excellent choice for this story. Kat is poking around in the seedier side of the Marvel Universe, and Davis brings a grimy quality to the visuals that reinforces that notion. Stewart's colors are bright, but not in a conventional sense. There's a surreal quality to his work, one that's in keeping with the weirder side of Davis's approach to characters and storytelling.
Rosemann has instilled a number of strengths in his script. The characters are believable, and he treats a world of super-heroes in a logical fashion, adding credibility to incredible scenarios. The greatest strength, though, is the balance in the storytelling. The book boasts its dark, foreboding moments, appropriate to the tone of the Judge, but Deadline also has a fun humanity to it. Rosemann is having fun constructing Kat's life, and his glee is felt in this book.
Leno: This is one of two new backup features that are debuting in the back of several new Marvel releases. The other one -- "The Call of Duty" -- was well-crafted, and I look forward to following it. This one, on the other hand, is ill-conceived. An implausible premise, clunky dialogue and distracting art makes for an unpleasant read.
Looking to take a day off, Jay Leno has agreed to do a GM commercial in New York... if Spider-Man takes part in the shoot as well. No one, including Leno, expects ol' Webhead to turn up, but what they don't know is that J. Jonah Jameson has charged freelance photographer Peter Parker to find Spidey and get him to show up.
Well, it seems Marvel has Todd McFarlane handling the art chores on a Spider-Man story... sort of. Capullo's over-exaggerated style is obviously inspired by McFarlane's work, but the figures are so twisted and over the top so as to rob them of a plausible look. Sometimes, less is more (just check out Andi Watson's comic work for proof). Kemp's colors are far too gaudy as well.
There's little in this story that's believable. The premise boasts the simplicity and forced quality worthy of a subpar Silver Age story. The dialogue is far too plentiful and expositionary, and just about every character (several of which go unidentified) are jerks. And on top of that, it's just not funny.
Note: Since the backup story appears in several of this week's Marvel Comics releases, it does no factor into the rating for this review.
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