THE THING: FREAKSHOW #1
"Rock Bottom"
Recommended (7/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Scott Kolins
Inks: Andy Lanning
Colors: David Self
Letters: Randy Gentile
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.99 US/$4.75 CAN |
I can't think of any other Marvel limited series in recent memory that I've been anticipating more than this one. The reason: it features the talents of the current creative team from DC's The Flash. This first issue doesn't strike me as being quite as strong as their collaboration on The Flash, but there is a lot of potential here, along with a decent story.
Ben Grimm may be able to change back into human form these days, but his monstrous appearance and how people react to it (ranging from fear to disinterest) still hurts even today. And when his rocky hide is injured in battle and he's stuck in his Thing form again, he decides he needs some time alone, away from his picture-perfect teammates. However, his solitary journey quickly goes awry.
Those looking for same kind of art that Kolins provides on The Flash won't find it here. Don't get me wrong; it's still quite good, and I love his take on the Thing. But if the art here proves anything, it's how much influence an inker has over the finished product. Kolins's grittier style is still preserved, but Andy Lanning's inks employ thinner lines, making for a slightly different effect. The colors are a bit different as well, but the muted tones reinforce the slightly twisted nature of the title character and those he encounters in the opening and closing scenes.
The Thing's unconventional but quite basic journey is a key element in this issue. First of all, it represents him trying to recapture his everyday humanity. No Fantasti-Cars. No first-class flights. But just as important is how funny the trip is. It brings a smile to the reader's face, in part because many of us can think back on our own travel fiascos and therefore relate to Ben Grimm's frustrations here.
It's easy to see, though, that this story isn't going to really take off until the second issue, when the subtitle -- Freakshow -- really comes into play. Sure, we've seen stuff like this before on occasion, but I'm looking forward to what Johns has up his sleeve. He's proven that he can combine traditional comic storytelling elements with new perspectives, and I suspect we'll see more of that as this series progresses.
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