|
B-SIDES #1
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
|
Marvel Comics
"Points of Interest"
Artist: Brett Weldele
Colors: Matt Madden
"Graduation Day"
Pencils: ChrisCross
Inks: Caesar
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Writer: Brian David-Marshall
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Andrew Lis
Price: $3.50 US/$5.75 CAN |
On the surface, B-Sides looks like something new in the super-hero genre. Weldele's style is far from conventional super-hero art, and the uber-hip teens who make up the title team are your typical super-set. But ultimately, the book falls into a familiar misfit-hero team template, and it's not served well by some initially vague storytelling. Still, there's some strong character work at play here.
Life in Raven's Perch, New Jersey is pretty average, and like everywhere else, it doesn't pay to be a teenager who doesn't fit in. And for a trio of teens, nothing spells "social outcast" like super-powers and non-conformist attitudes. "Mize," "Fateball," and "Jughandle" miss their friend Feeva -- who left the group and town under less than ideal circumstances -- and a proposition from a mysterious man (bearing beer) may just be what they're looking for.
Weldele's sketchy art matches the attitude of the main characters nicely, and it gives the book something of an underground/indy feel, but it doesn't capture the lighter side of the story and characters. ChrisCross's work on the second story does, though, and offers a much more crisp look at the title characters. However, the visuals don't flow smoothly at all; it's difficult to figure out what's going on at times.
Most of the confusion in the book, though, stems from the script. The nature of Mize's powers are never made clear. Is he telekinetic? Telepathic as well? I also don't pick up on the significance of his name, even though some of the characters do. I felt left out of the loop as a result. I was also surprised that David-Marshall didn't bother to explain what the title of the book meant; one characters begins to mention, but cuts himself off. I would imagine the creators are trying to appeal to young market with this title, and I don't think it's so weird to think that maybe a number of folks in that target market won't know of 75s and B-side singles.
The book's strength is the offbeat way in which the writer explores super-heroes. Forget about secret identities and violent retaliations against "freaks." There's a casual, everyday attitude when it comes to the characters' powers, both on their part and those around them. They're still outcasts, mind you, but it's a milder social rejection, something to which more of us can relate. That down-to-earth tone is the source of the greatest potential in B-Sides.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
