In a brief essay at the back of this issue, editor Andy Schmidt anticipates the inevitable questions and incredulity that a Drax comic is likely to elicit. Of course, by the time the reader reaches that bit of text at the back of the comic, he or she will already have the answer. The art on this book is stunning. Mitch Breitweiser isn't a wet-behind-the-ears newbie, but he's a relative unknown -- but not for much longer, I suspect. And as for Giffen, this is the strongest, non-farcical script we've seen from him in years. The plot follows something of a formula, but it's executed perfectly. Furthermore, one needn't be familiar with the title character (or the obscure villains who turn up in the story) in order to appreciate it.
An alien prison transport makes it way across the galaxy, carrying some of the most dangerous and powerful beings to plague the universe. The inmates are full of rage and power, and given the level of discussion, full of bluster as well. Except for one quiet prisoner who sits in his cell with nothing to say. He's the simple-minded Drax, but despite his intellectual shortcomings, he knows something significant is about to happen: a crash-landing. Meanwhile, two kids in a quiet, sleepy, boring town yearn for some excitement in their lives. They're about to get it, in spades.
Breitweiser's photorealistic art boasts an almost painted look that puts me in mind of Greg (X-Men: Phoenix - Endsong) Land's style. I'm also reminded of the styles of such artists as John (Astonishing X-Men) Cassaday and Ivan (The Rann/Thanagar War) Reis. Breitweiser conveys the power and presence of the buffed alien inmates quite well, and the darker leanings in his style adds mystery and menace to the mix. Reber's colors help to maintain that darkness and eerie mood. One of my favorite visual aspects of the book are the fonts used to convey the alien dialogue of the various prisoners; it's accessible yet sufficiently unusual to achieve its goal.
The majority of this first issue consists of a select group of convicts talking among themselves, and Giffen's script manages to maintain a grounded tone while still maintaining the characters' alien and brutish qualities. The Power Skrull's cold, calculating personality makes for a nice balance with the low-brow "alien redneck" qualities of the Blood Brothers.
While incorporating some references to the Marvel Universe in general and to Drax's past in particular, Giffen's script nevertheless has an air of newness to it, as though the title character were a new one and that the creators were starting with a blank canvas. It makes for an accessible tone that new readers will find inviting. I'm just curious as to how Marvel intends to lure readers in to begin with. Little marketing has been done for this title, and Drax isn't exactly the kind of comic-book icon that's going to get customers to come running. This is another example of a Marvel debut that seems to be neglected by the publisher so it can promote titles that are already performing well. 8/10
