Marvel heavily promoted Keith Giffen's Nick Fury's Howling Commandos through its entire line this month, but they were backing the wrong horse from Giffen's stable. Drax, like many other strong but unfortunately ignored efforts from the publisher, is fun, inventive and full of unconventional visuals. Also unconventional is the characterization he offers up for the young human players in the story. Drax is goofy, edgy and clever, and while not many are paying attention to the series, it ought to solidify MItch Breitweiser's reputation in the industry the way Adam Strange made people sit up and take notice of Pascual Ferry.
AS the Blood Brothers continue to pummel Drax in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, Cammi, the young, bored girl who investigated the alien crash site, stumbles upon Paibok, the super-Skrull, and the bloodthirsty Lunatik. She fails to hold their interest, and that's when the Drax/Brothers melee lands in front of the girl, giving her something, and someone, to manipulate. Meanwhile, Paibok and Lunatik venture into the nearby town and set up shop, preparing a way to get off Earth and to avoid the attention of the world's super-heroes.
Breitweiser really makes the inhuman characters that dominate this story come to life. His detailed approach, reminiscent of the styles of Barry (Legion of Super-Heroes) Kitson and Greg (Ultimate Fantastic Four) Land, is lovely, but he doesn't take the realism too far. Lunatik is a dark, scary figure despite the lighter tone of his dialogue. The artist is also successful is distinguishing between the title character and Paipok despite their similar appearances. The action is explosive, but the intensity in the characters' eyes is just as captivating.
What really sets this story apart is Cammi. She's not your typical kid who befriends an alien. Cammi is a borderline sociopath. Nothing fazes her, and she's not looking to make a friend or save the world. She just wants to be entertained. She's devoid of fear, of sadness and of conscience. She's too smart for her own good, and her new connection with Drax is like giving Cro Magnon man the A-bomb.
Of course, the seemingly civilized and intelligent mannerisms of Paibok represent some strong writing as well. He's not a typical alien villain. He's not after glory, world domination or even a tasty human snack. He just wants to be free and live his life, and he's calmly taking steps to ensure that happens. He uses reason and brutality to accomplish his goals, and the contrast between his civility and his cold employment of lethal violence has a great impact. 9/10
