Infinity Man and the Forever People 2 (September 2014)

Infinity Man and the Forever People #2I was having trouble keeping track of what happened this issue until I realized the problem–nothing happens this issue. Didio and Giffen aren’t good at the banter with the marooned New Gods–or are they New Gods on their pilgrimage to Earth; it doesn’t matter. The banter’s lame. Four of the five leads are lame. And the last one is apparently a werewolf with some Wolverine influences.

At least he’s not lame.

The story has the team going to investigate some crop problems. There, they have an uninteresting battle with some soldiers from Apokolips. Why are they on Earth? No idea; it’s not as important as giving the titular Infinity Man–who looks like a Tron reject–a dramatic entrance.

There’s nothing terrible about the comic and nothing good either. Tom Grummett and Scott Hanna’s art looks less Kirby influenced than Byrne; strange. It’s all painfully indistinct and unimpressive.

C 

CREDITS

Wake Unto Me; writers, Keith Giffen and Dan Didio; penciller, Tom Grummett; inker, Scott Hanna; colorist, Mike Atiyeh; letterer, Travis Lanham; editors, Kyle Andrukiewicz and Joey Cavalieri; publisher, DC Comics.

Infinity Man and the Forever People 1 (August 2014)

Infinity Man and the Forever People #1It’s hard to get excited about Infinity Man and the Forever People because there’s only so much enthusiasm from creators Dan Didio and Keith Giffen. Giffen does a thoroughly competent job with the artwork; it looks and feels like a Kirby homage should look and feel. Didio even gets away with a blatant Kirby homage, just because it’s a readable “New 52” comic and deserves a lot of slack.

But it’s just The Forever People. Even if Didio’s apparently mixing it with “Melrose Place.” He doesn’t actually have any great ideas or even excited, problematic ones. It’s a safe comic.

About the most engaging thing is the lead-up to the cliffhanger just because things are moving. Equating the Highfather to Hitler isn’t moving, it’s exposition and boringly expressed. Didio does better other places, once the New Gods’ Earth guide shows up.

It’s a likable, but undercooked proposition so far.

B- 

CREDITS

Planet of the Humans; writers, Keith Giffen and Dan Didio; penciller, Giffen; inker, Scott Koblish; colorist, Hi-Fi; letterer, Travis Lanham; editors, Kyle Andrukiewicz and Joey Cavalieri; publisher, DC Comics.