The Mighty (2009) #10

M10

It’s kind of like an Elseworlds title–instead of Red Son, it could be Superman: Iron Cross or something. Alpha One’s a Nazi, just a … altruistic one. His full origin is revealed here (it’s not really Superman, but it’s close enough) and it finally slows The Mighty down. The reader finally has to pay attention–too bad it’s happening in the tenth issue instead of the third or fourth.

Tomasi and Champagne never hint the truth about Alpha One’s sinister plans (actually, they’re just Machiavellian and the issue’s cliffhanger and limited time to resolve imply a particular ending) before this issue so it’s a bit of a surprise. It’s thoughtful and unexpected. Unfortunately, it’s a little too late.

After spending so long hiding the secret (in a series with way too fast pacing), there’s no time left for them to do really anything with it but quickly wrap it up.

The Mighty (2009) #9

Maybe it was a movie script. I can’t think a time DC did one of those before–adapting a movie script into a comic when it wasn’t an adaptation–but Marvel did it with a Dr. Strange series once. It’d really explain The Mighty‘s pacing; the series probably reads great in trade, without the breaks, just because it’s all coming at you, snap, snap, snap, and the cliffhangers in the issues just ruin the flow.

This issue is an all action issue beyond my standard use of the term. Absolutely nothing happens here except Cole running from Alpha One and having a couple, but not enough, tricks up his sleeve. It feels like a four minute sequence in a movie, which is why my comment earlier. It works as a visceral experience, but certainly not as a comic book.

And I still can’t believe they killed Cole’s wife off panel.

The Mighty (2009) #8

Again with the terrible pacing. It almost seems like Tomasi and Champagne are happy once they’ve got one conversation an issue; everything around it is filler. And this issue is almost entirely a talking heads book (with the exception of Alpha One getting pissed off and doing something really suspicious like bury a ticking nuclear bomb).

There’s still the lush color, so the book looks incredible–Samnee, who I’m mostly unfamiliar with, is a fantastic artist–but again, there’s a lot of writing issues.

It’s the bothersome logic stuff. A superhero–the only superhero–has time to sit around and watch over six hours of movies without saving anyone? Why has Alpha One forgotten about all of Cole’s suspicions (apparently forgotten)?

There’s also the first hint at the true origin of Alpha One. Tomasi and Champagne reference Superman as an inspiration of sorts, which works well.

Engaging but too short.

The Mighty (2009) #7

First, someone made a big art decision about this issue and I can’t tell who. It’s Samnee on pencils and inks and John Kalisz coloring; Kalisz has been coloring the whole series, Samnee’s been on for an issue before this one. The coloring of The Mighty is now incredibly lush and vibrant. The story’s also intensifying–Alpha One is now killing everyone left and right and it’s clear the series is going somewhere nasty–but the colors….

All this terrible stuff is going on in these amazing colors.

The issue moves way too fast again, as Tomasi and Champagne can’t make a solid decision between protagonist and antagonist. Alpha One gets more panels than Cole and Cole’s supposed to be the lead. Here he’s kind of a guest star.

There’s some weird stuff going on with the dialogue–Alpha One’s pop culture reference to Star Trek II boggles the mind.

The Mighty (2009) #6

What an issue. The pacing is awful–I’m pretty sure it took me about three minutes to read–because the whole thing is just a conversation. After discovering, Alpha One is nuts or something, protagonist–the first time I’ve ever referred to him as such–Gabe hangs out with Alpha One in space for a really creepy moment.

Then the rest of the issue is Gabe trying to tell his wife Alpha One is a nutso without Alpha One hearing but Alpha One does hear.

It’s not so much a weak issue as it is a weak half issue. The Mighty, for a twelve issue limited (or whatever, it was going to be ongoing at one point, right?), is seriously lacking any subplots. It’s all about Gabe discovering Alpha One is a fruitcake bad guy masquerading as a good guy. Or something along those lines.

But it’s got no texture.

The Mighty (2009) #5

For Samnee’s first issue, apparently Tomasi and Champagne aren’t going to beat around the bush. Alpha One goes from being a hero with some quirks to being an intergalactic villain. Well, maybe not intergalactic–the alien things on the last page look a lot like something out of War of the Worlds.

Samnee’s art, which is even less superhero style than Snejbjerg’s, fits the series, though it’s unfair to compare the two because Samnee isn’t tasked with trying to infer deception behind Alpha One’s otherwise heroic demeanor.

What’s shocking about the issue is how fast Tomasi and Champagne introduce the bad stuff–there’s a lot of implications against Alpha One–before he goes and murders someone. After spending three and a half issues being cagey about it, The Mighty enters Irredeemable territory–the two books premiered around the same time, which is interesting. No one talked about The Mighty though.

The Mighty (2009) #4

Ok, even if a commenter hadn’t given away the ominousness I’m feeling, this issue would have pretty much done it. There’s a lot of Alpha One being really, really weird here.

As far as Snejbjerg’s art and the changing face of Alpha One, I think he’s trying to intimate there’s something else going on but it’s just not coming off well. Instead of different expressions, it’s different faces entirely.

Tomasi and Champagne borrow another Superman movie scene here too, this time from Superman III. Given The Mighty appears to be a superhero going bad or superhero with lots of secrets book, like Irredeemable or, to some extent, Incognito, it’s surprising it doesn’t comment on superhero comics as much as it uses culturally ingrained superhero conventions (for a particularly age group at least).

It’s an interesting series; a complete second reading, once finished with the twelve issues, might be quite useful.

The Mighty (2009) #3

I’m reading The Mighty about as blind as anyone can read anything. I picked it up because of Tomasi and Snejbjerg reuniting after that angel one they did. Well, mostly because of Snejbjerg (so it’s hilarious it’s his contribution I have the most issue with, once again, his faces are way too loose, way too inconsistent–I get he goes for iconic with the superhero sometimes, but it looks like a completely different guy in close-ups).

In other words, I have no idea what’s going on. Either it’s about a superhero who’s got some issues–he busts in on his handler’s home life either out of overzealousness or to prove a point to the handler’s wife he’s number one, same goes for letting his handler almost suffocate in a room of his secret headquarters.

And there’s even more.

While I like not knowing, I’m also worried I’m just projecting.

The Mighty (2009) #2

There’s a big moment in the second issue of The Mighty directly informed, at least in the general consciousness, by Superman Returns (I’d heard it’s from an Alex Ross piece, but whatever, I’ve never seen it)–Alpha One, the superhero of the book (the world’s only superhero), is up in the rain listening for trouble. It’s kind of cool and kind of not. It’s cool because it makes sense. It’s not because, well, it’s the whole global superhero only in one city thing. I mean, I get it, it’s a good sequence, but it’s not ideal.

Also not ideal is Snejbjerg’s art. I love the guy, but he doesn’t keep his characters consistent here. Alpha One looks different every panel (in fact, in a lot of them he looks like a complete psychopath).

The book’s a strong one–it’s a different approach, positive but remaining thoughtfully realistic–it’s just unsteady.

The Mighty (2009) #1

There have been superhero comics where the superheroes aren’t in it (just look at DC’s current Superman output), but I think I mean more like The Boys or something along those lines. These revisionist takes on superheroes, where it’s sometimes more about the reaction.

The Mighty takes it a step further. The superhero never says a word the entire issue; instead, it’s all about his support team. Tomasi and Champagne nicely bring the reader up to date on everything–it’s not the DC Universe, it’s its own thing–with one flashback and some interviews. It works well.

Until the end, when you’re left not knowing what’s going on and changing protagonists at the drop of a hat.

It’s a strong comic book with a weak final five pages. It needs something more substantial, instead of just vague insinuations.

Snejbjerg art is excellent as usual, but is a little looser here.