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Posted by Don MacPherson on October 12th, 2006
Gen13 v.4 #1
“Best of a Bad Lot, Part One: And on the First Day”
Writer: Gail Simone
Pencils: Talent Caldwell
Inks: Matt Banning
Colors: Carrie Strachan
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Cover artists: Caldwell & Banning
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Publisher: DC Comics/Wildstorm Productions
Price: $2.99 US/$4 CAN
I am not a Gen13 fan. Never have been, and I’ve sampled the property at various points in its history, including the initial run. There have been a couple of entertaining stories, but those were the result of talented writers and artists using the title characters as generic super-hero characters. Now, normally I’d pass on a new Gen13 title, but anything with Gail Simone attached as a writer earns a look as far as I’m concerned. Unfortunately, the second issue isn’t going to get a glance. I’m honestly surprised that Simone is the writer on this inaugural issue, given that the script is completely lacking in her trademark wit and style. I’m also at a loss as to why this series is starting things over at the beginning again. I realize they’re after new readers, but the attempt at accessibility falls flat and the story is bound to bore die-hard Gen13 fans.
International Operations is the most powerful intelligence agency on the planet, and it’s gone so far to launch a program to develop its own metahuman soldiers and agents. The division in charge of creating those superhumans is Tabula Rasa, and the corrupt department has found a new revenue stream to further its research and experiments: super-powered sex and violence for sale to the wealthiest, sickest voyeurs. Meanwhile, five teens struggle through humiliating and painful lives, unaware they’re about to be harvested as the latest batch of Tabula Rasa’s guinea pigs.
Talent Caldwell is perhaps best known for imitating the style of Michael Turner, but with this project, he demonstrates that he can ape the style of other artists as well. This has a strong J. Scott Campbell vibe to it, which is appropriate for the title, but I wonder if Caldwell has his own style that’s he’s kept hidden from the industry throughout his career. As was the case with the original Gen13 comics, there’s far too strong a visual emphasis on certain physical attributes of the feminine forms. There’s a wide-eyed, manga influence at play that will appeal to fans of typical Japanese comic art, but I find it’s overdone. Furthermore, that brighter tone flies in the face of the corruption and depravity that’s at play in the plot.
The most frustrating visual problem with the book, though, is to be found on the first page. The IM screens are colors so darkly that it’s difficult to make out what’s printed in those caption boxes. This is the first thing the reader sees when delving into this comic book, and it’s a frustrating distraction.
The emphasis in this issue is on Tabula Rasa, and the notion that it illegally taps its resources to boost its own revenue stream is one that brings credibility to the story. Of course, the agency is so corrupt and sadistic that it’s difficult to accept, so credibility is still a problem. The brief connection between Roxy and her “mom” later in the book works well, but it’s fleeting.
Another problem with that scene — and with all of the scenes featuring the five main characters — is that they’re repetitive. Each faces the same problems, the same pain, and ultimately, each witnesses the same protective change of heart in parents. Furthermore, what we do learn about these characters is superficial. I was especially irked by the fact that Rainmaker seems to be defined only by her sexuality and her race (at least in the eyes of the other characters).
You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger fan of Gail Simone’s work, and despite my reaction to this comic book, I remain a big fan. This comic just doesn’t read like a Simone script, and given the simplicity of the core concept, I don’t see why Wildstorm wanted to start over from scratch. The benefit of telling stories featuring teen characters is that the reader gets to see them grow up, and now any character development that might have transpired before seems to be lost. 2/10
October 13th, 2006 at 12:05 am
With the rather pedestrian Wetworks last week and the two titles this week (am I missing one?), I’m really disappointed with the DC/Wildstorm relaunch. I remember eyeballin’ the creative teams some time ago and they more than piqued my interest as I had to control my Pavlovian response. Too bad these books didn’t put up much of a fight and have a record of “0 fer 3″ so far. I had hopes…
October 13th, 2006 at 12:13 am
The Worldstorm promo book was released this week as well (reviewed in my Oct. 11 Quick Critiques). The StormWatch: PHD preview was disappointing, but Gail Simone and Neil Googe’s Tranquility shows a lot of promise.
October 13th, 2006 at 2:24 am
I flipped through the Worldstorm book on the strength of your review. Tranquility does look purty good, so I may give it a shot. In my opinion, Jim Lee’s lost his Midas Touch. Most of his projects either on DC mainstream or Wildstorm have been more miss than hit for me. Hopefully, the powers that be in WS Central can respond in kind and “revamp the relaunch” while some momentum is still rolling, albeit ssslllooooolllyyy…(someone PLEASE wipe the molasses off of the wheels!)…
October 13th, 2006 at 3:41 am
I think it’s too early to give up on the new Wildstorm line altogether. Remember, next week marks the debut of two new Grant Morrison titles: The Authority relaunch and Wildcats: Worldstorm. You never know what Morrison has up his sleeve. And there’s potential in a Garth Ennis Midnighter book as well (especially with Chris Sprouse on art).
October 13th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Sorry you didn’t care for it, Don! I disagree with a lot of what you’ve said here (in fact, I think Gen13 is one of the best things I’ve ever written and I don’t say that kind of stuff very often), but as always, I dig your reviews and got nothin’ but respect for you. Hopefully you’ll like Tranquility better if you pick it up.
Psssssst. Everyone else…
Don’s lost it. He’s gone nuts. Gen13 is great, don’t listen to him. A six foot red-headed girl turned him down once at a Junior High dance and he’s never gotten over it so Fairchild sends him into a spitting rage. Shhhh. It’s awesome. Really. Don’t tell Don I said he’s nuts. But he’s nuts now. Honest. He’s gone to the edge and fell over. Nice guy, totally nuts. Don’t tell him I said.
Back! Anyway, sincere best wishes and hope you give next issue a shot before you give up on us, Don!
Gail
October 13th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Gail wrote:
Don’s lost it. He’s gone nuts. Gen13 is great, don’t listen to him. A six foot red-headed girl turned him down once at a Junior High dance and he’s never gotten over it so Fairchild sends him into a spitting rage.
You’re so wrong. It was in high school, not junior high, and she was a blonde.
October 13th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Psssssssst, now he can’t even remember hair colors.
Dude’s lost it.
Gail
October 13th, 2006 at 7:15 pm
Plus he says an Apache lesbian girl ate his kitten, which I think he TOTALLY made up.
Gail
October 13th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Isn’t “lesbian girl” redundant?
October 13th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
No, Don. Aren’t you a professional writer?
There are, obviously, lesbian ‘girls’ and then there are lesbian ‘women,’ for a start.
Sheesh, the things critics don’t know. Amazing they’re allowed out of their cages during the day.
Gail
October 13th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
In case anyone doesn’t know, Don is a good friend and I’m just teasing him.
psst. He’s nuts.
Gail
October 13th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
the story is bound to bore die-hard Gen13 fans
For sure. This new attempt at Gen 13 falls flat on its face. Both the writing and the artwork were underwhelming, and nothing in the first issue makes me want to pick up the second. A total dud.
Jim and Grant, please don’t let me down on WildCATs!
October 13th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Oh, well, if TOM said!
Gail
October 13th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Tom & Don & Kevin & others. Definitely not just Tom.
October 13th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Gail, I do know you’re teasing. And you’re right about the girl/woman distinction; I should have picked up on that. Just bear in mind that when straight men hear the word “lesbian,” we tend to get… distracted.
And stop talking about my nuts.
Ba-dum-bump.
October 13th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Who the hell are Tom and Kevin, though?
Anyway, Don’s nuts are…
Wait, GROSS, DON!
Gail
October 13th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Gail wrote:
Wait, GROSS, DON!
And thus concludes this evening’s presentation of Low Brow Comedy in Internet Discussion Theatre.
Next week: Farts on Broadway. (It’s a musical, of course.)
October 15th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
Don,
Take it from me, amigo. NEVER play verbal volleyball with Gail. She’ll spike ya everytime.
Beau Smith-The Voice Of Experience.
October 16th, 2006 at 6:50 am
Gail says: In case anyone doesn’t know, Don is a good friend and I’m just teasing him.
Don once said: You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger fan of Gail Simone’s work than me.
Isn’t it sweet? ^_^
October 17th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
I picked this up after a long long semi-hiatus from comics (only picking up Lucifer and Fables in trades) but I didnt feel that “WOW!” factor in this. There wasnt a character or concept that I could just latch on to. However like Don I feel like it was a pacing issue. Like good red wine, it would have been nice to see some of the characters breath and grow some legs….. Oh wait Caitland did.
Curt