Marvel Comics 2016
Written by Nick Spencer
Penciled by Mark Bagley
Inked by Scott Hanna
Coloured by Paul Mounts
Lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles
I’ve been away from Marvel for a year and a half now and I saw this book when I was in my local shoppe and with Nick writing, Mark, Scott and Paul doing the visuals (oh and a Scottie Young variant cover) I was like lets see what this is about. Now this is a higher price point at $4.99 but it’s also a larger issue, 35 pages of story so don’t be intimidated by that. What I found with this was something I wasn’t expecting. Interesting, fun, controversial and just the kind of storytelling that Nick shines with.
The opening has Bucky Barnes investigating S.H.I.E.L.D. for a disturbance that he received on the moon, he replaced Nick Fury during that whole Original Sin business for those who need a refresher. When we get to the credits page we learn more about a few things and this is kind of essential because it’s a chance for the reader to know what’s happening, at least peripherally so that you aren’t lost and can easily follow the story. These little touches that we used to get and sometimes still do make reading a new series or coming back to a company you’ve been away from less intimidating.
This story centers around a young man found in the woods with amnesia. The Sheriff finds him and brings him to town to see the Doc and that’s how he gets to Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill heh part Maria part Silent all kinds of mysterious and hella creepy. Still it’s so well done by Nick and that this man, call him Jim, as we see his transition from amnesia patient to new resident of Pleasant Hill. You don’t have to be a detective to spot the obvious clues in the story but then as Nick writes this it all has this weird Twilight Zone feel to it as Jim kind of remembers his past and repeatedly tries to escape only to be caught and let’s call it conditioned to stay.
So who is Jim and why is he being kept in this town against his will? Well it is actually revealed here and that’s the kind of ending you can’t spoil. In the meantime as you get to know Jim you kind of like him and feel for him through the writing, encounters, dialogue and characterization presented to us. There’s something about the way the story is being told that will completely enthrall and surprise the reader. It took me by surprise and it’s very much an intelligent thought provoking read for so many reasons that you’ll discover upon reading and it makes me excited in that way that this isn’t your typical experience. I love that about this because we crave things that surprise and thrill.
Mark is a great guy and his work is always on point. Along with the amazing talents of Scott and Paul they set this series apart with what they’ve brought to the table. The faces of these characters are incredibly well done and the emotion they bring and give off showcases the kind of talent on display. Plus the backgrounds here are used smartly with that seasoned eye, along with page and panel layouts to really get the eye to focus on what it needs to.
I highly recommend that you pick this up and check it out I think you’ll be more than pleasantly surprised.