Brett Boyko
Apr 28, 2002, 02:53 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/morlocks1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/morlocks1t.jpg" align=left alt="Morlocks #1"></a>Reviewer: Brett Boyko, virgoblac@hotmail.com
Quick Rating: Very Good
Story Title: Initiation
These are the mutants who just want to survive. They don’t want to be heroes. They don’t want to be villains. They are the Morlocks.
Written by: Geoff Johns
Pencilled by: Shawn Martinbrough
Lettered by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Oscar Gongora
Colored by: Gregory Wright
Assistant Editor: Pete Franco
Editor: Mark Powers
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Welcome to the world of the Morlocks. They live under the streets of our cities forever hiding from Sentinels and angry mobs. These mutants have been little more than urban legends - until now.
Here’s the skinny:
Cell is a fatally wounded and a newly turned mutant. While being hunted down by police he flees into the sewers only to be rescued by a group of Morlocks: Postman, Electric Eve, Trader, Angel Dust, Shatter and Litterbug. Cell eventually joins them and ties himself to a secret pact.
Here’s the verdict:
To be honest I didn’t know what to expect from this mini-series. Given that most readers knowledge of Morlocks (or maybe just mine) comes from them getting their butts thrashed by other heroes or getting ground underfoot by Sentinels then what is there really to get excited about?
For starters, a LOT.
First Geoff Johns deserves a lot of credit for creating an intriguing tale and not just a little either, I mean truck loads. Trucks the size of Galactus. You get the idea. This isn’t just a tale of the wannabe X-Men from the wrong side of the tracks. It’s a grim and gritty story about a group of strangers who band together to help each other fulfill one last ‘wish’ on the surface world. Without turning sappy you could say it’s a story about ‘hope.’ Not the fluffy kind of hope. I mean the kind of hope that when you have less than literally nothing then it’s the only thing keeping you alive.
Morlocks is also a tale where each member holds a certain mystery: Trader refuses to let anyone speak of his origin where as Litterbug’s ties to the military create a curiosity that won’t let go. Shatter can quote Malcolm X and given the context he’s in it makes it even more meaningful. Even Postman, who acts as a mentor figure, reveals a depth of insight not always found in most heroes. So you have well crafted characters riddled with secrets. Then you bind them together with a common need to have one wish fulfilled. The result is a lot of questions with virtually no answers.
Also given that Johns spectrum of story telling includes the JSA, Avengers, 9-11, and Sins of Youth, this latest addition fits nicely into the brand of excellence I’ve come to expect from him.
But let’s face it: Behind every good writer you need and equally skilled artist. Am I right or am I right?
Shawn Martinbrough’s art is fantastic in this issue. At first glance you might think that Morlocks has a cartoony feel to it. But once you get into it you’ll find that those edgy-dark-lines and harsh-angles create an atmosphere symbolic of the Morlock’s world: unrelenting and in-your-face. Whether you’re watching litterbug tear through some mutant hunting cops or Angel Dust motioning to keep quiet, the art accentuates the story beautifully. One of my favourite parts of the book is the centre spread as you get a nice look at what Martinbrough is capable of. He uses dark lines, and subtle expressions to add to the mystery of the individual Morlocks that Johns has established.
If you want to define the art the word you’re looking for is ‘intense’. Gregory Wright adds to the feel of the book using bold colours and strong contrasts between light and dark. Let’s face it: these guys knew what they were doing when they got together on this one.
Overall I’m not saying this style of art appeals to me on every level. I’m also not saying everyone will appreciate it on first or even second reads but it IS incredibly effective in telling the story.
Just be warned Morlocks is not without its flaws. It takes a while for the story to actually get moving which is not necessarily a good thing. Also, while the majority of the art is excellent there are those panels that appear a tad too cartoonish and could easily be axed from the story without interrupting the flow.
For my dime, Morlocks is a solid read. Is it worth shelling out the cash so you can have your own copy and brag about to your friends and be buried with it at a ripe old age? Definitely. If nothing else it provides a new look into a part of the mutant world that too many times goes overlooked.
It’s impressive what Johns has accomplished here as he has made a compelling story with all-new characters that are instantly believable. He has taken the traditional Marvel idea of what Morlocks are, and moved the concept away from solely existing in New York, but an ultimately more believable concept of the universal underdog that exists in each city. I’m interested to see what else they can come up with for the rest of the series as what I’ve seen here is more than enough to make me hunger for more.
As for the rest of the series only time will tell. But if the team of Johns and Martinbrough can keep up what they’ve started then this is probably going to be one of the better mini-series Marvel puts out this year.
{Just remember I could be wrong. There’s a first time for everything.}
Art:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Story:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Overall:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html)
Quick Rating: Very Good
Story Title: Initiation
These are the mutants who just want to survive. They don’t want to be heroes. They don’t want to be villains. They are the Morlocks.
Written by: Geoff Johns
Pencilled by: Shawn Martinbrough
Lettered by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Oscar Gongora
Colored by: Gregory Wright
Assistant Editor: Pete Franco
Editor: Mark Powers
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Welcome to the world of the Morlocks. They live under the streets of our cities forever hiding from Sentinels and angry mobs. These mutants have been little more than urban legends - until now.
Here’s the skinny:
Cell is a fatally wounded and a newly turned mutant. While being hunted down by police he flees into the sewers only to be rescued by a group of Morlocks: Postman, Electric Eve, Trader, Angel Dust, Shatter and Litterbug. Cell eventually joins them and ties himself to a secret pact.
Here’s the verdict:
To be honest I didn’t know what to expect from this mini-series. Given that most readers knowledge of Morlocks (or maybe just mine) comes from them getting their butts thrashed by other heroes or getting ground underfoot by Sentinels then what is there really to get excited about?
For starters, a LOT.
First Geoff Johns deserves a lot of credit for creating an intriguing tale and not just a little either, I mean truck loads. Trucks the size of Galactus. You get the idea. This isn’t just a tale of the wannabe X-Men from the wrong side of the tracks. It’s a grim and gritty story about a group of strangers who band together to help each other fulfill one last ‘wish’ on the surface world. Without turning sappy you could say it’s a story about ‘hope.’ Not the fluffy kind of hope. I mean the kind of hope that when you have less than literally nothing then it’s the only thing keeping you alive.
Morlocks is also a tale where each member holds a certain mystery: Trader refuses to let anyone speak of his origin where as Litterbug’s ties to the military create a curiosity that won’t let go. Shatter can quote Malcolm X and given the context he’s in it makes it even more meaningful. Even Postman, who acts as a mentor figure, reveals a depth of insight not always found in most heroes. So you have well crafted characters riddled with secrets. Then you bind them together with a common need to have one wish fulfilled. The result is a lot of questions with virtually no answers.
Also given that Johns spectrum of story telling includes the JSA, Avengers, 9-11, and Sins of Youth, this latest addition fits nicely into the brand of excellence I’ve come to expect from him.
But let’s face it: Behind every good writer you need and equally skilled artist. Am I right or am I right?
Shawn Martinbrough’s art is fantastic in this issue. At first glance you might think that Morlocks has a cartoony feel to it. But once you get into it you’ll find that those edgy-dark-lines and harsh-angles create an atmosphere symbolic of the Morlock’s world: unrelenting and in-your-face. Whether you’re watching litterbug tear through some mutant hunting cops or Angel Dust motioning to keep quiet, the art accentuates the story beautifully. One of my favourite parts of the book is the centre spread as you get a nice look at what Martinbrough is capable of. He uses dark lines, and subtle expressions to add to the mystery of the individual Morlocks that Johns has established.
If you want to define the art the word you’re looking for is ‘intense’. Gregory Wright adds to the feel of the book using bold colours and strong contrasts between light and dark. Let’s face it: these guys knew what they were doing when they got together on this one.
Overall I’m not saying this style of art appeals to me on every level. I’m also not saying everyone will appreciate it on first or even second reads but it IS incredibly effective in telling the story.
Just be warned Morlocks is not without its flaws. It takes a while for the story to actually get moving which is not necessarily a good thing. Also, while the majority of the art is excellent there are those panels that appear a tad too cartoonish and could easily be axed from the story without interrupting the flow.
For my dime, Morlocks is a solid read. Is it worth shelling out the cash so you can have your own copy and brag about to your friends and be buried with it at a ripe old age? Definitely. If nothing else it provides a new look into a part of the mutant world that too many times goes overlooked.
It’s impressive what Johns has accomplished here as he has made a compelling story with all-new characters that are instantly believable. He has taken the traditional Marvel idea of what Morlocks are, and moved the concept away from solely existing in New York, but an ultimately more believable concept of the universal underdog that exists in each city. I’m interested to see what else they can come up with for the rest of the series as what I’ve seen here is more than enough to make me hunger for more.
As for the rest of the series only time will tell. But if the team of Johns and Martinbrough can keep up what they’ve started then this is probably going to be one of the better mini-series Marvel puts out this year.
{Just remember I could be wrong. There’s a first time for everything.}
Art:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Story:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Overall:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html)