HUNTER KILLER #1 REVIEW

[Dylan McKay]

Reviewer: Dylan McKay dmzm@shaw.ca
Story Title: Untitled

I'm beginning to suspect that it's not supposed to make sense.

Writer: Mark Waid
Penciler: Marc Silvestri
Inkers: Joe B. Weems V & Eric Basaldua (pgs 16 & 17)
Ink Assists: Ryan Winn & Pat Aquino
Colors: Steve Firchow
Graphic/Logo Design: Spehar, Dreamer
Lettering: Spehar & Dreamer's Dennis Heisler

Covers:
A: Marc Silvestri, Joe Weems, Steve Firchow
B: Trevor Hairsine & Steve Firchow
C: J. Scott Campbell & Steve Firchow
D: Marc Silvestri, Joe Weems, Steve Firchow

Over protected
Nuclear rural warfare
No coincidence

Most any reviewer will tell you that the hardest issues to review are mediocre ones, Hunter Killer is no exception. The concept for the series seem strong, the main characters have cool, albeit vague, powers, Wolf has that mysterious bad-ass vibe down pat and Ellis does the naive nice guy very well. The book should have everything going for it. But something is clearly lost in the translation. The pacing seems all wrong, the story seems designed to set everything up as fast as possible. Many events seem too coincidental, for example, SPOILER! Samantha figuring out what Ellis is. The relationship between Ellis and his parents is just really weird and simply not well established enough to make the events of the issue impactful, or even particularly sensical. As for the art, it's Marc Silvestri, so depending on who you ask the score could be anywhere from a half star to five stars. The art won't change anyone's mind about Silvestri or his style, but it compares favourably to any other work he's done. Everything certainly looks “cool.” Ultimately, I find myself asking the wrong questions, I'm asking myself why do I care and why should I read the next issue. Rather than, what is Wolf up to, what will happen to Ellis and who are the Hunter Killers. It's not that it's horrible though, the concept and the characters definitely interest me. I guess it's like this is a strong third issue or so, but not an effective first issue.

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Buy Hunter Killer #1 online now from X-WORLD and save!

[Jon Hancock]

So this is the Supreme Power rip off with the Argent character who seems to be mildly influenced by DC. Hmmmm..... Might have a flick through.

[Patriot]

I liked it!Mark/c's seemed to set it up as a bit of a mystery i.e. your not supposed to know whats happening til a bit down the line.It picks up right after HK#0 so it's not a first issue.

4/5

[Dylan McKay]

I know it's not a first issue per say, but the issue 0 was insufficient as a prequel to this IMO.

Originally Posted by Jon Hancock

So this is the Supreme Power rip off with the Argent character who seems to be mildly influenced by DC. Hmmmm..... Might have a flick through.

I wouldn't say it's really a rip-off of anything, it's hard to say what it is really at this point. It strikes me as almost a comming of age story with super-powered killers and government conspiracies. Ask me again in a few issues what I think the general theme of it is. From the hype it is a buddy action/adventure book with superpowers that are an anti-black ops team.

[James Groves]

I picked up issue #0 a while ago and i thought the same: decent enough concept, promising ideas, but just a bit... meh. Bit too generic and coincidental and not very original. Didnt pick up this issue, but it doesnt seem as if it's got going as of yet, so i'll wait a bit before i try it again.

What's happening with the art duties on this - is Silv. staying on?

Originally Posted by Jon Hancock

So this is the Supreme Power rip off with the Argent character who seems to be mildly influenced by DC. Hmmmm..... Might have a flick through.

man... so HunterKiller is a rip off of Supreme Power which is a rip off of JLA!!

Nice review Dylan, enjoyed the Haiku.

[Dylan McKay]

Originally Posted by James Groves

I picked up issue #0 a while ago and i thought the same: decent enough concept, promising ideas, but just a bit... meh. Bit too generic and coincidental and not very original. Didnt pick up this issue, but it doesnt seem as if it's got going as of yet, so i'll wait a bit before i try it again.

What's happening with the art duties on this - is Silv. staying on?

Silvestri is staying on, apparantly he had an injury in the fall and was unable to do any work for a while, so there were some fears that he may have to drop the book, but what it ends up meaning is that there will be no April issue and he'll be sticking with the book.

I won't definatly stay with the book, but I won't say I won't buy #2 either. I'll probably wait to see some reviews from other people before deciding... Also depends on what comes out the same week...

[tormented_spawn]

Originally Posted by Dylan McKay

The relationship between Ellis and his parents is just really weird

Weird, probably, they were protective of their child and when Ellis was revealed to the Black Ops team, err Hunter Killers, the parents would rather kill their son than being subjective to whatever horrible (from the parents point of view) faith that waits for Ellis to the the Hunter whatyoumacallit.

Originally Posted by Jon Hancock

Jon Hancock
So this is the Supreme Power rip off with the Argent character who seems to be mildly influenced by DC. Hmmmm..... Might have a flick through.

So, are you going to try it or you going to crack jokes all day.

Read both #0 & 1 and it's quite solid title, so far. Though, you need to read #0, to warm up to Ellis and his parents and how loving they are, only to provide a twist in #1. Going to continue reading HK and see how it goes.

[Martin Dudek]

Missed out on #0, but am intrigued with #1 enough to pick up the next issue. Like everything else, it has till issue #3 to hook me in before I give up.

Interesting premise though. And I do enjoy Silvestri's art.

[Anand Khatri]

Sounds interesting enough, but I'll just read it at the store and if Ii like it I'll get the trade.

Nice touch with the Haiku.

Originally Posted by Jon Hancock

So this is the Supreme Power rip off with the Argent character who seems to be mildly influenced by DC. Hmmmm..... Might have a flick through.

Originally Posted by James Groves

man... so HunterKiller is a rip off of Supreme Power which is a rip off of JLA!!

But the Squadron is just so much cooler!

btw...Great Review!

[Rory]

I thought this issue was okay.Promising ideas but its seems all over the place/ Art is good though.I also have no idea whos good or bad at this point

[Al Harahap]

Nice read, but I was a little distracted by the art with the creepy-crawly thingies all over the body like for Witchblade and the Darkness. Surely, there are other visuals that can be given to new characters.

However, I don't mind the premise at all, which as noted already isn't the most original. But then I can only think of Stormwatch: Team Achilles and Supreme Power as being similar. Even then, Hunter Killer is a happy medium between the more realistic Stormwatch TA and the more fantastic Supreme Power. And how many Bat-books, Spider-books, Super-books, X-books do we have? Certainly more than three. So Hunter Killer is hardly redundant compared to what else is out there.

Originally Posted by Gambit rmc

I also have no idea whos good or bad at this point

I think that's the point. The morals of the characters aren't supposed to be as black and white as the typical superhero books. Waid even says something along those lines in the letter at the end (or maybe in an interview I read).