Wanted
by J.G. Jones, Mark Millar
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Book Reviews of Wanted
Book Review: WOW!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Rarely does a graphic novel come along that is original, witty, and hard hitting. Watchmen, the first Preacher graphic, Dark Knight.... All of them were no only great literary works -they were new. Joining this select group is Wanted.
Often you hear books claiming to be a fresh take on heroes and villains, but this book delivers. Wesley Gibson is a poor, slovenly looser with nothing going on for him, until he finds that not only is he the son of the world's most dangerous villain, he's also the villain's heir, with the condition that he learns to become a hard nosed killer, and learns to take control of his life. The world is unlike any other comic book world. All the heroes are dead, or remade, and only villains exists now.
But the plot only begins there. With only villains left betrayal, brutality, and bloodshed run rampant. With more plot twists and turns than a Gordian knot, Wanted is the hard hitting uncompromising book.
Needless to say, the language is realistically foul, and book is soaked in blood. It's definitely a mature readers only title.
For those of you who are still thinking about getting it, stop thinking and grab one now. It's Millar uncensored, and that's just as scary as a world full of villains.
This volume contains Wanted #1-6, Wanted: Dossier #1, behind the scenes notes, and a full cover gallery.
Highest possible recommendations.
Book Review: No More Heroes
Summary: 4 Stars
For a while, I've really 'wanted' to reread and re-review Mark Millar's ultraviolet comic. Having reread it, I still prefer this over the watered-down movie version with Angelina Jolie. In fact, this would've made a better movie!
When mild-mannered loser Wesley Gibson discovers a secret society of supervillains that have been running the world since 1986, he embraces his late father's identity as the Killer, the deadliest man alive. While this could very well be the finest revenge fantasy comic ever written, it does have its share of problems. While the pencils of J.G. Jones do their job well, most of the character designs are just parodies of more famous comic book personalities, and pro wrestler Scott Steiner, ... and rapper Eminem, ... and actress Halle Berry, ... and Tommy Lee Jones. Millar also has issues with some of his characters' personalities, making them sound proper and politically correct one minute and vulgar and unapologetic the next. And for a story of its kind, it suffers from occasional "emo" moments, especially in the final chapter. It's far from a masterpiece, but it's still a wild ride to the dark side! This paperback includes an introduction by Brain K. Vaughan, an excerpt from Millar character profiles, concept art, variant covers, and deleted scenes.
This comic is unrated: Graphic Violence, Brief Nudity, Adult Language, Adult Situations.
Book Review: Waste of Carbon
Summary: 1 Stars
There is so much wrong with story that it's hard to put it into words. This could have been a dark story about how the government drove the superheros to hunt down all the supervillians until all the heroes were used up. Then the supervillians are forced underground to fight the repressive government forces for freedom and recruiting new talent when they can ... but no, instead it's a light-hearted comedy about a young man who, to win $10 million, has to become an amoral, psychotic, sociopath serial rapist and murderer and then kill someone special he never knew. And we learn what Foxy on Comedy Centrals "Drawn Together" did before she got that gig.
The premise is that the super-villians out number the super-heroes so by getting together and planning their attacks to use their numerical superiority they wipe the heros out. To rub salt in the wound of the dead heroes they use a machine to make the world as if there never were any super heroes.
After the "change" life has never been so boring for super-villians. There is no consequences for their actions. There is no danger. They are free to do as they please except!!! They must never wear their costumes where ordinary people can see them. Rictus and the Future had it right.
The art is excellent. The story could have gone many directions but the one Mr. Millar took it in made this a poor use of carbon.
Book Review: Not What You're Expecting
Summary: 4 Stars
Wanted is definately a jaw-dropper. I can't believe Mark Millar can get away with this stuff. Of course all this shocking material pertains to super-villains and the criminally evil, but man does he push boundaries. It wasn't enough to disgust me, but it was enough to amaze me. You may find some of the material written here to be too much, and I'm here to let you know it's way more hardcore than Kick-Ass.
The Good: Wanted is one of a kind. I've never read anything that comes close to the sinister quality about this book. It's cruel, but really fresh. I liked the idea of letting the bad guys win for once. It brought a huge sense of originality to the book. Most of the characters felt new, while only a few seemed borrowed from other comics. The shock value and twists all added to a great story, and I really didn't see this as overdone.
Not so Good: The whole bit about the Killer's history felt like a page out of Watchmen. Some characters gave me unwanted deja vu. Really that's the only little bit I have to complain about. I only wish that some characters weren't twin brothers of traditional Marvel superheroes.
I don't want to say that I loved it, but I definately enjoyed Wanted. Ultimates and Kick-Ass are still my favorite from Mark Millar, but this will definately satisfy the craving for more of his writing.
Book Review: Fun and unique
Summary: 4 Stars
Wanted is about the id. The basic human programming that wants food, water, sleep, and sex. Villains are about the id, selfishly getting what they want. Now imagine a world with no God (if you believe in God, remember this is a fantasy comic book), no morals, no sin. Just survival. The people that follow the rules waste their life, the villains get what they want and live a full life. This is actually a very legit belief about the meaning of life and human nature that has been suggested for thousands of years and practiced for all of human history. Superheros try to prevent the villains from getting what they want, but in the Wanted universe, the super villains won. Wanted basically laughs at the reader for being a tool. Millar isn't trying to convince you that there is no God and that rape is cool. He is purposely putting forth a very unpopular ideal (in our close-minded society) and having fun with it, taking it to the extreme. If this is an interesting concept, you might enjoy Wanted. If you are a philosophical person, you should be able to "get" the point. If you are close-minded or have a fragile ego, this will just piss you off like it has many reviewers. Their loss.
Look, the character made totally from the most evil feces from the most evil bowels in history should have been a tip off. Yeah it's shock, but it also has subtext and substance.