Wanted
by J.G. Jones, Mark Millar
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Book Reviews of Wanted
Book Review: Flawed but entertaining read
Summary: 3 Stars
If this were a movie I'd compare it to a typical summer blockbuster. Entertaining action that doesn't make much sense once you start thinking about it.
The most interesting parts to me are the training montages and intrigue that takes place between the various villainous factions before all heck breaks loose.
The fight scenes are entertaining enough as set pieces, but a lot of characters had to check their intelligence at the door once the battles start so it can conclude as Millar wanted.
My biggest complaint with Wanted is that something is shown that doesn't take place. Replace one panel with a black one and the word "bang" and you have a much improved comic in my estimation. Storytelling can mislead the audience so the make the wrong inference, but when in the 3rd person perspective it can't openly lie without devaluing the story.
If you don't mind comic gore and profanity, then Wanted can be an entertaining read, but don't think to deeply about it or you'll will lesson your enjoyment after the fact.
Book Review: Could have been a classic, but R-rated content spoils it
Summary: 4 Stars
The concept alone gains it 4 stars, but the excessive profanity turns a possibily legendary tale into a juvenile outing worthy of Kevin Smith.
Millar crafts an excellent story and creates well rounded characters out of even the most mundane villains whom he choses to parody. The problem is they all speak like a bunch of teenagers, who just learned to swear and feel that it elevates their "bada**" image to do so. There isn't even any shock value, it's just annoying.
It really is a shame, "Wanted" could have been on par with "Watchmen"(please forgive me), by working adult situations into comic book lore elevating it to real-world status. But again, it comes out like the 13-year-old step-brother of "Watchmen".
That being said, the plot points are engaging and the art is fantastic.
Anyway, Junior High fan boys will most likely hold it in high esteem, but for the rest of us we can remember Ultimates and Civil War as high points in Mark Millar's career.
Book Review: It was okay
Summary: 3 Stars
This takes place in a world where all superheroes have been killed by the villians....an idea with some merit. My problem with this is that it seemed to me to be gratuitously violent. I don't mind violence, in fact a good butt whoopin is always something fun to watch. Hard-Boiled is one of my favourite movies, this one though....I think the violence in this one was done purely for shock value. In place of a story we have shootings and body parts blown off. It would have been nice to get more back story, why was the Killer the Killer, We see how Rictus got to where he is, but what about the Professor? The Fox? We get a little here and there but nothing you can sink your teeth into, nothing to give the story real context. Bad guys that do not care about anyone and kill on a whim? How original....
The art is nice, and there is a good line about someone thinking himself so great, if he was chocolate he would eat himself, otherwise though...buy it used.
Book Review: An Epanded What If?
Summary: 3 Stars
Wanted is a story about of a world without super heroes told through Wesley Gibson tinted glasses. In essence, this is a What If? told over six books. I enjoyed this book so much more than the Movie, which is why I bought the book in the first place.
I am a firm in the belief that no medium should ever insult its audience, and *SPOILER ALERT* that is exactly what the last few panels of this book do. I understand the reasons and usefulness, much like the rest of this book, it is dificult to swallow. I found some plot holes inexcsuable, like what was the point of introducing cape, it never becomes an element of the plot.
I do not read the Ultimates regularaly but I did appreciate Millar's departure from that writing style. If I had to make a final recomendation I would say read this if you're interested in a book that departs from the normal Super Hero book, use this as a palate cleanser to delve deep into the darker side of comics.
Book Review: Good concept, lousy execution
Summary: 2 Stars
What would happen if the bad guys won? What would happen when the last superhero dies and the super villains take over the Earth? It's an intriguing concept that Millar and Jones attempts to utilize in this unique story, however, despite their previous work, they fail miserably on this one. There is very little character development, logic and the comic attempts to be edgy for the sake of being edgy. There is no reason to connect to these characters. No reason to care for them. In the end, you feel nothing for the main character and nothing for the characters that die. The final result just feels juvenile and poorly thought out.
From my understanding, the movie shies away from much of the source material of the comic. These can only be considered as improvements.
(Edit: After seeing the movie, it's definitely an improvement over the source material. What you think of the movie, however, is a different story.)