Reviewer: James Hatton
Story title: N/A
Written by: Tony Bedard
Penciled by: Jim Calafiore
Inked by: Mark McKenna
Colrist: JC
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Mizuki Sakakibara
Editor: Mike Marts
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I wasn’t sure that Exiles was ever going to be the same after Winick left. He created a book that was so full of new and fresh ideas, it was like candy for any fan of the Marvel U. Bringing in old favorites, new creations, and characters that we haven’t seen since the Age of Apocalypse, we were given the millennial comic book version of Quantum Leap and What If?.
Sadly, Winick left and Marvel pushed out the rest of his books to move on to Austin. I’m not going to comment on Austin. He’s gone and there is no reason to comment on him. I won’t talk about how happy I am that Tony Bedard on this book. I won’t talk about how I feel that the Exiles have a bit of renewed life in his hands compared to the hole that Winick left, that Austin couldn’t even attempt to fill.
On to Tony Bedard who I like.
Story!
This is a one-shot tweener story to keep us happy until issue #50, where I guarantee something is going to happen. Given the status quo for this book, somebody will be dying. Since this whole issue was Morph-centric, I pray that it’s not him.
Bedard shows us some of his random Marvel knowledge by having a world ruled by the Impossible Man and The Controller. For those who don’t know, the Impossible Man is an old character who doesn’t really appear in ‘serious graphic novel type books that we can’t call comics’ because he’s just too amusingly random. He’s just a character who can turn into whatever the hell he wants. Generally speaking, he does it with an air of comedy.
In terms of story, the set-up is long and the finale is quick. It’s ok though, as it’s really just a chance to see the Impossible Man and Morph mix it up a bit, with Namora being all mean and bitter throughout. It’s just a fun romp in a very silly world, and it really feels as if this is the comedy before the tragedy of whatever happens in #50.
Art!
For a few weeks now I’ve been reviewing the covers as well as the interior art, and I think this is the first one that functionally shows you what is going on within the book. Morph is fighting the Impossible Man. Clear, concise, to the point. If you are an Impossible Man completionist – you know you need to buy this.
Now on the interior, Calafiore and McKenna are always at the top of their game. You usually will see their names connected to each other, as they work very well together. Calafiore’s characters look exactly as you would want them to look, his backgrounds generally fit the mood and McKenna follows suit. These two have covered quite a bit of the Exiles run, and their clean and precise style has made it a very acceptable book to look at month after month.
Overall!
There isn’t much room for foreshadowing in a book like Exiles. Each leap sends them into a new realm with new possibilities. This issue is filler plain and simple to move us into the big #50. It’s not filler without purpose, though. It’s a good story, and another trip down memory lane for old school Marvel fans.
