Reviewer: Mathan “Ugh” Erhardt
Story Title: The Sh!t List
Written by: Mark Millar
Penciled and Inked by: J.G. Jones
Colored by: Paul Mounts
Lettered by: Robin Spehar & Dennis Heisler
Editor: David Wohl
Publisher: Top Cow > Image Comics
Wanted takes place on a world where Villains rule in the shadows and heroes don’t exist. Wesley Gibson was a weasely punk, who found out that his father was the notorious “The Killer” the most dangerous assassin ever, and that his father had just been killed. Wes inherited his fathers talent for killing and hasn’t looked back since.
The world is divided into continents, with one villain controlling each one. They had agreed to stay in the shadows. But recently some, lead by the dastardly Mister Rictus (who may have had a hand in the original Killer’s murder), have decided that they want to freely terrorize the regular joes again. To that end, Mister Rictus has begun eliminating those who oppose him, including some who Wes had befriended.
This issue begins with Wes on the run as he’s next to be eliminated. He and The Fox, his lady “friend” begin to hunt those that hunt him. He’s making his way to Mister Rictus, to live up to his name.
He gets to Rictus’ hideout and faces an army of foes, which he dispatches. Then he tries to get information about his father’s death from Mister Rictus. Rictus plays glib and dies. Wes avenges his father’s death, only for his very much alive father to applaud his son’s actions. To be concluded.
Millar can write some great tales. This isn’t one of them. For me the allure of this book was the obvious parody of characters from DC and Marvel. It was cool to see tweaked costumes and read dialogue about familiar stories. But this issue has very little story. It’s really just one extended fight scene. And it isn’t even good looking or compelling. It’s just a bunch of people getting shot. Wes’ inner monologue isn’t interesting and the only thing that’s making me come back next month is the need for closure.
While the story is awful, the art is beautiful. J.G. Jones has done some great looking art on this book thus far. The homage to familiar characters is a nice bonus for comic fans. The murders can get tedious after awhile, but Jones manages to make them as realistic as possible. The art certainly redeems the book somewhat.
