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Nextwave #4 Review posted: 01 May 2006 Writer: Warren Ellis Artist: Stuart Immonen Ink: Wade von Grawbadger Colors: Dave McCaig Editor: Nick Lowe Publisher: Marvel Comics  3.50 out of 5 Stars Reviewed by Matt Yocum

I have a suspicion that Warren Ellis may be off his rocker. My suspicion comes from reading Nextwave. Here’s a team for you: Monica Rambeau, former Avenger who constantly reminds everyone she was an Avenger; Aaron Stack, a.k.a. Machine Man, the robot who needs beer; Elsa Bloodstone, super strong, invulnerable, and English; Tabitha Smith, former X-Force member who manufactures explosions; the Captain, not really a captain of anything. And their former leader, now nemesis, Dirk Anger, the head of H.A.T.E. (Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort) and founder of Denmark. Or so says the primer on page one.

Warren Ellis is off his rocker. But for this book, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This book is superhero comedy central, mimicking and making jests at superheroes, touching on political issues, and serving up mayhem against strange villains like nothing you’ve ever seen. Such as the H.A.T.E. human resource broccoli men. And the metal eating former corrupt cop Mac Mangel. And in issues one and two, a giant, people-eating Fin Fang Foom. He’s big, strong, and green which requires him in Marvel-land to wear purple pants. In this case he wears purple underwear.

Am I making any sense? If not, then you can imagine what it’s like to read Nextwave. Actually, I’m enjoying the book immensely. Ellis is out there but connected to reality just enough to pull this thing off. He’s got some fun dialogue with some cool characters in some crazy fights. Fisticuffs, explosions, giant slaying, robot eyeball stealing, transformer smashing — it’s all there.

I never imagined Stuart Immonen on a book like this, but he’s doing a great job. His usual thick, clean lines are distorted slightly toward the cartoonish for the unreality of it all, but he keeps the book lighthearted and fun. If he couldn’t pull off the visual comedy, I’m not sure this book would work. He’s been able to hit the visual gags and make the book entertaining.

All stories from Nextwave are two issues long. So if you think about it, all the story lines should begin odd and end even. Actually, they all start odd and end even more odd. That’s the nature of this book. In the lettercol (named “H.A.T.E. MAIL”), I learned there’s a theme song by the band Thunder Thighs found at www.marvel.com/nextwave. Have a listen and that should answer the question of whether or not Warren Ellis is off his rocker. My vote is yes. But for this book, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Comments about my comments? Feel free to email me at myocum@comiccritique.com.

 

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