By Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Art by Kevin Maguire
The Sub-Mariner has always been my favorite Marvel character, and I fondly remember the inception of the Defenders comic book. Unlike most superhero groups, the Defenders was entirely unofficial – no club house or headquarters for them -- and was really a temporary alliance of some of the most powerful, if most anti-social, characters in the Marvel Universe. That anti-social dynamic between the Sub-Mariner, The Hulk, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer is played for all it’s worth in this hysterically funny mini-series, now collected into a graphic novel. Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis don’t alter the dramatic tone of our heroes, but certainly have a good time putting their seriousness in humorous perspective. And unlike many comic artists, Kevin Maguire captures the myriad of emotions that play across our abused heroes’ faces, complementing Giffen and DeMatteis’s words perfectly. Namor's expressions as he tries to think of a reason to be humble had me laughing out loud.
The comedy lies in the deft execution of a fairly simple plot. Doctor Strange discovers yet another reality conquering attempt of the Dread Dormammu, but this time he’s allied with his much more intelligent, if untrustworthy sister Umar. Strange’s answer to this threat? Reuniting his old ‘comrades,’ who: 1) don’t want to be reunited, and 2) don’t consider each other comrades. Reluctantly, our heroes join forces, but of course, things go badly when they bring the fight to Dormammu’s dimension. Umar carts the Hulk off as her new plaything. The Sub-Mariner only wants some aspirin, and silence, from Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer -- well, he may make it to the battle, if he can tear himself away from his Earth counterparts. Somehow the Defenders overcome their bickering, take advantage of Dormammu’s self-esteem issues, and deal with this week’s menace to the multi-verse, much to this reader’s amusement. In an age where grim, ruthless comic books are the standard, it is refreshing to spend some time laughing with old friends.
Reserve it from Homewood Public Library here.
Art by Kevin Maguire
The Sub-Mariner has always been my favorite Marvel character, and I fondly remember the inception of the Defenders comic book. Unlike most superhero groups, the Defenders was entirely unofficial – no club house or headquarters for them -- and was really a temporary alliance of some of the most powerful, if most anti-social, characters in the Marvel Universe. That anti-social dynamic between the Sub-Mariner, The Hulk, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer is played for all it’s worth in this hysterically funny mini-series, now collected into a graphic novel. Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis don’t alter the dramatic tone of our heroes, but certainly have a good time putting their seriousness in humorous perspective. And unlike many comic artists, Kevin Maguire captures the myriad of emotions that play across our abused heroes’ faces, complementing Giffen and DeMatteis’s words perfectly. Namor's expressions as he tries to think of a reason to be humble had me laughing out loud.
The comedy lies in the deft execution of a fairly simple plot. Doctor Strange discovers yet another reality conquering attempt of the Dread Dormammu, but this time he’s allied with his much more intelligent, if untrustworthy sister Umar. Strange’s answer to this threat? Reuniting his old ‘comrades,’ who: 1) don’t want to be reunited, and 2) don’t consider each other comrades. Reluctantly, our heroes join forces, but of course, things go badly when they bring the fight to Dormammu’s dimension. Umar carts the Hulk off as her new plaything. The Sub-Mariner only wants some aspirin, and silence, from Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer -- well, he may make it to the battle, if he can tear himself away from his Earth counterparts. Somehow the Defenders overcome their bickering, take advantage of Dormammu’s self-esteem issues, and deal with this week’s menace to the multi-verse, much to this reader’s amusement. In an age where grim, ruthless comic books are the standard, it is refreshing to spend some time laughing with old friends.
Reserve it from Homewood Public Library here.
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