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PCS REVIEW by Harold Bloomfield

RATE ITA+ABCDF

Ever wonder when reading “The Ultimates” what a book by Mark Millar would be like if he wasn’t bound by the constraints of writing for a general audience? Well read “Wanted” and wonder no more. This book is politically incorrect and full of expletives, blood, gore, kinky and non-kinky sex and centers on the bad guys. To Millar’s credit it’s a worthwhile read.

Wesley Gibson is a loser. He has a dead end job with an abusive boss. His girl friend cheats on him constantly at times with his best friend. And he’s also a major league hypochondriac. His own worst enemy who contributes greatly to his morose existence. Now we’ve all seen stories where the schmo gets a chance to earn or inherit millions and/or acquire super powers by performing some act of bravery, self sacrifice or even by getting married in a required time period. Millar twists that tired old formula as Wesley learns he can become fabulously wealthy and super powered by becoming a costumed meta human hit man just like the father who abandoned him shortly after he was born. All we know of Wesley so far is that he’s unable to overcome the neurosis that have made him so ineffectual in all facets of his life. However that doesn’t necessarily make him super villain material. Discovering his reaction to this new “opportunity” is one thing that brings us back for next issue.

The book rises above sex, violence and profanity for it own sake by the imagination, wit and high octane action Millar brings enough to the story. The world Millar has created sparks my interest. Along with the set up, poor schmo gets chance to hit it big as super powered hit man, the details and off hand references, particularly at in the funeral scene and at the Faternity’s headquarters make for an intriguing back drop and makes me want to see more.

While I enjoyed this issue and look forward to the next five there are some problems. Millar seems to revel in the freedom of writing for a mature audience. Now profanity in and of it self doesn’t bother me but there’s a limit. I know “on the street” there are people who start every other word with the letter f but whether in a movie or a book it loses it effect with over use and by the last third of the book here it’s simply too much. The violence also gets out of hand. Millar could have demonstrated that the Fox has no regard for human life and can kill with impunity without the wholesale slaughter at the restaurant. Such a body count of innocent bystanders just to prove a point is way over the top. Surprisingly restraint is shown in the area of sex. While the language and violence is easily of the R rated variety the depiction of sex remains at a PG level. Oh it’s talked about in an adult way by the visuals are tame by comparison.

Millar has been graced to work with two artists who can be worth the price of admission themselves. Brian Hitch on “The Ultimates” and here J.G. Jones. Jones doesn’t disappoint. This is a beautiful book if a book with so much blood and splattered brain matter can be considered beautiful. One thing though. The front and back covers are set up like movie posters. Is that why the Fox is a dead ringer for Hally Berry and Welsey looks so much like Eminem? A little inside joke? A little wishful casting if this catches any one’s eyes in Hollywood? Well Jones draws a great Hally Berry but I find the look a likes to be distracting.

So with “Wanted” Millar does for comics what “NYPD Blue” did for TV cop dramas. Only with a lot more humor, fun and sense of style. He delivers an imaginative and provocative story that rises above the level of an overage teenager allowed to write and show naughty things for the first time. Still I’m sure he’s having fun doing it.