“Inhuman” returns after a long hiatus, amidst a storm buzzworthy rumors. Charles Soule and Joe Maduereira deliver the conclusion of its first story arc and set the foundation for a new franchise, but is it too little, too late?
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Joe Madureira• The first arc of Inhuman climaxes in the battle of Medusa vs. Lash!
• Uncover the secret history of an ancient branch of Inhumans!
• A new Inhuman named Flint sees his world fall apart before his eyes!
It’s pretty clear Marvel wants to push the Inhumans as the NEXT BIG THING™. The characters played a big role in “Infinity,” right next to fellow big deal Thanos, and were highlighted in the subsequent fallout event. And then things went dark.
Let’s look at a timeline here. “Infinity” #6 came out November 27, 2013. “Inhumanity,” the Matt Fraction penned interlude bridging “Infinity” and “Inhuman,” had two issues that released on December 4, 2013 and January 29, 2014, respectively. Things are ok so far. “Inhuman” #1 launched two months later, on April 2nd. Fast forward 4 months, 9 months after the end of “Infinity,” and we get to the end of the series’ inaugural three issue arc.
The issues involved with getting “Inhuman” off the ground are well documented, and I won’t go into them here. Likewise, delays are to be expected with Joe Madureira on art, and it’s commendable that the artist was allowed to take his time on the issues, rather than calling in a fill-in artist. It’s hard to say that it was worth the wait, but while the series has lost some of its immediacy, it still has quite a lot going for it.
For instance, the book is an artistic marvel. While Madureira may be somewhat divisive these days (you’d be hard pressed to find a superstar artist who isn’t considered divisive), it’s hard to deny that his work on the series has been anything short of delightful. Madureira’s work is insanely detailed, but also soft and loose. His designs for the new Inhuman characters are extremely imaginative, particularly the girl with the expanding face. She certainly gives Bendis’ Gold Balls a run for his money for “most absurdly wonderful power.”
Madureira’s inks are extremely interesting, in that they aren’t even inked. I may be mistaken, but they look like marker. There are several panels that feature silhouetted characters, and you can see the distinct line patterns made by black magic marker. The result feels remarkably child-like, in a “do-it-yourself” kind of way. Some may cry foul at the technique, but it gives the blacks a strong texture, contrasting against the smooth colors. The result is extremely unique.
Speaking of colors, Marte Gracia’s work on this issue is equally commendable. Gracia is quickly becoming one of the most talented artists in Marvel’s stable, turning in terrific work on some of their biggest books. Gracia’s colors pop and glow in the most vibrant shades, highlighting the out-of-this-world nature of the Inhumans. And while Madureira’s pencils sell new Inhumans like Dante or Lineage, Gracia’s colors make the nameless rainbow inhuman that debuts in this issue a serious contender for best new character of 2014.
Plot wise, the issue is quite literally a mixed bag. For nearly every strong point this issue displays, there’s a polar opposite weakness. Take the new inhuman Lineage for example. Lineage’s confidence, swagger, and total disregard for authority makes him a terrific foil for Queen Medusa. However, the nature of his abilities also set him up as a walking exposition dump. Next up is Lash, another strong counterpoint for Medusa, one that represents a drastically different viewpoint on inhuman society. However, when you find that Lash’s idea of the perfect inhuman society is a full on cult, complete with religious brainwashing, it becomes a lot less compelling and a lot more disturbing.
However, many of these issues resolve themselves by issue’s end. It seems that, with the first arc out of the way and a new artist incoming, the book is set to undergo a sort of re-aligning. It seems these three issues are more of a prologue to the main event. This is slightly disconcerting, however, as that was supposedly the purpose of “Inhumanity.”
Continued belowThe fact that “Inhuman” still struggles to find its footing is troubling, especially with Marvel seemingly positioning it as a pillar in the Marvel universe.
If I come off as sounding overly negative, it’s not my intention. “Inhuman” is very interesting and promising book, one that feels quite different in tone compared to other Marvel books. With its cast made up of mostly new characters, it feels fresh and full of potential. Charles Soule demonstrates a strong ability to smoothly transition between fun and hokey (the jokier inhumans and “Dante’s Inferno”) to serious and grandiose, making for a well rounded reading experience. It’s particularly refreshing to see Medusa taking such a powerful and prominent role in the series, a strong female lead in what is arguably a book skewed to male audiences.
Most importantly, this issue leaves the series in a more interesting place than when it began. While Madureira’s contribution to the series will be missed, I greatly look forward to seeing the world Charles Soule and Ryan Stegman build upon this foundation.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – While it doesn’t quite stick the landing, “Inhumans” #3 marks a promising start for this budding franchise.
