Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Michael Avon OemingTakio is the first all ages graphic novel series from Marvel’s Icon imprint and the first new creator owned book by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming since their award-winning, long-running Powers.
Takio tells the story of two sisters in a multiracial, adoptive family who are driving each other insane!!! Their overprotective mother makes them walk to school together, eat lunch together, and play together. They can’t get away from each other!! But when a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime accident gives them real-life superpowers, these two sisters become the first actual superheroes in the entire world. And it is awesome!!
Now the sisters have to learn to get along so they can save the world and get home by six… or they are so grounded. This fast-talking, whip smart new graphic novel series will thrill fans of Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-Man!
As a longtime fan of Brian Michael Bendis and a supporter of all-ages comics, I was quite anxious to see how Icon’s first all-ages book turned out. Did it meet my expectations, or was I sorely disappointed? If you’re curious, why are you still reading this on the front page? The only way to know is to follow the cut!
Anyone familiar with Bendis will have no problem identifying the most notable aspect of his writing: his dialogue. Coined “Bendis-speak” by some deriders, his dialogue is quippy to a degree that some find annoying, but I typically don’t mind. His dialogue is actually what made me most interested in this OGN – his rapid-fire back-and-forth fits all too well for children (so long as you comb out the many fucks and shits he tends to drop in his creator-owned/MAX titles). And I was right. Probably the best thing about this comic is how well the dialogue actually resembles that of children – something that many writers struggle with.
Likewise, Oeming’s art can be rather hit-or-miss for some people. For me, it’s usually a hit, and Takio is an example of one of those “usually”s. Oeming’s style is very different from the standard superhero comic fare, which can be jarring to some. I’ll make a quick admission: as much as I like Oeming’s style, and as much as I love Bendis, this is actually the first printed comic I’ve read that he has illustrated – not Powers. I’ve seen and enjoyed various pictures by him that have been posted online (such as his recent portrait of comics legend Warren Ellis), and I read the Left 4 Dead webcomic, so I suppose it was only a matter of time. For the most part, Oeming absolutely kills it in this OGN. The various spreads, in particular, blew me away, especially when Taki’s powers first (consciously) manifest themselves. Good show, Oeming.
As for the story, though… well, it’s nothing special. Sure, it’s a fun romp that is certain to entertain younger readers and divert older ones, but there’s not much to it beyond that. Now, that’s enough for a good all-ages books, but what makes books like Bone and The Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck legendary is that they are just as revolutionary as they are entertaining. Takio is definitely enjoyable, but if I were to make a list of my most highly-recommended all-ages comics, it wouldn’t make the final cut. However, this is only the first volume, so there is certainly a chance that it will improve.
I have one particular complaint, though. Something about the plotting really seemed uneven to me. Cuts from scene to scene seemed far too abrupt, and those sudden cuts happened with almost maddening frequency. It almost reminded me of a very long movie trailer, but in comic form. It could just be me, but the comic just seemed a bit disjointed throughout.
Is Takio enjoyable? Absolutely. Is it particularly special? Not quite. I do commend Bendis and Oeming for creating a comic that caters not only to all-ages, but to girls as well. Just like mainstream comics, all-ages comics often have a bit of a male bent to them, and I always appreciate when creators try to break this barrier. This may not be the most glowing review, but don’t get me wrong – I am definitely interested in volume two.
Final Verdict: 6.7 – Get it for your niece/daughter/what-have-you.
