Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. Vol. 2 I Kick Your Face Hardcover Review

Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. Vol. 2 - I Kick Your Face
Marvel Comics
Hardcover
144 pages
$19.99 (2007)
$14.99 (2008) TPB
$34.99 (2010) Ultimate Collection
ISBN 9780785128557

Contributors: Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen, Wade VonGrawbadger, Dave McCaig, Paul Mounts, Virtual Calligraphy, and Joe Caramagna

Reprints: Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #7-12 (of 12)

Synopsis: The Nextwave group continue their mission to derail the Beyond Corporation's marketing plan to test and sell Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction (UWMDs) on American Soil.  Before going rogue the Nextwave unit worked for the Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort (H.A.T.E.), a covert anti-terrorist organization. The Beyond Corporation happen to be the new financial backers of H.A.T.E. and a known terrorist front.

Despite their dysfunction the team defeated H.A.T.E. and crazed director Dirk Anger, but their greatest challenges are yet to come.  Beyond cooks up more bizarre experiments as they open a portal to a nether-dimension and unleash the Mindless Ones on an unsuspecting town.  Then they throw one-off superheroes at the team - like Bulk (a huffer who inhaled gamma irradiated gasoline from the same gamma bomb test site where Bruce Banner was transformed into the Hulk), a knock-off Captain America made from the super-soldier serum laden urine of the original Captain America after he was first changed, a failed scientist with a purportedly better growing formula then Giant Man, and most terrifying of all - the Forbush Man!

Finally something hairier than the original - killer Wolverine-monkeys!

Can Nextwave battle through these bizarre superhumans to uncover the seven onion-layers of secrets behind the Beyond Corporation?  You will be shocked, terrified, and bored all at the same time!

Mark Millar rumor confirmed

Pros: Crazy action with extremely irreverent humor by Ellis, some of the best art of Immonen's career - he pulls off some fun stunts like upside down panels and consecutive massive two-page spreads of the team battle Beyond's wicked creations

Cons: Totally whacked out, all-action with practically non-sensical story, Ellis' dialogue avoids contractions (using "I am" instead of "I'm") which doesn't sound natural

Mike Tells It Straight: Ellis and Immonen continue their mindless rampage across Marvel history with the final half of this high-octane satire piece.  There are explosions and witty one-liners aplenty with the occasional serious moment.  If you dug the first volume (i.e. if it didn't scare you off) then the finale is a wicked roller coaster ride.  I didn't think it was possible, but there is even less story in this volume than the first.  Definitely more head explosions.

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. Vol. 1 This is What They Want Hardcover Review

Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. Vol. 1 - This is What They Want
Marvel Comics
Hardcover
144 pages
$19.99 (2006)
$14.99 (2007) TPB
$34.99 (2010) Ultimate Collection
ISBN 9780785122784

Contributors: Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, Dave McCaig, and Chris Eliopoulos

Reprints: Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #1-6 (of 12)

Synopsis: Before going rogue the Nextwave unit worked for the Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort (H.A.T.E.), a covert anti-terrorist organization.  They discovered a marketing plan from the Beyond Corporation, who happen to be the new financial backers of H.A.T.E. and a known terrorist front.  Beyond plan to use H.A.T.E. and Nextwave to test Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction (UWMDs) on American soil and then sell them to the highest bidder for a profit.

Now the Nextwave are being hunted by their former boss and director of H.A.T.E., Dirk Anger.  Nextwave group consists of:

They will kick you in the naugthy bits

• Elsa Bloodstone - monster hunting daughter of Ulysses Bloodstone, possesses ample cleavage, haughty European attitude, enhanced strength and agility
• Monica Rambeau aka "Captain Marvel" or "Photon" - formerly of the Avengers, energy-based powers based on light, conversion to photons, lasers, and light beams
• Aaron Stack aka "Machine Man" - sentient machine, can alter his body to produce useful tools or weapons, requires copious amounts of beer for his robot brain to function properly (or so he says)
• Dirk Anger - director of H.A.T.E., looks forty, but is really 90-year-old sociopath kept alive by life-extending drugs and a bad attitude, chews lizard boom sticks, he's not part of the team - he just wants to kill them
• Tabitha Smith aka "Boom Boom" or "Meltdown" - formerly of X-Force, powers include creating streams of super-heated plasma energy with extreme destructive force and allowing her to fly, kleptomaniac
• The Captain - received the "Heartstar of the Space Between Galaxies" from a pair of altruistic aliens while on a drunken bender, can't remember his own name, incredibly powerful with super-strength, flight, and enhanced vision

Fleeeee!!!

Can they stop Beyond's evil plans and stay one step ahead of Dirk Anger's wrath?  It's samuroids, giant flying lizards wearing underpants, broccoli men, homicide crabs, and widdle cuddly bears of death - oh my!

Pros: Top notch irreverent humor by Ellis, Immonen's art is solid, action-packed with good use of lesser-known D-list heroes & villains, great parody of Marvel (i.e. Dirk Anger is a spoof of Nick Fury and totally hilarious)

Cons: No explanations or legitimate story to speak of - just action, minimalist dialogue by Ellis - he makes all of the characters sound British, Immonen's art is highly stylized in this one, over-the-top

Mike Tells It Straight: Ellis and Immonen craft a funny satire piece on the Marvel universe filled with non-stop action and self-mockery.  It's pretty much all action, sarcasm (turned up to 11), jokes, and nothing much in the way of story (i.e. all flash and no substance).  The first few issues were hilarious, but then the goofiness started getting a little old by the end of issue #6.  This could be Ellis at his best or worst depending on your point of view.  Check out a preview if you can and you'll get the picture. 

"Love it or hate it, it's an obsession, love it or hate it, that's my confession."

TO BUY and Recommendations: