Connect with us
Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review

Comic Books

Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review

Mike goes up against an evil version of the Flash and terrible art direction in issue 3!

[amazon_link asins=’B076DTW8M5′ template=’AiPTProductAd’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’62fa7c38-dfbf-11e7-a0a1-f5a4e037d857′]

Michael Cray continues his war on the dark versions of DC’s heavy hitters that populate the Wild Storm universe this week as the once and future Deathblow sets his sights on the scarlet speedster himself, the Flash. Except… this is the Wild Storm universe, so his suit is a little less “rubicund runner” and a little more “basement gimp;” he’s gone from a lovable goof with the world on his shoulders to a Ted Kaczynski-like murderous luddite; and he’s shifted from the midwestern good looks of Grant Gustin to a more aggressive, edgy look more akin to Marshal Mathers. While I’m not entirely opposed to this new take on the character (in fact, I kind of embrace it), there’s one fundamental reason why it – and by extension the rest of the book – just doesn’t really work for me. It’s the art, and it’s bad.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!
Michael Cray

Like, seriously. Look at the faces in this panel and tell me that’s okay.

I feel like I’ve tried to give series penciler N. Steven Harris a lot of leeway in the first few issues based largely on the good will born the series by its connection to the vastly superior Wild Storm series. That being said, the art in this issue is just bad in every way that art can be bad. The figures are all wrong, with every character’s head and facial features distorted into a bizarrely amorphous approximation of Peter Chung’s iconic Aeon Flux pencils if they were viewed through a lava lamp. Every character looks like they’ve got a broken jaw and a fat lower lip, or like they are mid sway in literally every panel and there’s no real distraction for it. Then there are the action scenes, which are so poorly rendered that it’s often difficult to tell what’s happening. In the opening sequence that introduces the evil Flash, Barry lunges at a few soldiers in very bland and obvious manner that for the most part is fine. He breaks one dude’s gun with an uppercut, which doesn’t make a ton of sense, but okay. He punches another guy in the face, though his reaction doesn’t make a ton of physical sense. Another guy gets it in the face, some dude eats it in the throat – it’s fine. Poorly rendered and uninteresting but fine. The last guy, however, we just get a shot of Barry standing behind a neck. There’s no onomatopoeia to guide the experience, no movement lines to inform our understanding of the action, and an amorphous (there’s that word again) blob of red that may or may not be blood. It’s just a waste of a potentially interesting sequence.

Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review

What is up with Barry’s head shape? Is she yawning? Is she scared? Is she singing that one 4 Non Blondes song?

I have to spend some more time bitching about the depiction of Barry Allen, because man is it bad. Not the storyline, mind you. I actually really like what Byan Hill does with the character and the story altogether (more on that later), but the actual physical appearance of Barry is just a nightmare. First off, his facial features are all over the place. Sometimes his head is long and lean, other times it comes to a point like a bull terrier. There’s actually one three-panel sequence later where each panel gives him a different head shape, hairline, nose and mouth in each.

Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review

He’s so fast he can move his widow’s peak and nose between panels!

It’s just a shame, because I really enjoy the story that Hill is creating here. Turning all of the main continuity’s superheroes into villainous versions of their more commonly held personalities is a touch gimmicky, but it’s a decent premise for the book. Having Cray and his team create and execute plans to shut down these murderous metahumans is kind of fun, and his side story/burgeoning love connection with the Doctor hoping to help Mike control his powers and work through his cancer diagnosis is a little familiar but has its place. If there’s one story beat that feels a touch too cliche it may be the role Mike’s estranged father is playing. While last month’s issue hinted (strongly) at the elder Cray’s political leanings, having him go full black radical in an outfit that Richard Roundtree wore in the Shaft films feels a little on the nose for a book that’s built largely on seeing characters in new and different lights. His support team could also use a bit of fleshing out, but given that the three of them are essentially little more than a “guy in the chair” for Michael’s adventures this go around, I can wait a bit longer to see their characters develop.

Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review

The plotting can be on point, though.

Still, when the highlight of your book is the concept, you’re in trouble. The best writing here is expositional, and though I think there’s certainly something to be said for that, it does not overcome the tremendous hole that the artwork has dug for this series. I’ll likely stick with it because I wan’t to see the Wild Storm version of Batman, and no I don’t mean the Midnighter.

Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review
Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review
Is it good?
A cool premise can't make up for bad artwork. I really wanted to like this series, but the shoddy pencils are hard to get past. Once evil Batman shows up, I may drop the book if I'm honest.
The Good
I like the handling of Barry and the explanation of his powers makes a lot of in-universe sense.
The Bad
This art is amateurish at best. You can call it stylized, I call it inconsistent and undermining to the work of the writing.
That being said, the writing does hew close to familiar tropes from time to time. This is a book built on differing perceptions of established characters, so why all the cliches?
4.5
Meh

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup