“New Warriors #1” by Marc Alan Fishman – Snarky Synopsis | @MDWorld

March 2, 2014 Marc Fishman 1 Comment

Written by Christopher Yost. Art by Marcos To and David Curiel

I might as well face it… I’m addicted to number ones. But you know what they say? The first step is always admitting you have a problem. Lately, the polar vortex combined with a bunch of not-that-great reads has lead me to week after week of “meh”, “ho-hum”, and “maybe I should never have started this column” reviews. I wish I knew why, because it’s not all that good… but ‘New Warriors’ left me with a knowing smirk. Like the kind I used to get. In the long-long ago. In the before time. When I wasn’t so damn snarky. ‘New Warriors’ is a throwback to good-old fashioned team action-adventures. Let’s crack the pilot open, and see what makes it tick.

Christopher Yost dials up the titular team by way of the standard “assemble through a common enemy” structure. He chooses though, to do this not all at once, all in the first issue. Through 20 pages of content, we meet our eventual combo-platter of justice by way of individual scenes spread across the the hemisphere. In Colorado we meet Speedball (the not-emo-spiky-creepy one, I guess?) and Justice (who picked his name I assume because “Telekinetic” would have been a bit too on the nose). They have a miscomminicae with the “Salem Seven”, and tear the town up. Why? Because as the later figure out… super people just need to fight for some reason. In Mexico, we catch up with Scarlet Spider and Hummingbird. Spidey-Clone just wants to enjoy “all the power, with none of the responsibility.” In New York, Sun Girl is enjoying playing dress up. Last, but never least, Nova fights off a slop monster. By issues’ end, all these disparate would-be heroes will confront the Evolutionaries… who are here (of course) to destroy mankind.

Yost keeps things light and airy. Given that this book is clearly an all-ages (far as I can tell), the stakes feel low at best. That being said, each Warrior is given a panel or two to showcase their personality and power-set. Best I can tell, they all fall into their appropriate archetypes. Scarlet Spider will end up being the bad-boy with a heart of gold. Justice, the lantern-jawed defacto leader. Speedball, the comic relief. Sun Girl, token minority and “human with expensive tech she should donate to science but instead feels compelled to put herself in danger”. And the rest. Oh, I should also note that soon enough (based on the cover at least), a rogue Atlantean will soon join the gang too. Nothing like being pro-active and diverse, eh kids?! Suffice to say, Yost’s scripting is by-the-book. Nothing flashy, or memorable. But the pacing is solid, the action is never far away either.
Art chores are handled by Marcos To. To’s art is bright, clean, kinetic, and everything you’d want if you’re thirteenish. Don’t misunderstand me though. Marcos’ linework is fantastic. He fills his panels to the brim with details and environments. And given a book that jumps from a magically endowed suburb, to the beaches and slums of Mexico, dabbles in New York City, and jaunts to a classic warehouse-thats-sole-purpose-is-to-house-something-evil… it’s no short-order that this book demands of said artist. Color work matches the tone of the linework to a tee. Glows, shadows, textures, and basic photo-shoppery are handled with care and actually well balanced with the cel-shaded figure work.

All in all, I’m not sure why I’m not filled with contempt or hate here. Certainly the book is delivering a team of C and D listers to fight villains who aren’t otherwise occupied. The only brief mention of the dissolution of the last iteration of the team (remember the Civil War kiddos?) contains the single moment of pathos to be had. Assuming that no major left turns will be taken, I imagine by the arc end, the team will have been reformed, the Evolutionaries will be dealt with, and if the book is still going after that? It’s time to find another villain to fight! Ever since I’ve read ‘Runaways’, I’ve had a soft spot for Marvel’s lesser heroes. When demigods, demons, and doom lay waste to the world on a near daily basis? It’s a pleasure to see those who aren’t in one of the seventeen Avengers team combating evil. Had Yost been just a bit more inspired? He might have matched Fraction’s ‘Defenders’ book; alas he keeps the tongue-in-cheek, so you get a standard romp through the 616, devoid of any winks or nods.

Don’t come for the originality. Don’t stay for displays of power. Crack open ‘New Warriors’ if you’re looking for an excuse to shut your brain off and watch the pretty colors blast other things made out of muddy colors and glow effects. Things blow’d up good. Heh. Heh heh. Speedball. Get it? Neither do I. But in any event… the book is a solid outing perfect for those seeking something easy on the eyes, and big on the action. A saturday morning cartoon, laid out in pretty panels, kiddos. Go get you some.