Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Magneto #1
Marvel Comics
Bunn, Walta & Bellaire
The opening issue of Magneto is a good read that frames up the lead character's viewpoint. The comic doesn't shy away from the complicated past for the character but it also doesn't pin down exactly where it belongs in terms of continuity. The scope of the book is a much smaller one as Magneto wants to stay undercover and that makes the read more compelling. There isn't a ton of action but the ending does reveal the larger threat in dramatic fashion. I recommend checking this comic out.
Magneto is on a warpath. He's wandering across the country by himself looking to get mutant offenders. The opening scenes of the book have him dealing with a man that has ties to many anti-mutant groups. It's not so much that he is looking for information in that he is simply looking to kill them. It's sort of a mutant's version of the Punisher.
As the book moves on Magneto works through his thought process more for the reader. It becomes clear that the character is something out of a Parker novel where the character is hard-boiled, trying to make the world conform to his mindset. The book is set up exactly that way and the artwork gives that neo-Noir look that you might find in a 1970s detective movie where the lead character is as shady as those he hunts.
The ending of the comic shows the ruthlessness of the character as he seemingly kills innocents left and right to get what he wants. The cliffhanger seems to show just how difficult his crusade is going to be.
The artwork is good. There are plenty of details and the book definitely gives the reader some excellent framework for the noir-like story. Where there is action the artwork is up to the task and gives some nice visuals. However, I simply can't understand the rendering of Magneto. He looks way too much like Lex Luthor. He appears stocky, short, dark eye browed and totally bald. It's very difficult to reconcile this visual transformation for the character as it goes against nearly any incarnation from the past. The book has a good visual story in here but an odd choice for the lead character.
Magneto is a good opening issue. It merges the ideals that the lead character holds along with his questionable decision making. The comic frames out his mindset and gives off some complex ideas to try to pin the character down to. This seems more like a man that's lost kind of story than a super-hero/super-villain story. This is a good opening issue to check out.
3.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
