STORMWATCH #8

[ SALE IN A STORM ] 

It is a worry to lose your gravity. Its like having an oral cavity. Apollo knows what I mean. Midnighter is just meen. And Jenny wants a puppy called McAvity. Go on, please Writer: Paul Jenkins; plus Artists: Ignacio Calero and Daniel Hor; give her one. Publisher: DC Comics said it was OK in May 2012.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

In the final part of 'Supercritical', our Stella team of Artois, has to deal with an origin, a ruse, a rescue, and a backhanded cliff-hanger if ever I saw one.

THE ORIGIN: According to J'onn, the 'Gravity Miners' are an ancient unstoppable entity created by the Daemontites a long-long time ago, who turned against their makers, and are now wiping out all life throughout the universe. I think.

THE RUSE: For the Engineer to get some more information about these fiends, she duped her Daemontites ship, called Charlie, for the 411. Before Hawksmoor has a little chat with the city of Pripyat, for the gateway into their dimension. I think.

THE RESCUE: With everything in place, both Midnighter and Jenny Quantum ride a bubble into the 'Gravity Miners' dimension, and save Apollo just prior to turning the table on his captors. I think.

THE BACKHANDED CLIFF-HANGER: Unbeknown to the rest of Stormwatch whilst Midnighter and Jenny were in the 'Gravity Miners' dimension, he left her stranded their, because he felt she could be a danger to the universe in the future. Well, he thinks that he does. Because upon his return - she's there - none too pleased. Fact.

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

There was a lot to like about this issue with conversations and what not. But I thought what the Engineers said to her team to be really funny - due to her footnote.

"All right. One team member has been abducted and is possibly trapped in adjacent dimension. We have one shot at saving the Universe, or life as we know it may no longer exist. And it is still only Wednesday".

Funny, I thought that it was Thursday? Ha!

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

The whole Jenny / Midnighter situation was a real surprising moment when I read it. It really did come out of the blue, huh? I was honestly half-expecting him to bust a gag mid-ploy, because I remember what their relationship was like back in the Wildstorm day's. But this isn't, is it? It's the DCnU. A new state of play where this team's dynamics are concerned - and a startling one at that.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

All of that technical and alien mumbo jumbo really did start to annoy me the more it went on. Granted, I got the basic gist of what was happening, and understood some of the theories which were conveyed. However, mumbo-jumbo talk is only good enough for people who are not conversant in speaking in a clear manner - and this is a comic - not a University lecture.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: I am growing very fond of the spaceship Charlie, because it's not everyday you see a team riding around in one of their enemies, huh? Also, I did like the conversation between Jenny and Midnighter when they were speaking about boyfriends and that type of a thing. Very funny, and very new.

ART: I was very surprised that two artists had pencilling duties on this issue. Honestly, I thought that both Ignacio Calero and Daniel Hor complemented each other very well. Although you could tell in places who drew what, it was still very synergistic and dynamic to look at.

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

JACK: Although he was bloody silly in 'Batman and Robin', I do feel that George Clooney would do this smooth talking country conversationalist some justice. Plus he looks a bit like him too.

PRIPYAT: If there ever was a man who looked like the essence of a half-dead city, it would be Tony Shalhoub from too many films to mention.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

If You Leave Someone For Dead In An Adjacent Universe, Please Make Sure They Can't Come Back Before Hand, huh?

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

OK, to be honest about it, this issue was funny, kind of confusing, and somewhat surprising as well. Therefore, in my own estimation, how about David Bowies sci-fi song for the ages, 'Space Oddity'?

Makes sense in a strange sort of a way. 

FINAL thoughts...

OK, I know that I may have been slightly sardonic with this story here and there. But overall I found it to be a better than average instalment of this series, and shows that you can do something really surprising with this book, if you know what buttons to press.

Peter Milligan does.

This is going to be good. 

MARKS out of 10? 8.5