Tuesday 15 November 2011

Books: Thunderbolts: Faith in Monsters / Caged Angels

__________________________________________________________________________________

Thunderbolts
Vol 1: Faith in Monsters
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Mike Deodato

2007



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Thunderbolts
Vol 2: Caged Angels
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Mike Deodato

2008



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Ah. It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised. I didn't even know this book existed - I mean - I'd seen copies of it around - but just kind of dismissed it as typical boring mainstream Marvel nonsense - until I realised that it had Warren Ellis' name on it. I don't want to sound like too much of a fan-boy (probably because I'm a bit of fan-boy): but hell: if it's written by Warren Ellis - it's at least worth trying out - right?

Right.

Set in the time of Marvel's "Civil War" when the Superhero Registration Act (or as I always like to think of it: 'The Keene Act') has come into force - and all the costumed adventurers out there have to either sign up and go legit or get hunted down and locked away: these two volumes feature a succession of episodes (it's hard to really call it a story seeing how it takes place in a whole big universe of stuff and Ellis' run only takes place between #110 - #121: but still you can read it and be throughly entertained without feeling cheated at the end) in the career of the Thunderbolts: who in this instance are the ones who have to go round enforcing the law: ie beating up the good guys.

The concept of the Thunderbolts themselves is also really cool. If you don't know (you have something better to do than learn all the ins-and-outs of the Marvel superhuman teams? huh - ok then): The Thunderbolts are just like The Justice League of America or The Avengers - except instead of being made up of goodies who are saving the world because they want to - it's a bunch of baddies who have to do all the dirty jobs because they're forced to. That's cool because: 1. We all know baddies are always more interesting than the goodies (seriously: who would you rather have a drink with boring Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent or Lex Luthor and the Joker?)

Oh: and so you know there is a Vol 3. out there - but it's not Warren Ellis and it's nowhere near as good (so if you ask me - it's best avoided).

..............................................................................................................................................
Links: GraphiContent Review: Vol 1 / Vol 2, The Weekly Crisis Review.

Further reading: Civil War, The AuthorityThe Avengers: Secret Avengers: Run the Mission, Don't Get Seen, Save the WorldSpider-Man: Down Among The Dead Men / Venomous / The Last Stand, No Hero, The Avengers: The New Avengers: Illuminati.

Profile: Warren Ellis.

All comments welcome.

No comments: