Broken Frontier

If you aren't already familiar with it, Marvel's “Point One Initiative” has been a plan by the publisher to give any potential readers of their major series a perfect jumping on point, an issue that would not only familiarize the reader with the character(s), but the next year's worth of plot. The latest 'Point One' issue is Alpha Flight #0.1, the start of a new Alpha Flight maxiseries by Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak, with art by Ben Oliver and Dan Green. The book spins out of the team's recent revival in the Chaos War event, but does it serve as a perfect jumping on point for new fans? Well, to be honest, the answer is yes and no.

This issue focuses on the team fighting multiple threats, from the anti-government terrorist Citadel, the daughter of the Purple Man, Kara Killgrave, and... Canadian politics. If that seems like a lot to cram into a $2.99 issue, it's because it is. As is standard fare, one villain serves as a distraction for another, and there is some shadowy foreshadowing that surely sets up the maxiseries proper, and that's well and good, but this issue is meant to introduce you to the characters. It's important to remember that as characters they haven't even been "alive" in years, and new readers may not be familiar with them.

Each of the team’s members are introduced in single page stories through the issue, but the thing is, they aren't actually introduced. They use their civilian names, their powers aren't explained, and you honestly aren't given a reason as to why Alpha Flight is even a team. This isn't a problem for Alpha Flight fans, as you'll know all of the original Alpha Flight members by name, costume, and most likely face. But it's definitely a problem if this is your first exposure to the team, as you may have a hard time getting accustomed to who's who and why you should even care about them.

That being said, the book is still very solid. The art team does a fantastic job with both the action and quiet moments, and the dialogue is fresh and natural, and thankfully not steeped in cliché Canadian dialogue. If you're interested in Alpha Flight, I would absolutely recommend this book. It's a fun ride and an intriguing start, but expect to check Marvel's database to find out about exactly who these characters are and what certain events they're referring to are. If you're an old fan, this book is a nice return to form for the team, as it shows the team's strong dynamic, and their ability to deal with everything from politics to adamantium-armored terrorists.