Broken Frontier

How can Eric O’Grady ever live with himself after lying continuously through his teeth to get into a woman’s pants, and then profit after stealing from a thief?

This is yet another new series that I am always raving about and why not when you have a writer like Robert Kirkman attached to the title. I think it also helps to have an interesting new take on old an standard, in this case Ant-Man and how he truly is a hero with a corruptible side. I think it’s then safe to say that Eric will always find a way to get himself into one compromising situation after another.

In this instance, Eric is asked to join the new Damage Control and of course he agrees to do so only because it affords him a chance to get to know the pretty Visioneer. To truly compound matters, he is then forced to show off for her by getting involved in a melee between She-Hulk and Mr. Hyde sending him to the hospital with six cracked ribs in the process. To top that off though, the Black Fox pays him a visit demanding restitution for a satchel of stolen jewels that Eric stole from him earlier on, and now this truly compromises things for our irredeemable hero.

Now can you think of a stickier situation to plop Eric smack dab in the middle of? Well, I am sure writer Robert Kirkman can come up with another novel approach to apply to this title, and every issue seems to be building towards a ridiculous crescendo in which there is no return for this fledgling hero. The key to this series is obviously centered upon Kirkman’s knack for the absurdness of Eric O’Grady’s inner logic and this is what makes the title a true gem every month.

Normally though, Robert is joined by artist Phil Hester on this title, but we have a fill in this time with the ever reliable Cory Walker handling the art chores. I had no problems with his work here, and I thought his clean style worked like a charm on every page. If Phil was ever to leave this series permanently then I could very much accept Cory as his replacement. Perhaps it takes a more whimsical approach artistically to churn out this unique series on a monthly basis and so far both Phil and Cory’s artwork have been lovely additions to a unique concept like Ant-Man.

I really can’t sing enough praises about this new incarnation of Ant-Man and with Kirkman at the helm this book truly soars to new heights. He is one writer with a unique voice in the field and it’s nice to see Marvel taking a chance with a character that you love to hate, but ultimately fall in love with. Ant-Man may be far from being redeemable, but his antics as a hero with questionable ethics go a long away from month to month. Let’s hope this title remains on the shelves for a long time to come.