Broken Frontier

Wonder Man is back in a solo book with Hollywood hi-jinks, a mysterious villain, and Beast. Do you guys remember the nineties too?

The ionic Avenger makes his triumphant reappearance in the solo market and he is back in Hollywood, where he belongs. Through a series of meetings with documentary filmmakers, sleazy agents, and lunatics, by the end of this issue, Simon Williams finds himself face-to-face with one of his biggest problems. Can he turn a woman who apparently has nothing but murder on her mind into a productive part of society? This Avenger, more than many, believes in second chances. But has he bitten off more than he can chew this time?

Peter David is doing two things with this comic. First and foremost, he is going the classic route the series from the nineties focused on and giving fans a Simon Williams immersed in the Hollywood scene with all the comedy and degradation we love to see. Secondly, he is balancing this comedy by raising a serious question: What will eventually become of a superhero who can’t seem to stay dead? Will he, years and years into the future after all of his friends and enemies have died, lose hope? By wrapping these elements together in one package, David is taking a new look at Wonder Man, while keeping the classic feel. But will it work?

As long as Andrew Currie is working with David, it has a good chance. Currie, who pencils this book, has a style that seems to be influenced by graffiti, a sorely lacking element in mainstream comics. These artists pay little attention to the boring elements of anatomy and realism and create a look of exaggerated expressions, body types, and, when they are good at what they do, landscapes. Currie tackles all three with ease, giving this book a warped feel that fits the character and the story.

Peter David is good at making likable characters loveable; Andrew Currie has a popish artistic style that almost screams West Coast. Together they are trying to pay homage to the classic Wonder Man and add a little depth to the character.