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Mad Max: Fury Road: Nux & Immortan Joe #1

4

If you've been craving more from the Mad Max universe, this book fills you in on a couple of the characters.

The Good

It's hard to believe it's only been a handful of days since I watched Mad Max: Fury Road. Like many, I'm still floating on the buzz from the experience. As the movie came to a close, I felt like I could have sat there way beyond the two hours in order to take in more. Thankfully that's where this comic miniseries from Vertigo comes in. Each issue is set to focus on different characters. We'll get the backstory to them and see where they came from before the movie started. The story is by George Millar so this isn't necessarily a case of a movie property being licensed off for extra content.

This issue contains two character stories. First up is Nux, one of the War Boys that just wouldn't give up. We saw in the film how he was a little different and in the story here we find out about his childhood and how he got his place at the Citadel. The second story deals with Joe Immortan, the leader of this region and how he came to power. Both characters have a big presence on screen. We get enough information on each to thoroughly enjoy the movie's story. This comic's purpose is to try to appease our hunger for more and it does that to some extent.

There are four aritsts on the two stories: Mark Sexton, Leandro Fernandez, Riccardo Burchielli, and Andrea Mutti. The styles aren't too far off from each other and the issue is broken down with a sort of narrator plus a summary at the end. The art is divided into those different sections so it's not a jarring experience where the art suddenly shifts in the middle of the story. Each artist does capture the vibe of the world.

The Bad

If you've watched the movie or are about to, the issue isn't essential but it is a great way for hungry fans to get more. You get a decent idea who the characters are in the movie and could maybe surmise where they came from. This is just an added bonus you pay for.

The art does work here but after the absolutely amazing visuals in the movie, it's almost a little difficult to shift to comic art.

The Verdict

If you've watched Mad Max: Fury Road and are already having withdrawals, this comic can help feed your hunger. Set as a prequel, the issue is divided into two parts to give the backstory to the two characters, Nux and Immortan Joe. The movie did a great job in introducing the characters but this comic does help to give you a little more. Chances are, if you've seen it, you're already thinking about watching it again. If you haven't seen the movie, as a prequel, the comic is accessible as well. The art is what you've come to expect from a Vertigo book. The vibe and atmosphere from the Mad Max world has been captured. Look for this comic if you need or want more from Mad Max. You'll definitely want to check out the next issue as well. This is how movie tie in comics should be done with this level of quality.