Jonathan Hickman delivers another cerebral intense creator-owned story with amazing art from Nick Pitarra. That's all you need to know to buy this issue.
The Good
I'm a big fan of Jonathan Hickman. I completely love his work. When word first broke about THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, I did everything in my power to avoid hearing any details from the series. That's not something someone in my position can easily do but I wanted my first reading of this to be completely fresh and free from any prior knowledge or influence. I managed to succeed in following this plan.
The cover may not be super-flashy but the text tells you what you need to know. The idea is that there was much more to the Manhattan Project, the program that developed the first atomic bomb. Designing and building the bomb was just the beginning. It was just a cover to please the President. It turns out they were involved in much bigger ideas unknown to the general public, hence the S at the end of the title.
If you're familiar with the Manhattan Project, you probably heard of Robert Oppenheimer. He was one of the lead scientists on the project. We see his first day and that's where we learn the secrets of what else was going on. And there are some big secrets. Lots of twists are contained that sets this up as a fascinating read.
The art by Nick Pitarra is gritty, detailed and beautifully captures the essence and chaotic nature of the events that occur. Petarra is the perfect match for this series and I can't wait to see what happens next.
The Bad
I'm not sure if I got a defective copy but the ink on the cover was a little smudgy. There are times, especially when it's a good read, I like to kick back in my office chair as I read the comic. A little of the ink came off and smudge the cover a little. It's not a huge deal but something for those concerned with collectibility might want to be aware of.
Also, the cover is an interesting choice. It fits along with some of the transitions used inside. The symbol makes sense after you read the issue and the text gives a great summary that could easily sell the casual comic book shopper. It's just not a super-eye catching cover. Then again, because it's different, maybe it will work.
The Verdict
Jonathan Hickman strikes again. His work on FANTASTIC FOUR and FF have been great but there is something about creator-owned work where you get to see them really cut loose. Taking historical elements and adding a huge twist is a brilliant twist and offers a great deal of possibilities for future issues. There are plenty of developments that will get you hooked and make you hunger for the next issue. This is something new. It's something different. It's the perfect issue if you need a break from superheroes and tights. It's definitely plot driven but is crammed with glorious art by Nick Pitarra. I simply cannot wait for the next issue. I love when I get to read a comic that gets me this excited.
18 Comments