Mission Zero: The Majestic 7
Re-introducing a previous team in a new universe? Time will only tell how well this will integrate into the 52. The best any first issue can do is fabricate a solid setting. Team 7 #0 did just that.
The world is a dangerous place. Humans are now aware of esstraterrestrials and individuals with superpowers. When intensions and loyalties aren't apprent with said individuals a team is needed to protect the world.
Team 7 is the special task force to occupy that void.
Your country needs you. Your World needs you.
The Good
Team oriented titles have always been my favorite comics. They carry complex relationships and dynamics solo titles cannot display. For me, it is in showing how each piece contributes to the whole picture. This issue did a great job showing how a team was assembled and covered each individual member with enough information to not destroy the flow of the story. The story began with two operatives on a mission to recruit the BEST agents for the job. In a Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven fashion each operative has a specific skill set they are recruited for. This appealed to me because that left many options for the reader to find a character they like. And I found quite a few in the team that I am excited to see how they will develop. There were some old faces and a few new. Slade "Not yet Deathstroke" Wilson with Alex Fairchild to name a couple. What I thought was great was how each recruitment scene puzzled into the specific threat they would tackle in possibly the next issue.
As for the art. I enjoyed the internal art but Merino's style didn't stand out to me. With the exception of a few action scenes I was not doubling back over each panel after I had finished the page. Not to take away from how well it tells the story. Good not great. The cover however looks great. Being the first issue they had not explained any of the tech but it looks promising.
The Bad
The main concept I was worried about before reading this was the ability to introduce multiple characters and overloading the reader with too much information. This team [Jordan/Merino] told the story awesomely and kept it simple. The way they introduced each character almost reminded me of a spy or con movie. [Mission Impossible/The Oceans] It showed each person doing whatever it is they do best.
The Verdict
4/5
I gave this a solid four out of five because of the proper introduction of each character without too much information. Each character had a specfic cool factor. They set this issue up just right. I've found the art enjoyable and I can't wait to see how the first mission will play out.
