kingskeletor's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 - On Victoria review

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    The Blood That Binds

    Nick Spencer continues his run on the greatest series you're not reading.

    Just a pitch: Personally, his run feels like Lost, stand alone episodes featuring character background with an overarching storyline.  The characters are real, the twists are clever and the drama is tense.  If you love the silver age action and reverence of Geoff Johns and the complex, mature and psychological weight of Grant Morrison, than this is your book.

    Last issue has been referred to many reviewers as Spencer's weakest, however it just starts this new arc introducing the Iron Maiden.  Colleen finally gets the spotlight as we see the tragic back story to her parentage.  Original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent  Len Brown (aka Dynamo) and Iron Maiden have been romantically involved.  However  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. finds out and breaks up the happy family, arrests them both and takes Colleen into their custody.

    With limited page numbers, Spencer gives the reader enough for them to figure out the psychological ramifications.  You understand the pain behind Colleen, Iron Maiden, and even Len Brown.   Brown doesn't say anything in the primary story but with the art and storytelling we get the whole story from just one panel of his face full of sadness.  What's amazing about this run is that it's not a reboot, it's a continuation and here we get more time with the original characters, in this case Len Brown, the original Dynamo and Iron Maiden.  Having read one issue of the 1980s series,  their attraction has a history.  But, if you're a new reader than it's fine and actually issue 7 is a good jumping on point.  Spencer's introduction to Iron Maiden proves to be intriguing and multi-layered as she's a mother, terrorist, wife, and dangerous opponent. 

    What I enjoy is this bizarre opening of the Iron Maiden, a seemingly domesticated woman, singing Dion's "The Wanderer," a song about a man who won't be tied down by women when traveling.  It set sets a time period but it more importantly questions how this is appropriate song for Iron Maiden.  A deeply reflective and revealing moment while being subtle.

    While, I'd love to get back to the developments of Toby and the other Agents, this issue is so vicious and intriguing that I can wait to get back to them next issue.

    Spencer also writes a faux silver age tale involving the first romantic moment between Dynamo and Iron Maiden, it's written perfectly and stylized nicely.  It's actually quite jarring compared to the subtle work of the primary story.  We have massive amounts of exposition and rather blunt dialogue.  We see that The work of Mike Grell and Nick Dragotta are spectacular and really elevate the series' already impressive artist collection.

    Personally, I wish there were more reviews for this spectacular issue.

    Other reviews for T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 - On Victoria

      Tainted Love and Family Ties 0

      Colleen heads out to settle some family business. We learn the complicated history of Colleens mother, father, and how T.H.U.N.D.E.R. fits into it all.  The Good Fiona Staples turns in an A-1, first class, superb cover! I've never seen her work until now and I gotta say I've been taken aback. somebody please get this woman to work on their interiors Asap! I've always loved the design of Iron Maiden's costume. As  a kid she always stood out to more than any of the other characters in T.H.U.N.D.E....

      4 out of 5 found this review helpful.

      Buy This Series 0

      The Good: I really like the way the Present scenes bookend the main flashback story of the issue. It really sets the scene well and almost feels like the whole middle is Colleen slipping into some kind of dream/flashback even though it's impossible since, as a baby, she'd have no memory of these events.Grells' artwork seemed a bit off from Cafu's at first, but it looks really nice and sets the scene well.I'm taking a bit of a cue from something JonesDeini said, but this comic almost feels like i...

      2 out of 2 found this review helpful.

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