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.