George Snell / 20 February 2013 / Categories: Books

Twelve

THE TWELVE REVIEW

I’m still kind of new to the comic book world, as I’ve only read Deadpool and Greenlantern, slowly getting into other series, as well as Graphic Novels. I got these on a digital sale that Marvel has on Comixology called Marvel Monday where they sale digital comics for 0.69, as I wanted to get into it I bought this and some other comics at the first issue to see if I would like it and after reading the first three issue I was hooked and I bought the other issues, which was worth the purchase, as this was such an enjoyable read. I like this comic as it has a very interesting set up, though I’d imagine that if you are a marvel fan and read Captain America comics, you’ve probably have seen it with Captain America as it does borrow a few elements from it, as of the twelve heroes sleeping into the 21st and awaken into a different time by the U.S Military government and the heroes trying to fit in the new time period. Though that it doesn’t feel like it has been reckoning it as it takes its own directions of this story, as it explores the characters. I think as I haven’t read any Captain America comics, though I have seen the animated films/television show and the movie, so I have some idea about the character.

The story follows these characters; The Blue Blade, The Black Widow, Captain Wonder, Dynamic Man, Electro, The Fiery Mask, The Laughing Mask, Master Mind Excello, Mister E, Rockman, the Witness & finally The Phantom Reporter, who is in the stories perspective. These are all actual Marvel character, they weren’t just made up for this stories, these where just very obscure characters that have been forgotten throughout the years, as I have done a little research. So it was a very risky move doing a story with these characters, but the writing really pulls it off, even though it is a pit slow at the start of it, but it kicks off especially in the second issue. These characters are all very interesting, as all the characters get enough time to develop their themselves, going into their back stories and some with mysteries surrounding them, that you’d want to continue reading to figure out the answers and each play their roles of the story very well. As also feeling for some of these characters as not only feeling for them for the situation they are in, though some others you might have different feelings towards being in the 21st century.

There is also a great mystery, as one of the characters gets murdered, shown at the first issue, and continues the story before then, making us think of who was the murder, as the image of it at first isn't what it seemed, as well as other murders happening.

The art work is really good, as it’s clean and clear style in the comic and I defiantly love the covers art for them, as it has a style of looking like old fashioned move posters, which feel good for this comic. I also love the comic’s attention to detail on characters and backgrounds. My only complaint is that certain characters, males mostly, can look really ugly and too wrinkly at times, it doesn't bother me much, though it is pretty noticeable, but these guys weren't exactly young 20 year old let’s just say that.

Though I like this comic there are some problems with this comic. As characters get enough time to develop. There are some side characters get introduced they seem to disappear, as they appear on the pages and get shoved out of the story, except some side characters that get to stay.

Another problem I have with this comic is that none of the other heroes seem to be around in the 21st century, in the 40’s there where a lot more fighting the Nazi’s, except for a newspaper print, in the comic, of Captain America and a cameo from Nick Fury, the White guy version not the Black guy version. Which is quite a shame as it would have been awesome if the modern heroes interacted with the 40’s heroes, it kinds of make it that they were in their own universe, which wouldn't be much of a problem, but there was an idea with the military that the main characters where going with the “Civil War” event that was going on at the time, but outside from some of the characters fighting crime and the phantom reporter solving a mystery, it never goes into that making you wonder what the point is with the military keeping them in a mansion/house.

Though this isn't a perfect comic it has its flaws, but still a pretty enjoyable read, as of it’s interesting character and story, especially as it isn't something I read too often, though I haven’t read a lot of comics.

It’s a “Like” from me and I’d defiantly recommend that you buy it, if you are interested in this sort of thing & hoping to see these characters more in the Marvel universe.