Devil Comics Review | Empress [2016] Mark Millar | Stuart Immonen

65 million years ago Queen Emporia and her children escape with Captain Dane Havelock her bodyguard from the Tyrant King Morax. The Empress escape through space to stay with her sister as fugitives while her husband searches for her. Morax’s daughter discovers her mother and Dane are having an affair so she calls her father to their current location. Morax arrives and challenges Dane to a fight for taking his wife. However it is his wife who fights Morax. Emporia is revealed to be a cage fighter who never lost a fight. She kills her husband and her daughter takes the throne. The seven issue series is a long journey with a predictable ending that everyone can see coming. 

WASTED TALENTS – 2 OUT OF 5

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American Jesus Volume 1: Chosen TPB [2004] by Mark Millar

AMERICAN JESUS VOL. 1: CHOSEN TPB

Mark Millar begins his tale of Jodie Christianson that survived when a truck landed on top of him and he survived unscathed. Now people see him as a savior turning water into wine and curing illnesses however worries if he is the second coming of Jesus then the Anti-Christ is coming. This book is a real-life look if Jesus came into our lives today as a boy. The issue picks up in the final issue where Jodie is revealed to be the son of Satan and a flash forward revealing he becomes the President of the United States. This series is the first installment of a trilogy.

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

The Secret Service Premiere HC [2013]

      

      

SECRET SERVICE PREMIERE HARDCOVER

A group of terrorists are stealing stars from famous sci-fi productions including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Star Trek. Mark Hamill has already died after a failed rescue attempt. Now another agent Jack London is being sent in however first he must send his nephew Gary to a spy school. Gary begins his training while his uncle Jack is caught red-handed by the Chinese.

Gary gets training however falls back to his old habits so Jack takes him. He dumps his nephew in South America stripped and robbed with only 24-hours to touch English soil. Gary gets back home with the FBI most wanted fugitive. After Gary graduates, he heads home to find his mother beaten and bruised. Gary decides to teach her boyfriend a lesson of respect.

Both Jack and Gary investigate Doctor James Arnold who is responsible for the disappearances of the celebrities. Jack seduces Arnold’s girlfriend who reveals he is planning on killing 5 billion people the following night with cell phones. Uncle Jack is killed by one of Doctor Arnold’s henchmen who has been following them.

Gary assembles the new recruits to stop James Arnold from killing 5 billion people. After the raid into his compound, Gary discovers the machine cannot be stopped so his recruits reprogrammed it so people will start killing giving the world 15 minutes of World Peace. After Jack is buried, Gary reads his last Will-and-Testament before receiving a message that there is trouble in Moscow.

This hardcover collects

Secret Service #1-6

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Kiss Ass 2 Prelude: Hit-Girl Premiere HC [2012]

   

KISS ASS 2: HIT-GIRL HARDCOVER

The sequel to Kiss Ass combines both the Hit-Girl and the Kiss Ass 2 mini-series. Hit-Girl plans on taking out some organized crime before they start assembling after the events in Kiss Ass. Hit-Girl plans on training Kiss Ass however she wants to know how to be normal as Red Mist commits his first public crime. Afterwards he travels around the world

Kiss Ass broke his hand while taking down the Russian mob, so Hit-Girl goes in it alone to take out the Colombian drug gang. The drug gang brings in the crime family who decides to take care of Hit-Girl’s stepfather Marcus Williams and his family. However Mindy takes care of them and targets everyone on her shit list and targets people on death row. Back in Eastern Europe, Red Mist remembers Kick Ass’ secret identity.

The prelude showed the backstory to Kick Ass 2 and majority of the series lacked suspense because of it. The hyper-level of violence was entertaining however after a while it lacked much impact. In May 2013, Millar is prepared to give us the final installment with Kick Ass 3.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT – 3 OUT OF 5

  

      

Supercrooks Premiere HC [2012] by Mark Millar & Leinil Yu

  

SUPERCROOKS PREMIERE HC

Gladiator chases down crooks including Johnny Bolt inside the New York City Subway system and the crooks are sent to Supermax Prison. After being caught stealing in a casino, the Heat needs to pay back the owners 100 million dollars in four weeks. Johnny decides to pull of the biggest job of their careers overseas to Spain and puts the gang back together. They include:

The Ghost World’s Greatest Cat-Burglar

TK McCabe the Telekinetic

Forecast New York City’s Weather-Maker

Roddy and Sammy Diesel The Indestructible Men       

Johnny Bolt blackmails Glenda AKA Gladiator over nude pictures he has been sending him. Johnny wants Gladiator to help the other crooks with the heist. Johnny plans to steal from Mr. Christopher Matts AKA the Bastard.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Johnny plans to use the Gladiator to take down Bastard’s bodyguard the Praetorian

- Johnny and the gang attempts to steal from the Bastard

- Praetorian and the Bastard catch Johnny’s girl at the airport before she leaves

- Praetorian takes on the Supercrooks before Gladiator give him a beating

- Johnny’s girl tricks the Bastard using a psychic illusion

- Johnny framed the Salamander’s gang for the robbery on the Bastard

This hardcover collects

Supercrooks #1-4

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

   

Kick-Ass 2 HC [2012] by Mark Millar & John Romita Jr.

KICK ASS 2 HARDCOVER

Mark Millar stated that if the first story dealt with heroes then the sequel deals with the villains. Kick-Ass dreams of becoming a superhero slowly unravels into a nightmare. Mindy McCready trains Kick-Ass to her her sidekick however she makes a promise to Marcus Williams to cease being Hit-Girl. Kick-Ass is introduced by Doctor Gravity to the members of Justice Forever and has a new partner called Battle-Guy. The team takes down a prostitution ring and after a month Justice Forever became twelve members strong.

Dave’s father discovers his son is Kiss Ass as Justice Forever headquarters is destroyed by Mother-Fucker formerly Red Mist, Mother Russia, and his Toxic Mega-Cunts. Next Mother-Fucker finds Katie Deauxma and gang rapes her.

NYPD has decided to track down all the heroes and villains through their IP addresses and arrest them. Dave’s father is arrested as Kick-Ass receives a warning from Mother-Fucker his father is next. 

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Dave’s father is beaten and hanged at Riker’s Island

- The funeral for Dave’s father is held and Kick-Ass is kidnapped

- Kick-Ass is rescued by Hit-Girl and both head to Mother-Fucker’s Headquarters

- Hit-Girl discovers Mother-Fucker and his gang is hitting Times Square

- Dave’s apartment is bombed and multiple explosions rock the city outside Times Square

- Mother-Fucker gives his gang ten minutes to destroy Times Square

- Both Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl arrive with an assembly of costumed heroes

- Hit-Girl takes on Mother Russia and decapitates her

- Kick-Ass beats the crap out of Red Mist and accidently falls from the roof

- Hit-Girl is captured by the police and subsequently arrested for multiple murders

This hardcover collects

Kick-Ass 2 #1–7

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

  

  

Superior HC [2010-2011] by Mark Millar & Leinil Yu

SUPERIOR HARDCOVER
Space monkey Ormon grants Simon Pooni who is suffering from multiple sclerosis a wish to become Superior. After saving a US space station from crashing towards Earth earning his the public’s trust including the President of the United States to resolve international conflicts. Heading towards Afghanistan to deal with the Taliban, Superior clears the country of booby traps, rescue contract workers, and arrests Taliban fighters. Afterwards Superior begins to serve the international community resolve problems.

Meanwhile bullies lead by Sharpie picks on Simon’s best friend Chris, Superior arrives and takes him to the North Pole. Vowing revenge Sharpie, Ormon offers him a chance for revenge in exchange for his loyalty to Satan.

Seven days after becoming Superior Ormon returns and asks Simon to sell him his soul to become Superior again or its back to the wheelchair within 24 hours. Just to make sure Simon takes the deal and sells his soul, Ormon turns Sharpie into Abraxas who is one of Superior’s nemesis from the movies.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Abraxas uses a cruise line ship destroys the Empire State Building
- Simon sells his soul to become Superior to stop Abraxas
- Abraxas dumps a bus on the actor who played Superior until the real deal arrives
- Superior takes on Ormon who becomes a villain from the Superior films
- Ormon has Superior’s soul however he can never collect because Superior is immortal

This hardcover collects
Superior #1-7

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Superior #4 [2011] by Mark Millar & Leinil Yu

SUPERIOR #4

Madeline Knox finally gets the interview from Superior she wanted by driver her car into the Hudson River. Simon Pooni’s parents believer their son is kidnapped by a child molester. His best friend Chris is beaten up by a couple of thugs lead my Sharpie. Simon as Superior teaches Sharpie a lesson by taking him to the North Pole. Finally Superior offers to work for the President of the United States starting with Afghanistan. The space monkey Ormon that gave Simon his powers as Superior offers Sharpie the same by pledging his allegiance towards his dark master Satan. 

Mark Millar is slowly building his story with two issues left before Leinil Yu rejoins him again within Ultimate Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #1. Hopefully we will finally learn why Simon was given powers and the origin of the space monkey Ormon. After a slow start this series is becoming interesting to read however the finale will determine the payoff. 

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Superior #3 [2010] by Mark Millar & Leinil Yu

SUPERIOR #3

Superior saves a falling US Space Station and its crew as well as several other heroic deeds that earn him the public trust. Simon tells his best friend that it is a blessing from the space monkey Ormon who he thinks is an angel. However Ormon reveals that he is quite the opposite. The issue showcases Superior’s public appearance and a hint of what is expected from the final 3 issues of the series. After a slow two issue start the series seem to pick up however it is no Nemesis. The artwork of Leinil Yu is aspiring and awesome as the detail he brings enriches the issue.

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Millar & McNiven's Nemesis #4 [2010]

MILLAR & McNIVEN’S NEMESIS #4

Mark Millar brings the series to an explosive close with an unpredictable ending. Blake Morrow has to rescue both his wife and the President of the United States from Nemesis. A beautifully illustrated series by Steve McNiven that really brought out the best of the series. The humor and action injected into this story is top-notch. Not only does Millar have a showdown between Blake Morrow and Nemesis, he also sets-up the sequel that will take place in Los Angeles. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – 5 OUT OF 5

Superior #2 [2010] by Mark Millar & Leinil Yu

SUPERIOR #2
Mark Millar is slowly providing legs for his story as the shift begins about testing Superior’s powers. Simon Pooni and his best friend Chris test Superior’s powers including vision, heat vision, cool breath, strength and flight. The ends with a US space station crashing towards Earth. The story reminds me of the 1980s Greatest American Hero series. Not much happens within this issue as it serves to only set-up for the rest of the series. Ultimate Avengers seems to be much better storywise compared to Millar’s and Leinil Yu’s creation.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT – 2 OUT OF 5

Superior #1[2010] by Mark Millar & Leinil Yu

 

SUPERIOR #1

Space-monkey granting Simon Pooni a wish to become Superior – Okay I will wait till the end before making any judgments. However a police officer drawing his gun within a household is overreacting towards the disappearance of a child suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. The first issue really seemed more like art than substance. Like Mark Millar wrote on the back on this issue both Kick Ass and Nemesis are a bit more grounded in reality. Superior is a character from similar times but whether it can hold up in the present remains to be seen.

WASTED TALENTS – 2 OUT OF 5

Millar & McNiven's Nemesis #3 [2010]

MILLAR & McNIVEN’S NEMESIS #3

Nemesis allowed himself to become captured to draw out Blake Morrow’s children. He emotionally rapes the parents by doing something inconceivable to them. Mark Mark Millar is providing an emotional roller coaster ride for Blake Morrow before he faces off against Nemesis.

This was a very predictable and straightforward issue except for the surprise moment with the children. Steve McNiven’s art becomes the centerpiece material that holds the story together as it is beautifully illustrated to bring out the colors and characters. Looking forward to this character’s adaptation to film by director Tony Scott. 

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Millar & McNiven's Nemesis #2 [2010]

MILLAR AND McNIVEN'S NEMESIS #2

Following the success of his run on the Ultimates, Civil War, and Kick-Ass, Mark Millar decided to really crank it up with his new creator-owned series: Nemesis. Millar described the character as a cross between Batman and the Joker. The smartest, richest, and most resourceful villain in the world taking out top cops everywhere. 

Now he has set his sights on Chief of Police Blake Morrow in Washington, DC and his reason is ‘seeking revenge for a stolen childhood.’ The first issue opens up with violence and destruction on the level of a category 11 hurricane. To set up his trap for Chief Blake Morrow, Nemesis has taken down Air Force One in order to kidnap the President. Proving to the US citizens and the world that no one is safe. Nemesis also gives Chief Blake Morrow a date and time of death: midnight on March 12th.

Twenty years ago Detective Blake Morrow was investigating the disappearance of missing teenagers and was lead to the home of the Andersons. The Andersons were running a hunting club involving teenage runaways and rich friends. Their son Matthew Anderson is Nemesis and his father committed suicide and his mother was executed on midnight on March 12th.

In the present, Nemesis destroys a football stadium, steals the Hope Diamond, kills innocents, and poisons the Pentagon. Chief Blake Morrow steps up a trap for Nemesis after a long high speed chase and is finally caught.

The writing of Mark Millar is superb compared to his Ultimate Avengers 2 run. He has a sense of his own character and really shows his talents of storytelling. Steve McNiven artwork with crisp and clear lines really showcases his passion towards comic art.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - 5 OUT OF 5