Welcome to The Pull List, a weekly column where we check out a first issue of a new series and tell you whether or not to follow the comic based only on that. This week saw the release of the zeroeth(?) issue of the new Uncanny Inhumans series from Marvel, so let’s find out if it’s worth your time!
For anyone who’s deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is looking to explore the wonderful world of Marvel Comics as well, Marvel’s been doing a pretty good job of introducing easy-to-jump-into series. With Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. currently in the midst of an Inhumans storyline, you’d assume that the newest Inhumans comic series would be the perfect place to jump in. You’d probably be wrong, though.
Issue zero of The Uncanny Inhumans follows the leader/king of the Inhumans, Black Bolt (whose real name is, I kid you not, Blackagar Boltagon), as he attempts to find his long lost son. This issue alone features reference to, but little explanation of, Terragenesis, New Attilan, and Kang the Conqueror. If you don’t already have some kind of idea of what those things are, you’re probably going to be pretty lost.
If this introductory issue is any indication, Uncanny Inhumans is what I’d call a “mid-level introductory comic” – which is totally a term I just made up. It’s too explanation-heavy for anyone who’s already readily familiar with the Inhuman mythos, but still features enough concepts that if you’re going into this series totally blind, you’re going to get really confused really fast.
Of course, that’s assuming this issue actually is an indicator of what we can expect from the series as a whole. See, that’s the tricky thing about zero issues. Sometimes they’re integral to the story (see Hawkeye Vs. Deadpool), and sometimes the zero issue is little more than a little bonus issue that ends up having nothing to do with the series. Only time will tell.
Assuming you’re in the situation I described above, some familiarity with the Inhumans, but not enough that you’ve been following the currently-ongoing series, Uncanny Inhumans is actually pretty good. There’s some good action, Black Bolt proves to be a good leading man, and I’m genuinely curious to see where this story is going.
The art leaves a little to be desired, if only because all the frames seem so posed, as if the characters were told they were about to have their picture taken and they should try to act “heroic” or “sultry” or “villainous.” I know this sounds like a weird complaint, but it gives the book a little bit of a campy vibe that I just wasn’t feeling.
Overall, though, you could definitely do worse than Uncanny Inhumans, and for anyone who’s been curious enough to read through the Inhumans Wikipedia page, this isn’t a bad place to delve into the comics-side of things. If you’re a casual fan who knows nothing about the Inhumans, or if you’re good pals with ‘ol Blackagar Boltagon, though, this one’s going to be a harder sell.
