CREDIT: Marvel Comics
Rating: 4/5 – A Solid Entry in an Otherwise Lackluster Mini-Series.
by ComicSpectrum senior reviewer Shawn Hoklas.
In recent years Marvel has typically produced tie-in mini-series for release alongside their main events. Whether it be the Frontline series that coincided with Civil War and others, or the Vs. series that was part of the Avengers vs. X-Men event. With the current Axis event in its third part, the spinoff title Axis: Revolutions just had its third issue released. Although for the most part this has been a series you can easily avoid without missing anything important, this issue is the strongest of the three in terms of entertainment value and quality.
Axis: Revolutions has taken two characters in each issue, one hero and one villain, and like the premise of the Axis event, flipped their role to have them be the opposite of what they are. This issue focuses on Kitty Pryde and Sandman. In the first story written by Ray Fawkes and drawn by Pepe Larraz and Rodrigo Zayas, Kitty Pryde, because of the inversion in the main Axis book decides to rob a bank. Despite the simple premise, the art and story are well done. Fawkes comes up with some clever uses of Pryde’s powers, and Larraz and Zayas draw it to perfection. I wasn’t familiar with their art prior to seeing it here and hopefully we’ll see more of their work in the future. They have a nice clean style that will remind you a bit of Stuart Immonen, and that’s a great thing!
In the second story writer Frank Barbiere and Victor Santos have Flint Marko, aka the Sandman, breaking “into” a prison in order to save a prisoner who also happens to be a friend. In doing so, he also attempts to save the lives of numerous officers along the way. Santos’ art is the highlight of the story and makes you wish he had a few more issues to show off his creative work. Santos uses loose lines and very little panel grids to show the sequential storytelling and it works perfectly. And much like the first story, Fawkes comes up with some creative ideas to show off Sandman’s powers.
Axis: Revolutions isn’t a must read, but if you’re looking for an entertaining story that ties into Marvel’s current event to give you a little more flavor of the world, this third issue will satisfy that need. Both stories although short and quick reads are well done, making this issue the best of the series so far. Even if you were looking to avoid the Axis event and just wanted a solid read with an inverted version of character(s) you enjoy, this issue is more than worth it.
Reviewed by: Shawn Hoklas
(shawn@comicspectrum.com)
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