CREDIT: Marvel
Rating: 4/5 – How Scott Lang Faces the End of the World…
by ComicSpectrum senior reviewer Shawn Hoklas.
With Ant-Man: Last Days, Scott Lang faces the end of the Marvel Universe. Writer Nick Spencer makes the choice to not make this a mushy ending but instead has some fun, and like the previous issues before this, puts Scott in some awkward situations that produce some funny and touching moments. Spencer and artist Ramon Rosanas have really hit a stride together and for fans of the movie, this issue feels very similar in tone. Scott is sarcastic, he has the best intentions but keeps getting pulled into unfortunate situations, and he wants to do right by his daughter. All those themes are present within this final story and as the intro states, “just as he was starting to get his life in order, an alternate earth smashed into his and the world ended.” These are Scott’s last days.
Ant-Man finds himself trapped underneath the backside of the Slug, a C-list villain who first appeared in the late 1980s and never became all that popular, when this issue first opens. Scott Lang is attempting to “steal” back an amulet that was lost by reoccurring character Mary Morgenstern who we’ve seen in previous issues. This amulet has the power to bring back youth, creating a wonderful story moment when she uses it to give golden age heroes their power back one final time before the end of the world. It’s a cool premise that I would have loved to have seen more of since there’s so many golden age characters I’d love to see again, but Spencer chooses to focus on Morgenstern and Scott, allowing their conversation and emotions to take the forefront while the revived heroes remain in the background. It’s the right choice since it creates some very touching moments, allowing the humor to be a bit more subtle when compared to the issue’s opening sequence.
That decision also pays off due in large part to Rosanas art. Rosanas is able to capture age realistically and his clean lines make the whole issue look a bit animated, but realistic at the same time. He has a great handle on both body and facial language, and scenes involving both Scott and the Slug are pretty funny since he’s able to render the characters so effectively. His pencils are minimal but effective and you can see his strengths in the choice to not include so many lines. What I didn’t see coming is the ending, and although it seemed to have come a bit out of nowhere, the prospects for future stories are rich. Although its sad to see this series go, the creators will be back with an all new series starting in October titled, The Astonishing Ant-Man. The last few pages look as though they may lead into the next series despite the world coming to an end… and because of that I’ll be back.
Reviewed by: Shawn Hoklas
(shawn@comicspectrum.com)
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