Guest Review: Boy Maximortal #1

    Hey, yesterday was Thanksgiving in the U.S., and I'm thankful for you readers - especially the ones who send in Guest Reviews!

   Here's one now from one my friends who prefers to remain Anonymous. Here's his review of 

Boy Maximortal #1.

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   While I'm certain it's common practice for most of us who collect things, there are some creators whose work I always purchase whenever possible. I'm not saying that I always like or even appreciate what they do, but I want to know what they're doing. 

   Simply put, these creators that I follow religiously did work in the past that I found groundbreaking and thought provoking, and I hope they'll do it again someday.

   Musicians like Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails or Alice in Chains. Filmmakers like David Fincher and M. Night Shyamalan. And comic creators like Jonathan Hickman, Mike Mignola and the creator of the book that I'm reviewing today, Rick Veitch.

   Veitch has long been one of my favorite comic book creators. He's an odd mix of reverence for those creators and properties of the past while also being more than willing to slit traditional characters wide open and show us their ugly insides. 

   His early DC work, the amazing and all-too-familiar 1963 run at Image, and his Shadow homage, Greyshirt (also for Image) are just a few examples of his work that I love and appreciate. But it's his magnum opus, what's called his "King Hell Heroica" series that was started with 1991's Bratpack, that really sets him apart for me. 

   Which bring me to this review that returns us to the King Hell Heroica universe, the recently released Boy Maximortal #1, which Veitch is publishing without traditional distribution through Diamond and is available through Amazon. 

    Standing on the shoulders of Bratpack, the previous Maximortal series and other related titles, Veitch takes us to a familiar world that explores the original archetypes of superheroes but stretches our understanding of the conventional superhero into a worse-than-Watchmen world that pulls no punches. 

   More interestingly, Veitch uses the character of his Superman-esque True Man(tm) to explore the horrible mistreatment of the Man of Steel's creators at the hands of slimy editors and insidious comic companies. 

   While DC comics and its predecessor takes their well-earned lumps in Maximortal, the new Boy Maximortal book focuses on a new enemy that seems all too familiar with fancy adjectives and the familiar name, "Stanley. " (Get it?) 

   Veitch's story not only reopens this universe, but also gives us a look inside the mind of comic artist "King" and the still fresh mental wounds from his military service in WW2. Like the majority of Veitch's work, this book is not for the timid, but it does take the reader on a compelling ride that you won't find anywhere else.

   Veitch's reverence for the properties and creators of the past is not only found in his writing, but also in his art. His classic style gives his work a nostalgic feel, at least until you read the word balloons or grasp the nature of the story.

   Unlike some reviews of other books, I would not suggest that you start with Boy Maximortal #1 if you have not read the rest of the King Hell Heroica thus far. It is well worth your time and treasure to go back to Bratpack and read everything that leads up to this book. 

   As Veitch shifts his critical eye from DC to Marvel, you will find yourself in an amazing superhero story that works on so many levels. It's great to see this story continue and I hope Veitch continues to add to this rich universe.

Grade: A+

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