H-E-R-O #19 REVIEW

[Scott Williams]

<a href=http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0804/HERO19.jpg target=new><img src=http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0804/HERO19t.jpg align=left></a>Reviewer: Scott Williams, yoda905@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Pieces of Hate part 1

Remnants of last month's villain gather in order to wage war on Robby Reed.

Written by: Will Pfeifer
Pencils: Dale Eaglesham
Inks: Wade von Grawbadger
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colors: Sno-Cone
Assistant Editor: Steven Wacker
Editor: Peter Tomasi

This arc basically continues the thread of the last issue, and presumably what the entire series has been purposely building up to. Just when you thought things were going to cool off again, it turns out they were just heating up, and we dive right back in.

The issue begins with a very human look at the events of last issue, not from a detached superhero point of view, but that of poor Jerry's girlfriend, Molly, who greives. And that's a very effective angly for the issue, but it does not linger too long. Because soon the focus shifts to two remaining replicants of last month's uber-baddie, who weild nearly infinite-seeming power, weren't destroyed when Robby defeated the main guy, and bicker between themselves a lot. They set about on a trip, collecting former H-Device users, and presumably forming a faction to get back at Reed. Which spells trouble, obviously, for Reed, who had enough trouble defeating one of them with Jerry's help.

The book is a solid issue, not overly impressive like last month's but a solid effort nonetheless, starting the story off in a good place where it'll easily build to a great climax. Everything we need to deal with for the upcoming issues is established herein, which won't help new readers this month, since it also relies heavily on the previous story, but it is a treat for regular readers. Oh, it also won't help new readers that this issue comes packaged with an unattractive "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" promo disc and poster. I find it odd that the marketing campaign for that movie, which appears to be continuously pushed back, cetners around print and alternative media rather than TV spots. But that's a different thing altogether.

The issue also contains a nod-and-chuckle moment when Reed views a tape of "Jackass"-style escapades featuring an H-Device user named "Captain Chaos."

The art, by Dale Eaglesham, is crisp, clean-cut, and quite grim. It's also disturbing, when Reed overshoots his teleportation, and lands in the furniture. Ouch. The hazards of being a hero, indeed. There is also the skyscraper slugfest between the two villain replicants which is pretty standard stuff. The art is versatile and effective, if not completely spectacular. I'll give it half-a-point higher than my gut suggests, because I am in favour of it.

I really do love this book, and I think most people who read it would agree. And it's too bad that it has such a small readership because I believe this book has wide appeal, to anyone even remotely familiar with regular superheroes, it provides a smart, almost sarcastic alternative to day-to-day DC superheroics. A real treat for longtime comic readers, waiting to be discovered. Read this book, and show it to your friends.

STORY:
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ART:
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OVERALL:
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<a href=http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=516&cat=H%2DE%2DR%2DO+>Buy this Issue Online from X-World and Save!</a>

[Bernard Murnane]

Makes me a little mad no one is replying to this review because it causes me to think that no one reads this book. It is %100 great. Oh yeah awesome job on the review.

[Gat0r-ManX]

Hmmm.. do they have tpb's? I really like what you say on your review.

[buttropolis]

It seems as if this book had better buzz early on in the run, where the characters in the stories were only connected by the device. Now that the plot lines are coming together, and we see a great take on the powers that the users get, this book wouldn't be used for toilet paper. I jumped on early on in the run, scrambling to get the first two issues that were sold out. And I enjoyed the arcs dealing with what happens when someone picks up the device. They are good reads, but they lacked direction and focus, and a mainstay character. For the latest storyline, the book corrected all of my issues giving us someone to cheer for, a team-up we trust and believe in, and an enemy that scares us to death. I have been completely floored after every issue for the past several months and H-E-R-O is the first book I read when it comes out. I honestly believe this is the best written monthly book on the market right now. And I'm completely stunned at its cancellation. Maybe they took too long getting around to the good stuff, but for me it was totally worth it. Sorry to see another one bite the dust. Recognize that if today's "produce-sales-or-die" mentality, Seinfeld never would have made it. It is time to quit the junk we all think we SHOULD be buying, and pick up those books that test new waters, go beyond the costumes, and lack the hype.

[Scott Williams]

.....

.....whimper....

....cancelled.....?

But..... but.... this is DC...! They don't.... they wouldn't......... no...! They can't! NO!

I am a defeated man. Only two reviews out the gate and it's already on borrowed time.

It's like I was never meant to have a career as a reviewer. If it weren't for Uncanny, I wouldn't last a year.