THE INTIMATES #1 REVIEW

[BoomBot]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/dc/Intimates1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/dc/Intimates1T.jpg" align=left alt="The Intimates #1 Cover"></a>Reviewer: Omar A. Safi, safi@sbcglobal.net
Quick Rating: Above Average
Story Title: [untitled]

Joe Casey and Jim Lee present the new generation of superheroes!

Story by: Joe Casey
Pictures by: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Spy Comics Drawn by: Jim Lee
Inked by: Sandra Hope
Colors by: Randy Mayor
Lettering by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Rob Steen
Cover by: Rian Hughes and Jim Lee
Edited by: Ben Abernathy
Created by: Joe Casey, Jim Lee and Giuseppe Camuncoli

Writer extradonaire Joe Casey is hitting the comic book scene again with his latest buzz book, The Intimates. Personally, I have never been a big fan of Casey's but I admire him for garnering such a strong following. He definitely has an impressive body of work with Uncanny X-Men, Wildcats Version 3.0, the new Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and much more. The Intimates is largely appealing and most of the elements that give off this appeal hold up quite nicely.

Essentially, The Intimates is not a very original concept. Lately, the idea of teens attending a school to develop as superheroes and how they deal with their powers has been slightly over done with several books. The Intimates does a good job of taking the concept and pushing it to its maximum potential. Casey and company create an expanded school consisting of eclectic students, superhero teachers, and courses to train the burgeoning superhero. Of course, The Intimates features the various kinds of students who attend a typical high school. Theres's Punchy, the immature hotshot, the Duke, a benevolent jock, Destra, the class fashionista, Empty Vee and Sykes, the two more silent types due to certain issues. Also, this book takes place in the core Wildstorm Universe, so a lot could happen. In this issue, Punchy even has a fantasy with the Authority's Engineer that is quite funny. Another element of this title is its boosted form of cyberpunk culture. Technology is taken to another level as the students can utilize it to help them right from there desks through floating screens, handhelds, and the Internet.
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/1104/TheIntimates1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/1104/TheIntimates1t.jpg" align=right alt="The Intimates WWTX Variant Cover Preview"></a>
In today's comic book market, a reader can often go through their comics quickly and be left unsatisfied. Conversely, The Intimates provides readers with a book that is packed with information. Ms. Klanbaid is this group's teacher at the Seminary and goes through the goals and resources at the school. The Duke's chat with his dingy and broken down redneck father adds a realism to the character. The Duke is a teenager who is pressured by his father to bully others and be someone he isn't. Some other troubled characters are displayed like a counselor who accidentally killed many with his powers and a gym teacher whose past in Vietnam still haunts him. Destra's silly power of explosive fingernails makes a stab at some superheroes in the industry also. In addition, the scrawls at the bottom of the pages, like the stock ticker on your news networks, is highly innovative. The scrawls add to the element of an unparalelled tech-savvy generation and opens an outlet to put so much more into a book. Some of the scrawls are almost explicit or sneak in things about the characters while others Casey uses to make nods to cancelled and flourshing Wildstorm books.

Most books though have apparent flaws. The major flaw of The Intimates is that a plot is not present. There's really no telling where Casey is going with this book and what these students have going against them. Basically, the style is here but no substance, or base for all this style to ride on. As for the characters, there's something for everyone but none of them stand out so far; although, this is only the debut. At the end, the school principal welcomes a new student, Kefong, who is some kind of Bruce Lee lite. As for him, there's also no telling how he'll mix into the team dynamic, so he doesn't entice the audience too much.

With The Intimates, Jim Lee introduces new European artist Giuseppe Camuncoli. Camuncoli embodies the teen-pop style that fits this concept and is the primary cause for this title's unique style. Camuncoli's pencils are very angular, fun, and energetic. Each character is rendered nicely with a creative flair to each. The techno-style is also due to Randy Mayor's colors. Mayor's vivid colors liven up the work and add a lot to the pencils. I would say that the lettering is not too easy on the eyes, as it looks almost italicized. Of course, there is always superstar artist Jim Lee to consider. Lee fans will be pretty disappointed as he only pencils the comic book portions, since an element of The Intimates was that it is a comic within a comic. These snippets are also mired by being crammed in with the panels of the main story. Lee does a good contribution though with Rian Hughes on the cover. The light and scratchy inking on the cover make for a new spin on his work. Hughes morphs the cover into one similar to a magazine with different blurbs everywhere and is another factor to this book's great style.

The Intimates #1 is enjoyable, refreshing, and leaves the reader satisfied. This title has a lot going for it but ultimately, provides more style than substance. The Intimates potential to touch on real subjects concering teens and creates some anticipation. Moreover, each issue is a stand-alone, so the fact that each read is complete makes for an excellent incentive. Overall, The Intimates will probably only get better from here.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Order this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1543&cat=INTIMATES
)

[GilSpiderig]

Hmmm.....A bit confusing the book was...I must the read it once more the book that is....(Yeah, I'm pulling a yoda speech)

[James Groves]

I dont want to put a dampner on anything, cuz i know this books been getting a lot of buzz around the staffers, but i bought this and i was really underwhelmed. Artwork just doesnt work for me and there wasnt much of a story either.

Great review though, as always Omar.

[Alex Groff]

See, I thought this was a great superhero book. Its filled with information, it plays with style, and it introduces a large cast. I mean, we can say there's little in the way of plot, but then again it's a character driven story.

I also think it's a fine introduction to the characters and their situation. That's more than happens in most first issues. Compare this to Silver Surfer #1, Warlock #1, Emma Frost #1, Jubilee #1-- hell, compare this to any other ongoing series' #1 that came out this year. Few, if any, had a lot happening.

But then again, I'm really a Casey fan: I love his inventive style, so that's just my opinion. Earth's Mightiest Heroes felt a bit... lacking... but this I thought was top notch, with the potential to be as good as Automatic Kafka. (And now I see what he meant when he said there's more room to be subversive within the superhero genre. Because it's there.)

[Stephanie Kay]

Great review- Happy Birthday btw :)

My views do differ a bit, me liking it and all, but I appreciate why some people might feel disappointed with this comic.
This, to me, is something you will really like, or you will probably think has little substance and direction. I believe it is too early to say this comic has 'little plot'. I always think of a first issue as establishing the tone of the book, a 'premise' and introducing a bunch of characters. Intimates did all this so I'm not too upset it hasn't developed a distinct plot yet. And it doesn't suprise me it hasn't either- this issue was very much involved in playing around with 'narrative'- the information in this first issue was so highly character driven- that I'm pretty sure the next issue will begin to focus on where this book is going long term. If it doesn't, maybe then I'll say it should get focus and a more stable structure.

I also like it because it isn't a typical teenage superhero comic. It's so 'in key' with the themes of it's own genre, it's almost a self parody. The footnotes are fun, but I don't know if it's wise for them to be a permament feature. We'll see. I admire any comic that can introduce a dozen characters and not make it feel like it was rushed in a way. I'm suprised some people felt no characters stood out- as I was quite intrigued by all of them. I definately felt they had the potential to grow from what we were given in this issue. Again, maybe that is personal taste.

If it wasn't your sort of thing, I still advise you to have a peek at the 2nd issue. It's quite possible it won't carry on in the same manner. If it does, then fair enough.

[Martin Dudek]

Well, guys, I did it. The Intimates is my first non-Marvel comic book! I'm so proud of myself! :D

I liked it, the characters are great (I like Destra), the art's fine, and what we saw was fun. But I do wish we got more of a plot.

[BoomBot]

Thanks for the birthday wish Red Lantern and thanks for the compliment, James.

[Alex Groff]

Yay Icey!

The Intimates reminds me of Generation X at its peak, but with more humor mixed in. (Two of my favourite characters remain Paige and Jono, even though their relationship never took off.)

Hope you enjoy it.

[Iceman_Fan15]

Hmmm not shure about this book. I mean, a guy who attacks people with a finger puppet amd a girl with exploding fingernails is really wierd, but I guess I'll give it a try.

[Stapler]

Joe Casey just keeps hitting them out of the park, in my opinion.

Information overload is the rule of the day. Graphics, factoids, sound bytes all over TV and computer screens. We tolerate them on our "news" programs, why not on everything? We get little bugs and graphics zipping all over the place during entertainment programs, why not in comics? Fashion mags are filled with blurbs and sidebars, why not a superhero comic? And, anyway, are they more or less obnoxious than a narrator within the story? These aren't new concepts. Or even a concept taken to extremes. Just slightly extended.

Of course, this isn't a good thing, and Joe Casey is trying to make that point.

And the supposed flaw? No plot? And what awesome plots can we envision about a school full of superheroes? Villains attack, teachers held hostage, kids have to save the day. Kid tries to cheat by using his super-powers. Kids have to expose a teacher as a villain. Kids find out all the teachers are villains and they're being used. Blah blah blah. Why can't this book be about character study and examination of the school system? Why does it need some sort of over-arching plot? I'll be pleasantly surprised if Casey can pull some decent and cool plots out, but I will be just as pleased if it remains how it is. Little slices of these kids' lives.

[Iceman_Fan15]

You know, a comic book with no big groundbreaking plot, and just an interesting continuous story wouldnt be bad at all. If this comic turns out that way, which it probably won't, it would probably climb to my top ten list.

[Vector]

I found the first issue to be interesting and I'm willing to see where Casey take this. I like the extra info that he splashed in the gutter space.

Icey - Way to go! :D

[tormented_spawn]

Well, guys, I did it. The Intimates is my first non-Marvel comic book! I'm so proud of myself! :D

hope we'll see more comics from other publishers in the future. People who buys from one publisher, are the ones who ends up missing out on great comics.

It was a solid issue, got me interested in buying later issues.

[Jon Hancock]

I'm not sure. I liked the story and the characters. Punchy was pretty sweet and the whole "Saved by the Bell" vibe was nice. I just dunno. The presentation was a bit odd. Maybe I'm a stick in the mud but sometimes you can innovate too far.

[tormented_spawn]

People complain about the lack of innovative comics available, yet when there's a innovative comics is smack in front of them, they don't bother to read them or say to weird for my taste. Well, try Intimates, if fact, try some of other Joe Casey's comics. *Hurling comics to people*. Huh, you like that?!? :cuckoo: