Review : Secret Wars 2099 1-3

Secret Wars 2099 takes place in the (you guessed it) 2099 domain of BATTLEWORLD. The title surrounds a band of the 2099 version of the avengers-- all new characters, except for Hercules, all with their own intrigue.

Secret Wars 2099 #1

The first issue opens by introducing the characters in the setting of a battle against 'The Chain Gang' who have stolen something or another. We're introduced to Captain America (muscular female super-soldier); Hawk(wings and talons), Black Widow(kind of a spider-lady), Iron man (man in armor) and Hercules (demigod).

The real intrigue are the reveals, mostly closer towards the end: Cap is some split personality form of Roberta Mendez, who thinks she's a mere secretary or something but in reality becomes the super-soldier whenever she's "activated" by Mr. Stone; Black Widow isn't very reserved when it comes to lethal methods; The man in the Iron man suite is actually a, quite handsome, little person; and The Vision is some weird precognitive semi-comatose person in a pool of water.

Likes? : It's a fair opening and it has caught my interest in the series. I love the incarnations of Cap, The Hawk, Iron, The Vision and even Hercules. It's a re-imagining that seems plucked right out of my brain (So I should probably note who the writer is to see what else he's done). It's a slightly dark tone to the comic a more adult feel.

Dislikes? : Not much that I can say now, but we still a a few more issues to go.

I give it 7.5/10

Secret Wars 2099 #2

The second issues see Cap's alter ego being attacked in the night while she lay asleep beside her husband.After her husband gets knocked unconscious she's able to transform into Cap and save the day. The assassin kills himself before she can get any information out of him and so she reports to Alchemax about the incident.

By the time Roberta is back it is revealed that her husband is also an agent of Alchemax as he also sends a report back the alter ego Roberta has no recollection of the incident.

Meanwhile we get a glimpse of Hawk's temper as he loses to Black Widow in chess. Mr. Stone accosts Black Widow about suspected spouse-murderer who was found dead and half eaten. Apparently Black Widow seems to be more than just a code-name.

Eventual the Avengers Assemble with a lead on someone from downtown who might know about the assassination attempt. Turns out they are the only one's after him as this man is sooner accosted a very aggressive gentleman who, when confronted by the avengers, becomes the hulk. A battle ensues with hulk and the Avengers. The fight halts with the arrival of other members of Hulk's team-- The Silver Surfer and some flying girl.

Likes? : It's a solid issue. If follows nicely from it's introductory issues and gives a painting of just how flawed and kinda twisted the characters in the Avengers are. They aren't really boy scouts, except for Cap who tries to be-- but how can she be when she has this secret from her alter ego who knows nothing about her. They all seen like they are creations of Alchemax, operating under Mr. Stone.

Dislikes?: While the art is clean, it's kind of annoying how poor the art is at proportion, anatomy and perspective. There was some inconsistency in coloring (it seems) as in one page The Submariner's skin was "white" in stead of blue.

I give it 7.5/10

Secret Wars 2099 #3

The third issue kicks off right where the fourth left off. Hulk, Silver Surfer and Dr. Strange (the flying girl) are introduced as the defenders. Their and the Avenger's mutual target manages to us the opportunity of the clash to escape in the midst of it all. It is revealed that he possesses talents in sorcery and uses in to aid his escape before being taken down by the other two defenders, Valkyrie and The Submariner.

Being the tail-chaser he is, then makes a pass at Valkyrie and ends up fighting with The Submariner who happens to be her boyfriend, before they both get stopped and owned by the Silver Surfer.

The two teams agree to take their captive back to Alchemax, Cap promising the Defenders that they would be able to leave, for them to interrogate the suspect. It turns out that they couldn't get much information from the man more than a mention of a "dweller" which Dr. Strange seems to think is important.

At the end of it all Mr. Stone, who is evidently a vampire of some sort, then tries to force the Defenders to join their ranks-- Dr. Strange and Valkyrie only narrowly escaping capture.

Likes?: It's pretty good book. A bit rushed in story development but it is a limited series after all. The characters are all still very interesting.

Dislikes?: I wish we could take some more time to know the character and get their back stories better fleshed out, but it is what is is: you can only do so much with a limited set of issues. That said, i find it migh be a waste of pages whenever it comes to Herc. I'm just not interested in seeing him make a fool of himself and it adds little to the story, just humor.

I give it 7.5/10