Nemesis brings together the creative partnership of Mark Millar and Steve McNiven who worked on Civil War– about the only “big event” crossover that I have shown any interest in recently - and Old Man Logan (which is in my to be read pile) both for Marvel. Millar has had two recent books adapted for the screen with Wanted and Kick-Ass and it looks like the same is going to happen to this book.
On the surface, Nemesis is a reverse Batman - a man with wealth and resources but who decides to become a villain rather than a hero. The story starts with Nemesis’ latest killing spree in Japan where he has perpetrated a number of atrocities to humiliate a renowned chief of police culminating in his violent death and the death of numerous citizens. After this Nemesis decides to go after a respected police officer in Washington and along the way storms Air Force One and kidnaps the President, escapes from prison and humiliates the policeman and his family.
This book features a large amount of stylised ultraviolence – why is it that British writers, such as Millar, Warren Ellis and Garth Ennis, seem to be fascinated with this genre? The story is very good but the book itself is short collecting four issues and with many pages depicting the graphic violence without any words it is a very quick read. The story was entertaining in its own right but only really started to become really interesting in the last few pages when the twist to the story is revealed. The twist while providing a springboard for further stories does lead to a slight bursting of the suspension of disbelief in the abilities of Nemesis himself. It would be interesting to see where Millar would take it on if he continues the series.
First published on RevolutionSF on Thursday Feb 17, 2011
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