Jenkins/Lee Inhumans

Inhumans 1-12

Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee won the Eisner for Best New Series for this in 1999.  Compared to the competition, sure. I would have gone with Age of Bronze, but this is fine.  Hmm. I’m running low on inspiration when it comes to writing today, so I’m going to start at the beginning and begin listing things I do and don’t like.  

Lee’s the best part of this series.  I’ve been a fan of his style since his X-Factor stint during The X-Cutioner’s Song.  The best thing I can come up with to describe his art is “jagged black shadows.”

His cover of Inhumans 1 is the definitive representation, and no one does a better imperious Black Bolt.

Apparently Marvel feels the same way, because they had him draw a promo image for their poorly-received TV show.

Why why why does Black Bolt keep Maximus alive?  For some reason, it pisses me off more than Batman’s refusal to kill Joker.  I find Maximus’ thirst for the throne mundane and unimaginative. Execute him for treason and be done with it.

Jenkins makes the interesting decision to sideline the royal family for the majority of the story, their forced inaction a requirement of Black Bolt’s plan.  Instead, they’re relegated to the role of complaining chorus as Black Bolt keeps them in the dark.

The fighting is left to the Royal Guard and lower class Inhumans as Jenkins provides a half-hearted examination of the class structure in Attilan.  He spends a some time exploring the state of the Alpha Primitives, to little effect. He does a better job with Tonaja and Kalikya, the recently transformed teenagers, showing how power prejudice is ingrained in their society.

Considering how Terrigen transmutation is something that every Inhuman goes through, they really suck at diagnosing their powers when they come out of the transformation chambers.  They completely failed with a full third of Tonaja’s class.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Fine