In a move that should surprise no one, Marvel has launched yet another event spinning out of an event. Inhumanity #1 follows in the trend of “aftermath” events like The Initiative, Dark Reign, and to a lesser extent The Heroic Age in that it’s not necessarily an “event” per se, but more of a continuation of the line-wide Universe at hand.
If you have not read Jonathan Hickman’s brilliant Infinity, I recommend either turning back and catching up or waiting for the hardcover collection Marvel will be putting out in February. But if you have no intention or you forgot (it’s easy to, trust me), here is what you need to know for this book: During Infinity, the Mad God Thanos returned to Earth in search of his Inhuman son, Thane. In an attempt to hide Thane, Black Bolt (King of the Inhumans), detonated a bomb full of trans-formative Terrigen gas which revealed inert abilities in Inhumans that are scattered all over Earth. And this is where Inhumanity #1 is set to kick things off.
Through the eyes of the inhuman Karnak, we do not only get an explanation of the story at large, but a condensed history of the Inhumans. Matt Fraction’s writing here is miraculous: it’s the ideal Superhero comic book. you could give this to someone walking out of a Marvel movie and they might actually be able to understand it.
Karnak, gives the reader a comprehensive history of the Inhumans that wraps you up and doesn’t let go. The Avengers that appear in the book are just as what you remember them from the movie. Hawkeye reads just like Fraction’s superlative semi-in-continuity Hawkeye comic and it makes perfect sense. It’s Fraction’s best mainstream Marvel writing since The Invincible Iron Man, easily, and paired with Olivier Coipel’s always-fantastic art, the book soars.
Inhumanity #1 also gives us a peek as to what might have been. If you haven’t heard, Inhumanity– the big new launch of this event– was originally set to feature a script by Fraction with art by Joe Mad. Mad’s still on board, but the script will instead be written by rising star (and the superglue of cape comics these days) Charles Soule. Soule’s a fantastic writer, no doubt, and I’m as excited as anyone for a new ongoing Inhuman series. But I’ll never stop thinking about the alternate universe where I’m bouncing off the walls like a pinball about Fraction’s Inhuman.
Overall, I’d recommend Inhumanity! to anyone, especially lapsed embittered fans. You might just be surprised.
