FRONTLINE #7: Reminding us that on Earth, a Civil War has divided heroes and villians alike over something that's hardly as pressing as the Annihilation Wave (all it took to brake the Earth MU was a school explosion; entire PLANETS have blown up in ANNIHILATION and everyone's not as whiney). This is another solid issue by Jenkins as the past plot elements start to come together, and even some of the "chapters" of each book start to share plot points. Urich lifts the lid on the "Green Goblin" story (to which Iron Man is mum about), but it gets a lot of attention. Over in Wonder Man's chapter, it seems Simon was keeping an eye on the Atalantian faction just fine until Greeny firebombed them all to hell. And a mysterious man with a jacket and a blue garment gives Norman Osborn something that can, of course, in predictable fashion, overcome Stark's much ballyhooed nanobots to allow him free reign, but only when this man wants. Who is this man? My guess is Mr. Fantastic, but I could be wrong. And Sally Floyd meets the only Pro-SHRA politician who isn't a thug, an idiot, or a bigot. In fact, he all but makes her overzealous liberal paranoia seem dumb and predictable. An honest criticism of a liberal? Get a good look, it'll never happen again. Over in Speedball's chapter, he appears mortally wounded and his life flashes before his eyes, and he finally cops to some responsibility over his lot in life, Stamford, and the deaths of the New Warriors. Unfortunately, his powers started flaring up and may have caused the ambulance to crash, possibly killing more civilians, and thus proving the "Speedball was a ticking time bomb" theory true. Much as with issue #2, all I am waiting for is Speedball to murder an innocent puppy, on panel, for his image-destruction to be complete. While it made for a rivetting read, it is a shame that a once energetic, fun-loving hero has, once again, become a poster child for violence and post-modern cynicism. Comic books at no point in history have been as grim, as self important, and as divoid of anything that isn't dark. They almost seem afraid of a character whose function is life is something other than violence or angst (or sex appeal). And I didn't bother with the last 2 pages, and that was for the best. I guess Frontline now has to take a break, as the 2 issues meant to be after CW #4 have now shifted and they have to wait until Nov. for CW #5, but that's not so bad. I can use the breather.
)
