OMEGA FLIGHT #4: This mini's been selling as well as IRON FIST and GHOST RIDER so unless these last two issues dip, count on Marvel being willing to give Oeming an ongoing. The story continues of the Great Beast Demons empowering the Wrecking Crew as they seek to destroy the Earth, same as they destroyed the world of Beta Ray Bill, who has been plucked down in the middle of the Omega Flight showdown. Talisman, U.S. Agent and Arachne show up on the scene to help Bill against the crew, but when Sasquatch gets posessed, Julia's little girl proves to be the saving grace by freeing Collective, who dons the Guardian suit and buys the team some time. Count the Collective as something created by Bendis and used merely as a plot device who now, in the hands of another writer, being made into an actual character that bares some interest, not unlike Layla Miller (proving my notion that Bendis might be a far better editor than he ever is as a writer; and in true fashion he refuses to work that gig). Collective Guardian essentially channels energy to smash or do whatever he wants, but he refuses to ice Sasquatch, which is bad now that demons are posessing his full might. Sure, this may be yet another random collection of B-Listers into yet another team, and isn't as original as IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN or THE LONERS, but I still enjoy it because it has solid superheroics from Oeming and great art by Kolins. Execution is everything, my friends. It is something some writers, like Bendis, fail to grasp but others, like Oeming, seem to manipulate as easily as clay into art. In addition to that, Oeming has taken a team of villains who have fallen by the wayside as jokes for years (ironically, Wrecker was the last villain Bendis treated well) and made them into credible, dangerous, and downright nasty threats again, even before they got a boost in power from Tanaraq. And unlike the NA's, who can barely defend themselves against ninjas or save themselves from a falling plane, Omega Flight not only saves themselves from a chopper crash, but rescues dozens of civilians too. Finally, Micheal Pointer is in a simular spot as Penance, someone who is near-suicidal wanting to attone for some horrible sin, only unlike Baldwin, it isn't complete bull. This book shows that what some might call as generic can still be exciting and a joy to read. Sure, the team isn't all Canadian, but the "we're all Canadian" schtick with the team has worn thin, so I don't mind a new angle. Even if it is an older, more timeless angle. Hopefully if/when Oeming gets an ongoing with this, Arachne's boyfriend The Shroud can show up. Sure, he's not a team kinda guy, but neither was Spider-Man, and look where he's been for 3 years.
