The Twelve

[PhotoJones]

I wonder if he can keep this schedule up. I can't see he or Marvel wanting to have a fill-in on this project. I expect delays.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

He's had a lot of lead-time. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[PhotoJones]

Lead time doesn't seem to count for **** anymore.

 

[Dread]

Lead in time means **** for Cho and Hitch. Hopefully Weston is superior to that.

I think it looks pretty promising, too. I've seen reviewers complain that it's too reminiscent of Captain America, whose origin is still pretty sharp in people's minds because of Ultimate Cap having an almost identical one just a few years ago. I don't mind, though. I'm looking forward to the inevitable conflict when the Twelve figure out that the government is duping them.

Great origins are homaged and imitated. How many heroes come off like Superman clones? Lord knows how many brainwashed government assassins have shown up since Wolverine/WEAPON X from MCP got hot. It happens. I thought it made sense considering it was the Golden Age, which ripped itself off almost monthly. Besides, it isn't EXACTLY like Cap. His freezing was accidental; the Twelve were being harvested by Nazi scientists, who didn't count on losing Berlin as they did to Russia. If there is one quibble, it is that considering all the Nazi-types who survived into the modern era, it seems silly that none of them recalled having a dozen super-humans (to their knowledge) stuck somewhere, but that's a minor nitpick that really doesn't hurt the work any.

If you pay extra attention, when the Twelve go into the S.S. building, you can see portraits of Wolfgang Von Strucker and Baron Zemo, as well as a bust of Red Skull (as well as a portrait of Hitler). Nice attention to detail. Considering all of them survived to the modern day (even Hitler lived as the clone Nazi-X as one of the Hate-Mongers), the Twelve may get a chance for Round II.

It makes sense for the military to want to exploit these "greatest generation" heroes in the wake of CW, especially as many of the commanders consider that generation legendary. Perhaps the realization of this dupe leads to that final page scene with Phantom Reporter and Blue Blade.

I loved the first issue, myself. I'm looking forward to the interaction these guys will hopefully have with the modern heroes.

Hopefully that happens, although I am curious as to whether it will occur in this series. This mini seems to want to focus on these Twelve. We may not get a JSA out of this until the second volume, if it takes off. But, we'll see.

I'm looking forward to that and all the costume redesigns.

I love how Weston released all that preview art, then it turns out that they're only going to be wearing those costumes for like 1 or 2 issues.

Yeah, I liked that, too. See, it IS possible to create surprises for readers, even in the Internet age, that aren't stupid. Writers who whine about not being able to are just inept. Or sometimes have the editorial board step over them with planned leaks to Newsarama. Dan Slott hates that.

 

[Harlekin]

Enjoyable issue, but I would've actually preferred a story with these guys in their era than having them in the present day.

 

[yenaled]

It definetly needs more flashbacks, my favourite bit of the book was actually the start in WWII.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It's only the first issue. There may be flashbacks galore in the rest of the issues, for all we know.

 

[yenaled]

I assume there will be JMS has enough issues to fill.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Preview of #2

Not really a great preview. The Twelve encounter some urban decay and there's a couple of pages of talking heads without any talking. Still, Weston's art looks amazing.

 

[PhotoJones]

Whoa, chin.

 

[yenaled]

Bruce Campbell?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Every panel I see him in just makes me think, "Damn, Rockman is one ugly mother****er."

 

[PhotoJones]

Does anyone know if he's actually a member of a subterranean race of humans, or is that all for show?

 

[Harlekin]

That will probably be revealed eventually in the series.

I love him. Rockman FTW!

 

[PhotoJones]

We don't really know anything about his character, other than the fact that he's strong. I like Captain Wonder a lot. He's goofy.

 

[Dread]

The preview at least seems to show who is biting it this series.

Big chin's are old school.

Yeah, they play up the fact that Rockman's past is what HE says and it hasn't been proven. If JMS is in a retcon mood, he'll claim it is all a delusion. If he is being smart, he could claim that perhaps Rockman's underground people did exist, but maybe they've been either slaughtered or driven out since by Mole Man or something. Bet on the former.

The art is still pretty good. I can't wait to see Capt. Wonder's new costume.

 

[PhotoJones]

Pants!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Haha, I'd love to know that the Mole Man actually succeeded in a fight against someone.

 

[PhotoJones]

Or, JMS could introduce a new race into the MU. I wouldn't mind that either.

 

[cerealkiller182]

This is pretty interesting. I didnt realize it was part of the same MU as everyone else. I'll stick around for awhile see what happens, hopefully no more bare legs, hard to take those guys seriously.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Only real men can bare their legs with such confidence.

 

[PhotoJones]

That's why it's so awesome. The no pants look for Captain Wonder was hands down, my favorite costume of the 12. The fact that Weston went out of his way to make his legs extra hairy was hilarious.

 

[Dread]

Real men wear pants. Unless you're an American Gladiator or Wrestler, in that case you can run around in a pink tutu and no one will say anything out of fear of getting their head torn off.

It isn't a huge deal, though. Wonder's costume was a product of the Golden Age, and many of those costumes look odd to modern eyes.

It would be cool if either JMS introduced a new race, or built up something successful about Mole Man outside the FF. But, considering how everyone keeps making a point of, "the underground kingdom is something crazy that Rockman believes, we don't know if it is true and can't prove it" has my Retcon sense tingling. Which isn't that much of an offense considering how old the character is. I'm just saying.

The first issue was handled well, and I have faith in the rest. Once he got off ASM, JMS has been writing some hits (this and THOR) again.

 

[cerealkiller182]

It wasnt so much the lack of pants as it was the lack of pants combined with sleeves. That just seemed odd. The costumes didnt look right.

 

[PhotoJones]

Real men wear pants.

Real men have no need for paltry ideas like pants.