Writer: David Lapham
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Publisher: Max/Marvel
Price: $3.99
In the hazy mists of time I recall picking up the first issue of the last Terror Inc. series. However, like a lot of comics produced in the “90s glut era”, it left little impression on me. Why get the first issue of a new series featuring a character I have no connection with? Well, David Lapham’s Stray Bullets is one of my all time favourites and thus his name on a comic guarantees my interest. Plus, he appears to have put said series on hold to do a bit of work for hire for the majors, so I guess I have to get my fix of his stuff wherever I can find it.
My random memory is also remarkably good at recalling absolutely useless information from the past. Thus, I somehow know that Terror began life as a character called Schreck in a series from Marvel Comic’s now defunct Epic line. In an unusual move, he was migrated to the Marvel universe proper, renamed Terror and given the short lived ongoing series I mentioned above. When this ended, he disappeared from sight, only to be revived recently for a story arc in Kirkman’s Marvel Team Up. Now things seem to have come full circle with the revival of Terror under their “Explicit Content” Max line, the nearest thing Marvel have to Epic these days.
One of the first things this new series made me realise is how much potential the character of Terror has. Here we have a being that has existed for nearly 2000 years. As a human, he was part of the Vandal horde that sacked Rome. Then, as a consequence of a mystic revenge attack for this invasion, he ended up with a strange and unusual curse. His body begins to decay, but its not all bad news. You see, not only is Terror now effectively immortal, but he can also replace the old decaying parts with fresh bits from animals or humans. Another upside/downside of this is that he takes on part of the properties of whatever he absorbs into his body. All this is wonderfully summed up in the first 9 pages in a flashback which is narrated by our man. I detected shades of Moorcock’s Eternal Champion series in this origin recap and soon I was thinking of how much scope there was for adventures of Terror throughout history.
Anyway, back in the present day we find Terror in charge of a “problem solving” organisation. You know, the guys who take on the kind of missions that no one else would dare to touch. Lapham frequently demonstrates the characters twisted sense of humour and also gives us what must be one of the more extreme examples of his body part replacement, a head swap. This enables him to not only pass himself off as someone else, but also gives him access to their memories. This obviously makes this aspect of the mission easier, but not without risk as he soon finds out. Needless to say, things get pretty brutal, but that’s all I’m saying without risk of spoiling it for all you trade waiters.
One thing I have yet to mention that really took me by surprise was the art. Patrick Zircher has always been a name that I have associated with pretty standard superhero fare. A good solid spandex artist like Bagley or Grummett, but nothing outstanding in my humble opinion. Here, he really seems to have raised his game to deliver some beautifully detailed and moody art. It may be the fact he’s inking himself or it could be June Chung’s colours. Whatever it is, I have to say I’m impressed and hope he continues to spread his wings and not limit himself to just superhero work in the future In fact, an impressive online preview of the art really sealed the deal as to whether or not I’d buy the issues or trade wait.
All in all, while this is no Stray Bullets, it is without doubt the best work Lapham has done so far since he started jobbing for Marvel & DC. It leaves us hanging with a great ending which guarantees my return for issue 2. This could easily shape up to be the best Max mini since Paul Cornell’s excellent Wisdom. Still I can’t help but think that one burning question of mine will never be answered. How on Earth Terror can speak so clearly without any lips???
Stephen (aka wesman) is the driving force behind the infamous orange knitted Mr T vest*, worn by many a comicbook pro and Millarworlders. Since the T was introduced to the world, he has taken it upon himself to assume the mantle of Millarworld’s “Propmeister General”. If you see a fellow geek in a MW pic wearing a Fez/ Tin Helmet/ Superman chain/Magneto helmet/ greek hat/ cowboy hat/ viking hat/ Indiana Jones hat/ Yoda mask and so on, then he’s the one to blame. A lifelong comicbook geek who’s been devouring the funnybooks since the days when he couldn’t pronouce the s in (S)pider-man, Stephen sneers at all those who assumed that someday he’d grow out of this habit. He is proud to have turned his house into the kind of geek castle that only Carlos Fraile could dream to rival. He is married to Sandra, who is considering setting up a self-help support group for Millarworld widows where they behave like footballers’ wives when dragged to comic-cons and drink-ups.