Nextwave is the type of comic that Warren Ellis should have written a long time ago. From his online presence alone, it’s obvious the man has a wonderfully insane sense of humor, probably as a result of alcohol and sleep deprivation. Sure, his comic books have been constantly surreal and often witty, but readers have come to expect believable science fiction or surrealist stories starring blonde men smoking cigarettes from the bearded Briton, not a tongue-in-cheek superhero comedy.
The first two issues offer up an origin story of sorts. There’s even a plot. The superheroes of Nextwave have gone freelance, as their former employers, H.A.T.E., are being funded by the Beyond Corporation, formerly S.I.L.E.N.T., a terrorist cell. And the Beyond corporation made a giant green lizard in purple underpants explode from the ground and threaten a city. Now it’s up to these unlikely heroes to save the day!
Nextwave puts the “comic” in “comic book.” It features, among other things, a team of B-list superheroes, a green lizard in purple underpants with no genitals, and enough one-liners to keep even the most humorless of readers giggling the whole way through. Of these first two issues, the fun mostly resides in the dialogue for the first issue, whilst the second issue is chuck full of fabulously illustrated violence.
Accompanying Ellis for this romp is Stuart Immonen, whose cartoon style keeps the book from ever getting too serious, in case Ellis’s jokes weren’t enough. Still, Immonen’s art is frantic enough to keep the book interesting when things start blowing up or getting shot, particularly in the second issue.
So, with explosions, action and constant wit, it’s hard to imagine a comic more fun than Nextwave. It may not be Watchmen, but it’s sure entertaining.