Thursday 4 January 2018

Uber: Invasion #7 - Avatar Press

UBER: INVASION No. 7, June 2017
Kieron Gillen was quite right when he later wrote that the storyline to Issue Seven of “Uber: Invasion” “was a strange one to see come into existence”, for despite the comic containing plenty of the truly gratuitous mutilation for which “Avatar Press” publications are synonymous with, this particular twenty-two page periodical reads more like a medical text book for performing a major operation, than a comic book depicting the fall of Siegfried - the “First Nazi Battleship Fatality.” Certainly, it’s hard to detect any glimmer of emotion in the narrator’s ‘voice’ as they matter-of-factly recount the heroic self-sacrifice of African-American soldier Charles Rivers, and the pin-point precision attack by the “Zephyr” upon Markus’ throat and right eye ball with “diamond-edged blades”.

Arguably, such a monotone, “hyper-slow motion erosion” of the National Socialist monster, “sliver of flesh by sliver of flesh”, could have become quite a tediously gory read for this title’s 4,277 followers, with the assault on the German’s sight alone requiring a staggering nine frames in order to depict the cutting of his cornea and the subsequent self-rupturing halo activation which instantly disintegrates a third of the still-conscious Nazi’s head. However, that definitely is not the case here, as the text proves a more than compelling read by realistically describing the combatants’ options, considerations and consequences, almost as if they were authentic historical figures.

Gillen’s unexpected introduction of the red-suited super-swift Zephyr also ensures a surprising change to events from those anticipated when Razor’s ‘sneak attack’ upon a “fully-developed” Battleship causes no discernible damage whatsoever. Indeed, before “the initial five enhanced humans” somewhat nonchalantly stroll up to the sadistic Siegfried’s stationary, mid-punch form and take him apart piece by bloody piece, it momentarily appears that U.S.S. Colossus II is about to suffer an even more ignominiously fatal defeat than his older brother did in Paris.     

Topping off this clinical conclusion to the “first year of Uber Invasion”, is Daniel Getes’ vivid artwork. The penciller really manages to nail the sense of “speed with no kineticism” when illustrating the latest additions to the Allied super-human arsenal, by resisting the temptation to “try and get that Kirby-velocity” and simply capturing each “moment in the hyper-detail” instead. Little wonder therefore that this title’s British writer praise’s the “perfect” artist’s contribution in the magazine’s afterword.
The regular cover art of "UBER: INVASION" No. 7 by Daniel Gete

6 comments:

  1. This looks like a pretty cool comic.

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    1. Its one of my very fave titles, Simon, and well worth getting into - though I'd suggest starting with "Uber" before "Uber: Invasion"; and get prepaid for some awful language for the first few issues too. Fortunately, Gillen has mellowed with time.

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  2. Oh, yes! This looks right up my street. But you already know how I feel about this series and I am still indebted to you for introducing me to it. Sadly, I must wait until the TPB is released before I can read this particular issue but you have definitely whetted my appetite, Simon.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. "Uber: Invasion" continues to produce the goods in my books, and is a vast improvement on some of the later issues of "Uber"; which I felt started to lose its way for a bit. Hopefully this hasn't spoilt too much of the surprise for you as the Zephyr are awesome imho.

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  3. This looks like an interesting premise. I don't mind some graphic artwork, as long as it is of high quality and these previews look good. I don't like swearing though and as I recall from previous issues wasn't this a bit expletive heavy? Great that you are highlighting some of the less mainstream stuff out there.

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    1. Cheers Undercoat. This one is certainly far less profanity-filled than some of the previous issues, and perfectly palatable as a result. I do try and highlight some of the less known titles out there, but as I predominantly read "Marvel Worldwide" comics these days, it's getting harder :-)

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