Taskmaster: Udon Serial Review

This review is spoiler-free. Taskmaster is, I believe, i of the most under-rated characters inward the Marvel Universe. Influenza A virus...

This review is spoiler-free.

Taskmaster is, I believe, i of the most under-rated characters inward the Marvel Universe. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 mercenary, frequent enemy of Deadpool too The Avengers alike, the grapheme has taken on a rattling interesting business office inward recent years. Taskmaster is no longer a villain, but whatever he needs to be. Most lately this has been seen inward his business office equally a instructor inward Avengers: The Initiative, a potential father-figure inward Avengers Academy, too fifty-fifty an Avenger himself inward Nick Spencer's recent Secret Avengers series.

My involvement for the grapheme spiked upon reading Fred Van Lente's fantabulous mini-series Taskmaster: Unthinkable inward 2011, leading me to splash out on eBay too pick-up the four-issue serial printed dorsum inward 2002 only titled, Taskmaster. This serial was the effect of a collaboration betwixt Marvel too Asian-influenced studio Udon, too tells a relatively uncomplicated floor of Taskmaster beingness hired, Taskmaster beingness betrayed, too Taskmaster seeking revenge. It's condom to state that those of you lot looking for some existent evolution of Taskmaster equally a grapheme would endure ameliorate served inward the 2011 series. But spell Van Lente's mini-series is far superior to this one, both inward damage of writing too data nearly the character, in that location is fun to endure had inward this serial also - exactly hence long equally you lot tin arrive through the start issue.

Why attain I state that? Well, the start number of this serial actually doesn't deliver a fantastic start impression, mainly due to the abundance of exposition which is actually quite tedious to read through. In fact, I would become equally far to state that most of number i is rattling flawed. Not entirely is the dialogue shamelessly expository, but the floor is rattling yesteryear the numbers too the activity feels lifeless. The big finale of the start number is a cope betwixt Taskmaster too Iron Man - a cope which has potential to endure amazing, but inward the goal is exactly quite boring. The occupation is mainly due to the fact that there's never whatsoever sense of struggle. Taskmaster puts Tony Stark inward his house rattling easily, which may take maintain been done equally a agency to demonstrate Taskmaster's science equally a fighter, but ultimately relieves the cope of whatsoever sense of tension. Meanwhile, Taskmaster's narration throughout the cope also removes it of whatsoever existent fluidity.

However, what number i does deal to attain is gear upward the premise of the residue of the serial too I'm happy to state that later on number i ends, things definitely start looking upward for the book. Come number two, the activity is far superior to what is institute inward the start installment, the exposition is much less frequent too the whole mass ends upward amongst a to a greater extent than character feel. While I don't desire to delve into whatsoever farther floor details hence non to ruin the mass for anyone reading, I tin state that in that location is a existent rivalry built betwixt Taskmaster too his antagonist, which sure enough got me on Taskmaster's side rooting for the grapheme to larn his revenge.

Never has a serial turned approximately hence apace for me inward damage of quality. While the concluding 3 issues are soundless far from perfect they are a huge improvement on what came before, offering many fun too exciting moments amongst the serial closing out amongst a existent bang. Perhaps some other contributing gene to this serial improving equally it progresses is the artwork which could take maintain a spell to grow on you. As I mentioned above, this serial is a articulation endeavour betwixt Marvel too Udon, too equally Udon are an Asian-influenced grouping the artwork on display hither is rattling reminiscent of Manga. Reminiscent, but non totally the same. Indeed spell the fine art hither is rattling manifestly influenced yesteryear Japanese artwork, it is to a greater extent than a fusion of Japanese too American styles than outright Manga art. Still, it is rattling dissimilar to what you lot run across inward most Marvel comics too did take maintain a piddling spell for me to larn used to. If you're i of those people who loathes the Manga fine art trend - too in that location are people similar that out in that location - too then possibly you lot should endure warned that elements of that trend are on display here.

Taskmaster's classic costume

But even hence you lot experience nearly Manga, there's no denying that the costume blueprint hither is to endure applauded. The accommodate incorporates Taskmaster's classic skull mask, sword too shield, but modernizes it into something futuristic too rattling fashionable indeed. Although, personally I did experience that the Udon costume removes his humanity somewhat - equally his actual human face upward is never shown, instead the accommodate produces holograms of other people for him to pretend to be. While this high-tech accommodate is far ameliorate for Taskmaster inward damage of stealthily breaking inward to places that he shouldn't be, at times it seemed a piddling also futuristic when you lot mean value how Taskmaster's traditional costume is quite a charming medieval suit. Nonetheless, the Udon gear does hold off cool too has some dandy features - but I'm exactly glad Taskmaster was reverted to his onetime costume i time the serial finished.

So should you lot purchase this series? The determination is i you lot should mean value on earlier going ahead, particularly if you're on a budget equally some eBay sellers pose the consummate serial upward for much to a greater extent than than you lot would pay for a criterion Marvel merchandise paperback. Ultimately I mean value you lot would endure wise to pick upward Taskmaster: Unthinkable, the other Taskmaster series, earlier this i equally it is the superior serial of the 2 too also to a greater extent than affordable equally it is soundless inward print. After you've read that series, if you're craving some to a greater extent than Taskmaster action, too then the 2002 Udon serial is a corporation 2d choice. While it does take maintain a rocky start, the serial goes on to bloom into something exciting, fun too wholly entertaining which is good worth a hold off if you lot tin larn your hands on an affordable copy.