Using the magic of science (science!), mysticism and a few bored brains (ok, one bored brain), I’ve managed to connect with Jude from universe 777-9311 for a joint review of Miles Morales #40. Continue to read…if you dare!
(Maniacally cryptic music plays in background)
616 Jude: …so you’re telling me where you’re from, housing is a right, people with wombs have total control of their bodies, AND no one is lactose intolerant? Can I come?
777 Jude: That’s what she said.
616: At least the jokes are still corny…anyway, after reading Miles Morales #40, I figured “Hey, this is about an alternate universe and alternate versions of Miles, so who better to review it with than an alternate version of me?”
777: Let’s stop right there. YOU are the alternate version of me. And speaking of alternates, why does this trope always involve the alternate/clone/twin being evil? Why is the assumption the person we’re most familiar with is always the good one?
616: That’s an interesting point, but I hate to tell you that if you want something interesting…
777: …then this isn’t the book to find it in. I know. I know. A brief synopsis then?
616: Sure! Apparently Miles’s uncle Aaron, who was flung through the multiverse about 10 or so issues ago, ended up in a dystopia where a maniacal idiot leads a squadron of fundamentalists against the best of humanity. No…sorry, wait, that’s THIS universe.
In THAT universe, the one Aaron is stuck in, alternate Miles, aka Selim, aka Miles spelled backwards (and, ironically, “Undamaged/peaceful” in Arabic) has taken over Brooklyn (only Brooklyn!) and is feeding off of Aaron’s trans-dimensional connection to power the shield separating Brooklyn from the rest of the world.
How very hipster of him. You would think rent prices would be enough.
Anyway, our heroes break in to break Aaron out. Violence ensues. He’s rescued. Selim’s forces follow our heroes back to their base. The final battle is set up.
That’s it.
777: That’s it.
616: That’s it. Literally nothing else happens. (Ok, Selim spares a life, and someone gets shot…and no one cares. THAT is it.)
777: No character development? No insights into the what and why and how? No growth? No nothing?
616: If you read a synopsis of a movie, you might think “oh, that sounds interesting, I should check it out!”
And then the movie would have, you know, more.
Well, this doesn’t have more. You would be no more – or less – entertained if you read a synopsis of this issue than if you read the actual issue.
It’s that bland.
777: And it doesn’t look much better. Alberto Foche makes the action look cool, but his faces are, well…man they’re kind of rough; disfigured in a way that’s either a signature style or a stylistic fumble.
616: In our X-men books (is Hickman still writing yours?), the plots are thin, but the art is gorgeous. GORGEOUS. So thin plots don’t matter because they look great. This is…thin on plot, and thinner on looks. It’s just not good man.
Compared to Carmen Canero’s work earlier in the run, this is very much a few steps down. I miss them. Dearly.
I feel like a broken record when I talk about this. It’s not bad; it’s absolutely not good. It just *is.* But still, *is* is something. We didn’t always have something. Something is better than nothing.
I keep telling myself that, at least.
777: Well here in 777-9311, Miles has been Spiderman #1 for a generation. He’s the most popular comic book character around. It’s really profound. Beautiful actually.
616: And that could be the case here! Should be! Kinda is! But, alas.
777: Alas.
616: Anyway, we’re wrapping this up. But I do have one more question before you head back to ice cream utopia.
777: Shoot.
616: Was your mother an angel?
777: She was. She is.
616: So some things do stay constant. Good to know. It’s been a pleasure, alternate Jude.
777: YOU’RE THE ALTERNATE.
616: Whatever man. Take care.
777: Peace.
A proud New Orleanian living in the District of Columbia, Jude Jones is a professional thinker, amateur photographer, burgeoning runner and lover of Black culture, love and life. Magneto and Cyclops (and Killmonger) were right.
Find more of Jude’s writing here.
