Onslaught Reborn #2

December 26, 2006

Quick Rating: Below Average
Title: Born to Die!
Rating: T+

Franklin tries to convince the heroes about the truth of their reality.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Rob Liefeld
Colors: Matt Yackey
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: John Barber
Cover Art: Rob Liefeld
Publisher: Marvel Comics

So Onslaught (apparently he’s “Death” now) has arrived on the Heroes Reborn Earth. So has Franklin Richards, who created said Earth. But the heroes of this world, who are ostensibly the heroes of OUR Earth transplanted and transformed, don’t believe him. Of course, if they ARE the heroes of our Earth, how did they get back there, since they got sent home ten years ago when this story first ended? And why isn’t anyone (and by “anyone” I mean “Bucky”) acting as if they ever left? And if they got sent BACK from our Earth, how does that work in current continuity, with Thor currently “dead” (ish) and the Hulk off on some other planet?

The logical problems alone with this series are enough to give even the most dedicated fan a massive headache, and the execution honestly doesn’t help matters. The only bright spot in the writing is Jeph Loeb’s characterization of Captain America. The story is pretty painful, but he’s got that character, at least, spot-on… enough that I’d like to see him get his hands on Cap on a regular basis in the future.

And the artwork… ugh. Criticizing Rob Liefeld’s artwork is like fishing in an aquarium with sticks of dynamite, but I’ll give it a shot. Everything you’ve ever heard about awkward poses, impossible anatomy, hideous costumes (particularly on Hawkeye and Thor) and a cast of a dozen characters who display a combined total of three facial expressions throughout the entire issue… well, it all applies here.

So far, all this miniseries is doing is confirming the fears of those who thought putting it out at all was a mistake.

Rating: 3/10