THE INFINITE #4

Review by: ghostmann
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover ROB LIEFELD

Size: 0 pages
Price: 2.99

Ok dudes, the novelty is starting to wear off.

And I’m not talking about Kirkman’s story – which is pretty fun and a cool extra-drawn-out “this is how the team came to be” origin story. So far with each issue a new team member shows up and some kick-ass action ensues. In-between the action he manages to squeeze in some crazy time-travel paradox complexities that have the characters scratching their heads as well as us.

No, the problem is the art. I don’t know how much more I can take.

At first it was kinda fun and dare I say cute, to have 90’s super star artist Rob Liefeld on this book. His “extreme” style isn’t for everyone sure, but I have always admired it for what it was. Even back in the speculative early 90’s Leifeld’s art was a joy to look at. His X-Force pretty much changed the game in terms of comic book art and in you face splash pages and panel placement. Then he left Marvel and became his own boss – and therein lies the problem…..

There is no one around (ie: a good editor) to tell Leifeld that he needs to do better. That the work he is producing isn’t up to par. That this page of a character getting a drink at a coffee shop has some of the worst perspective and proportion problems that it will no doubt take the reader out of the story that is being told.

Which is what is happening. This book needs a new artist – bad.

Story: 3 - Good
Art: 1 - Poor

Comments

  1. You’re stronger than I am. I dropped this after the first issue, the art was just attrocious to look at, the faces looked all the same, etc.

    The concept was cool until you thought about how silly it was because of all the paradoxes: like, if you went back in time and team up with yourself, why don’t you remember it and know exactly what happens until you go back in time again and again and you’re stuck in a loophole…

    Anyways, I guess some people out there enjoy this, it might have been more passable with another artist, like you pointed out.

    • I can look the other way when it comes to the time-travel shenanigans, but it’s getting harder to ignore how no one has any thumbs when holding a gun, or a panel where a figure in the background is larger then the figure in the foreground, or the lack of wrists and ankles, or….. well, you get the idea.

      I do like how Kirkman in this issue explains how it’s possible to even walk with all that gear that Leifeld loves to adorn his characters with – “It’s future technology!” Duh.

  2. I feel a bit bad for Rob. I think everyone does. Most of his stuff is a sympathy buy. love him, not his art.

    • Dude seems like a nice guy from the interviews I’ve heard and seen of him (although a bit on A.D.D side).

      I just remember his art being so much better back when he drew for Marvel in the early 90’s

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