Nextwave: Agents of Hate by Warren Ellis

Having just blogged about the wonderful, irreverent world of Warren Ellis, what could be better than reading a comic that feels so uniquely him? This collection of issues 1 – 6 of this Marvel comic package everything he does well into one, pant-wettingly silly volume.

Ellis has dug through the archives for some minor Marvel heroes, forgotten about by all but the most fervent of fans. Collecting them together into a distinctly disparate and somewhat disagreeable group he pits them against a number of foolish foes, from a giant lizard in pants to an entirely barmy army general, via soldiers made from plants. As per usual the ideas come thick and fast, as do the constant, mostly respectful jokes at Marvel’s expense.

But, as per usual, the thing that really does it for me are the characters. Gone are the classic Marvel tropes, replaced by sly though affectionate real-world versions. In Warren Ellis’ Marvel universe the characters argue, swear, take the piss and generally do their best to annoy their team mates. His bad guys rant about their marital problems and have serious mother issues. Things, you get the feeling, will rarely end in peace and harmony, but will almost certainly be far more entertaining as a result.

Ellis has released a huge number of different comic series, most only a few comics long and almost all completely his own creation. Perhaps because of the link with Marvel, or maybe just for the heck of it, he seems to have let himself go with Nextwave and really pushed the boundaries of both silliness and being over the top. Needless to say, it’s fantastic and you should go read it right now.