OKAY. I love the Inhumans. For those unaware, they're a part of Marvel's ever-expanding universe of ridiculous proportions. They live on an island called Attilan where EVERYTHING IS COOL except they maybe have a slave race? Unclear. I was introduced to Medusa in Ms Marvel where I was like who is this lady with amazing hair and why does she live on a separate island with this giant dog. So I checked this out. The ISSUE with Inhumans by Paul Jenkins is it kind of assumes you already know a lot of shit about the Inhumans.
Here's what I learned from this book:
1. Black Bolt is the shit. He also can't speak, FOR THIS SMALLEST WHISPER WOULD CLEAVE WORLDS IN TWAIN.
2. Medusa is his wife. Her hair has the strength of steel? And she can manipulate it psychically to like...ensnare people. I don't get why this makes her queen of the Inhumans, but her hair does look pretty great.
3. Kid Inhumans wait for their powers to go through some metamorphosis thing, and that's when you find out if you're gonna be an awesome Inhuman or like...kind of sad. Like in the ever-great Sky High where you find out if you're a hero or a sidekick, and the heroes can do things like fly, and the sidekicks do things like faintly glow.
4. There's maybe a slave race that powers the city of Attilan? Only they're maybe not slaves anymore. It seemed like a situation that had been dealt with in a previous comic, but their situation still seems reeeeeal shitty in this book.
5. Black Bolt's brother is insane.
6. Prince Namor RULES THE SEA (I think) and does not like the Inhumans.
This book is all about Black Bolt's insane brother trying to escape prison and rule Attilan once again by using humans to attack the Inhumans. IT IS VERY STRESSFUL 24/7. But also the art is beautiful and the storyline is compelling. And it's all like, Black Bolt's got a secret, because he keeps letting hoooorrrible things happen and you're like, why King Black Bolt!! But he cannot tell you because he does not speak. Also for other reasons. So you just gotta trust that he knows what he's doing and agghh. So stressful.
 |
| But again. Great art. |
BUT.
Despite this lack of background, the story felt really real and solid and SUSPENSEFUL. Maybe if you're thinking about delving into the Inhumans, check out these recommendations from Comic Book Resources.
Also, what do you think about the cast for the upcoming television version? Black Bolt -- handsome enough? Medusa -- imposing and awesome-enough? "Who are the other characters, Alice?" I have NO idea.
Ahah, so this is the group Namor belongs to! I am only aware of him because he is always turning up in Marvel fic, making trouble and hitting on people with tentacles. The Inhumans are a near-total mystery to me despite this illuminating post. I have heard that their television show is quite catastrophically bad, but you can watch it for me and let me know what you think. <3
ReplyDeleteI see they've made sure to get Medusa's carefully articulated boobs all set.
DeleteALSO I still don't know Namor's deal. He's in the sea. And wants everyone else to stay out of the sea. Is what I've gathered.
Namor's job is to be awesome and yet kind of a dick. He's been in Avengers and Defenders (comics versions) at various times.
ReplyDeleteNamor is half human half Atlantean IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY and he's a dick but I like him?
ReplyDeleteALSO there's one arc where BLACK BOLT WHISPERS and lifts up the whole Inhuman city so that they can live on the moon! Very exciting.
The only way Black Bolt would ever be handsome enough was if Idris Elba was playing him, here I stand I can do no other.