Review:
Nemesis #1

Millar and McNiven are two names synonymous with great comic books. Mark Millar's recent success with his creator owned title Kick-Ass along with artist John Romita Jr. for Marvel's ICON imprint, has paved the way for more original work from the writer behind Civil War and Old Man Logan, and for this next venture he joins perhaps his best partner in crime, artist Steve McNiven. The title is Nemesis, another creator owned limited series for ICON, and it sports the tag line “Makes Kick-Ass Look Like S#!t” on the cover of it' first issue. That's a heavy statement, with Kick-Ass being toted as one of the most outlandishly violent comic books of all time, how could this new series Nemesis possibly measure up?

Well the answer to that question begins with another. What if the joker had the resources of Batman? Or what if Iron Man had more than just a few screws loose in his armor? Imagine a villain with the resources of a billionaire, then imagine that the story of this villain didn't have to go through the standard watered-down treatment that a lot of the mainstream action comics have to go through when it comes to violence and bloodshed. Have an idea yet? Now take that idea and dress it in a eerily ghost-like white cape and costume, and you have Nemesis. Hold on tight!

This first issue sets the stage for what's to come, by introducing the major players and the world they live in. Nemesis is the world's first super criminal, a true agent of chaos who appears to have no problem leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake. Half the world away Washington D.C., Chief of Police Blake Marrow is introduced. A protagonist ripped from the pages of a Hemingway Novel, Marrow in many ways represents everything Nemesis hates, making him the perfect foe for the super villain to target.

McNiven's art is top notch. It really is good to see these two back together again after their little known reunion on Old Man Logan. McNiven has never been one for goofy cartoon like drawings, and the story of Nemesis provides the perfect playing field for an artist of McNiven's caliber. Realistic is the name of the game here, and from the first page it's clear that McNiven is more than up to the challenge.