Weapon X gets a Totally Awesome upgrade.
Marvel's new Weapon X series hasn't gotten off to the most auspicious start this spring. If anything, Weapons of Mutant Destruction #1 only highlights how pointless those first four issues have been, doing a better job in one chapter of introducing the new team and their uneasy dynamic. But at least things are looking up for Old Man Logan and his team, with more than a little help from the Totally Awesome Hulk.
Building on the very limited foundation laid out in Weapon X to date, Weapons of Mutant Destruction #1 officially kicks off the Weapon X/Totally Awesome Hulk crossover. Amadeus Cho has joined forces with Logan's band of mutant assassins in order to take down Weapon X and its growing army of cyborg super-soldiers. As far as crossovers go, it's a pretty straightforward premise, but one that helps keep the focus on the characters themselves. Pak is able to generate a strong team dynamic that was mostly lacking in previous chapters of Weapon X. Logan himself is settling nicely in as team leader, while characters like Sabretooth, Deathstrike and Domino are quickly finding their individual niches. As quickly and cleanly as this issue is able to introduce the major players and the overarching conflict, it's enough to wonder why Marvel didn't simply begin Weapon X at this point.
Of course, it helps having Cho in the picture. His goofy personality and relative innocence set him far apart from the rest of the cast. What this issue strongly suggests is that Weapon X needs a permanent character to fill that role, someone who can bring levity to a book dominated by hardened killers. Pak's work always benefits from a solid dose of humor, and that's clearly one reason for the gulf in quality between Totally Awesome Hulk and Weapon X.
This issue also succeeds in giving the Weapon X crew a significant visual boost. Mahmud Asrar proves to be an inspired choice to kick off this crossover. His heavy line-work and angular, dynamic figures, combined with Nolan Woodard's muted colors, give the book an overall grim, unsettling feel that meshes perfectly with the terrifying, brutal enemy facing our heroes. Asrar's art captures the violence of these killers in action ,while also leaving ample room for expressive character interaction and physical comedy. If anything, Asrar may be better-suited for Weapon X than Totally Awesome Hulk, and the former could certainly use his confident touch on a regular basis.
The Verdict
Weapon X has been one of Marvel's more disappointing debuts this year, but things are looking up for the series as it begins its crossover with Totally Awesome Hulk. Greg Pak is able to use the latter to provide the former with a much-needed jolt of humor and a stronger sense of visual style. Meanwhile, the Weapon X team dynamic is much stronger off thanks to this issue.
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