2.90 (455) Wetworks vol 2 #2 ... Wildstorm ...

You know that saying, sometimes you shouldn't go back and revisit places where your memories are so beautifully stored and treasured? Sad to say, for me, in this case, Whilce should not have returned to Wetworks. What he did in volume 1 for his own issues was brilliant and him at the pinnacle of his artistry

This volume told several years later? Sorry, for me it feels like a nod to the first volume and while the story has deviated and evolved but it isn't sufficient to carry the series much and from a weak issue 1 to this, you just know it is going to be cancelled even if Whilce is onboard as artist

So in issue 2 we get more confusion as the plot develops. We see the old enemy from the first volume continue making their plotting and moves but an even more unknown villain makes its presence even more pronounced as it appears to have abilities beyond those of the Night Tribes. All this is of course necessary because our heroes are down to one of the original Wetworks member and assisted by an assortment of new bies that are from a more diverse background. Think of this as the original X-Men that received a much needed shot in the arm, so to speak, when it was relaunched with a more global cast except here ...

The vampire chic is to give it its token women in scantily clad clothing while Ab Death is to fill the quota of mysterious hero (with confusing speech pattern to boot), a weak assed alien or other dimensional cop of sorts and ... well ... you get the picture, right?

Ratings: 4/10

2.84 (449) Wetworks vol 1 #3 ... Image ...

If you are ever a fan of Whilce Portacio and Image Comics, the first 3 issues of Wetworks volume 1 are as good as it gets. In fact, for me, rarely has Whilce been better before this or after this. I mean, I loved his X-Factor and Iron Man but here? Awesome and before his work on character faces and physique becomes "stock" style

In this, the third issue of the first arc, we see the final development of our mercenaries/ wet works crew as they transformed from regular humans to humans clad in a bio armour that is golden and learning about the strength and weaknesses of this new armour

And as the cover indicates so no spoilers here, one of the 'works discover that further mutation is possible although at this point, they do not know if it is their own body, their own body mixing it up with the alien golden material or purely the golden armour ... and that's what the fun is in a comic, isn't it? Keep us guessing so we come back for more

Oh yes the villains how can we forget? Well, it seems like though the villains are nasty and powerful, our 'works crew have no problem cutting all those fangs and claws to pieces and in quick time too. Heh!

The joy here is seeing Whilce's work and the 'works team more so than the actual storyline

Ratings: 8/10

310. Wetworks vol 2 #1 ... Wildstorm ...

Honestly, when this came out, I could no longer recall if Wildstorm is part of Image or DC. I checked the cover but there is nothing except the WS logo. But who cares, right? Hehehe! As long as you can find it, when you want it, it's good enough

Onward then!

Volume 1 when it debuted was AWESOME. I am a fan of Whilce but here, he exceeded everything he did on the X-Men. I mean, here is a team that are not superheroes with no costumes and yet, he made it work with his over-the-top artwork. However, that volume sort of petered out with guest artists early on in the run ...

So when it was announced that vol 2 was finally coming out and will have the writing talents of Mike Carey and the artwork of Whilce, well, I definitely did check it out. Coverwise ... kind of average for me! But the interiors? Thank goodness were well worth the price of the book. The only challenge I have is the hairstyles. Whilce characters are becoming standard with that lock of hair puffing up and falling in front of the face

Aside from that, this series is not ... really the old Wetworks. There is only at this point Dane from the original series and a smattering of others who are more like his ex-sparring partners than his partners, if you get what I mean

In addition, they tried to introduce too many new ideas and characters here to the point that you get only a slight feel of it and ended up not strong enough for the casual collector to maybe follow through the series. That's why I am not surprised when it saw cancellation soon enough

However, in this one issue, you get an old Vampire who is back and slicing through everything but is she going to be friend or foe? Then there is definitely another Vampire who wants to rule and thus qualifies as foe

After that, we have a strange being called Ab-Death ... who talks in a funny manner and whose powers are not definitely clearly spelt out ... which makes this somewhat interesting

And finally as if it wasn't enough we have yet another character who likes a bit like Dingo from Backlash ... except that maybe, just maybe, he is from an alternate dimension or world or whatever

Get it?

Ratings: 6/10 (would have given it a 4 if not for Whilce)