Steed and Mrs. Peel #0 Review
- Written by GLX on Friday, August 31 2012 and posted in Reviews
Here's GLX's review of Steed and Mrs. Peel #0.
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Writer - Mark Waid
Artist - Steve Bryant
Colorist - Ron Riley
Back in my younger days, my father introduced me to an old TV show called The Avengers. I did not become a die hard fan of the show, but I had an appreciation for the show's quirkiness and solid leads in John Steed and Emma Peel. There have been comics based on the TV show, but they have been less than stellar. The characters were there and the situations felt like they could have been used for the show. Unfortunately, they lacked anything that would leave a strong and positive memory in one's mind. With Steed and Mrs. Peel #0, I have that same sort of feeling.
Steve Bryant's art is devoid of passion. The characters look like they are just trying to perform the tasks that the script demands with little effort. It does not help that they look less than pleasing to the eyes. Ron Riley's colors fair better in some ways. The decision to use drab colors for the "normal world" and bright colors in the more bizarre scenes is a wise choice. It enhances the tone shift from one of normality to one of oddity. Where Riley's colors falter is in their flatness. The colors perform their necessary role, but they lack a certain pop to them
On the bright side, Mark Waid's script stays true to the show. The writing may not be excellent, but it left me entertained. Steed and Peel have their own unique voice and both of them display mental and physical skill; Peel is not an inferior partner to Steed, but an equal that should be valued. The villains are quirky and their actions are both bizarre and enjoyable to read. Could the story have been longer? After all, the original show was an hourly affair. While such criticism can be considered valid, Waid manages to make the story satisfying within the story's allotted pages.
Unfortunately, the art ultimately fails to match the strength of the script. Under a different art team, the comic could be a casual buy. As it is, Steed and Mrs. Peel #0 is not worth that. Diehard fans of the show might be able to come away from the comic with more satisfaction that I did, but it is hard to recommend this for the casual reader.
5.6* out of 10*
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