Advance Review: Gamma Flight #1 (of 5)

If I am being 100% honest, when I saw the title of this book, I incorrectly assumed it was part of the ongoing Heroes Reborn stuff that we have seen over the last few weeks. Instead I have a book that had its seeds planted in the fan favourite Immortal Hulk comic. Now I am not sure which is greater, the number of people who can lift Thor’s hammer or those irradiated by gamma radiation!

Originally sent out in the world to capture the Hulk, Puck, Titania, the Absorbing Man, Doc Sasquatch are joined by Doctor Charlene McGowan and Rick Jones who is once again sharing a body and is gamma irradiated! How is is still alive? This first issue is a bit more of a reboot or reset issue. It is in fact a bit of a State of the Union; we get to see the team various interactions, a wedding proposal, arguments and the issue of dealing with gamma mutates.

For those expecting a horror tinged affair, especially with Immortal Hulk writer Al Ewing, you may well be disappointed. Ewing is joined on writing by Crystal Frasier and as such the pair delivers a more standard fare Marvel book, down to the humour element that, as I have said before, is practically plug’n play by this point. Situational elements also have an impact, a second hand base, fraught interactions that challenge personal boundaries and lifestyles, cramped living quarters; it’s like an episode of Below Decks! As the team kind of fall into their mission statement, it will be interesting to see how the villains take on a heroic stance.

The art is supplied by Lan Medina is of very high quality, if a tad Marvel style. All the characters look great with some excellent facial elements which really helps sell the humour parts that are prominent throughout the book. Big characters fill out pages, standing out against some strong panel designs. Antonio Fabela provides the colors, alternating from darkness hues to bright styles depending on the environs of the characters, this is well observed though there is a deepness to them. Finally, VC’s Joe Sabino has fun with the fonts, using an inverted white on dark grey box to help differentiate monologue and dialogue.

For me, the unique selling point of the Immortal Hulk was the horror vibe that was in place throughout. With that said, I am not sure how readers will feel without that hook. Coupled with the fact that for the most part, these characters aren’t the most popular, I am unsure of the longevity of the series; Marvel may feel the same with a five issue limit. Al Ewing, however, has been with the Hulk for a while, he and Frasier may have something up their gamma irradiated sleeves.

Writing – 3 Stars

Art – 4 Stars

Colors – 4 Stars

Overall – 3.5 Stars

Written by; Al Ewing & Crystal Frasier
Art by; Lan Medina
Colors by; Antonio Fabela
Letters by; VC’s Joe Sabino
Published by; Marvel Worldwide Inc.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network