Issue: Incorruptible #3
Release Date: February 17, 2010
Writer/Creator: Mark Waid
Artist: Jean Diaz
Inker: Belardino Brabo
Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse
Cover(s): Dennis Calero, Rafael Albuquerque, Jeffrey Spokes
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Max, Armadale, and Jailbait find Origin, save some people from his reject science experiments, find out where the alternate reality travel device is, and have a little flashback time with each other at the end.
Overall, I’m still liking this story. I like the idea of at least one guy changing his ways and going out there to help the people he used to exploit. Someone with the power deciding to help people avoid dying because of The Plutonian or from having their fear of The Plutonian being exploited by other baddies who just see all of this as a Get Rich Really Quick scheme. We’re starting to get a little more backstory on Max, but it’s still not 100% clear why he decided to stand up against The Plutonian. I’m also enjoying the dynamics of the relationship developing between Armadale and Max, two foes coming together to work on a common goal.
What I’m not liking still is Jailbait. I’m not sure if I don’t like the character because of the fact that somewhere during the planning process of this title someone said, “I know! We’ll give this adult man an underaged, over-sexualized female sidekick who’s always trying to get in his pants before his powers kick in!” or the fact that they took the Hollywood route with her look instead of having the stones to really go for it (i.e., making it look like a 30-year-old is playing a 15- or 16-year-old). I’m pretty sure it’s the latter, since I could get over the former if it were developed into an actual complex story later down the line and not used as a gimmick. Having this character that looks like a grown woman act like an immature girl playing dress up at Fredericks of Hollywood kills the endearing factor the character could have. Honestly, when I’m not being reminded that she’s supposed to be a girl and not a woman (like having a random character call her “little girl” or having her throw tantrums that would put my 7-year-old cousin to shame) the character works for me because she’s ballsy and has a smart mouth.
The best part of this issue is the flashback when Max is recounting when he decided to start helping Armadale instead of continuing in his villainy ways. It was right at the end of the issue, so they didn’t get into too much detail on the whats and whys, but it does make Max much more interesting and complex for me. He and The Plutonian are almost the same, hitting crucial moments at different points and going opposite directions. While one was born the way he is and the other was created that way later in life, neither can have the human contact they both want. While one was trying to show the world how good he was and how eager he was to please everyone, the other took advantage of the strength being untouchable gave him. Almost at the exact same moment, both decided to wipe out humanity because they were tired of the pressures their powers put on them. However, with The Plutonian pulling the trigger before Max, and subsequently Max seeing the full force of damage The Plutonian was capable of, the two of them switched places with the villain becoming the hero and the hero becoming the villain.
Like I said, it’s all revealed right at the end so there’s no explanation on what flicked that switch in Max but it was enough to keep me hanging and eager for the next issue.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
