Review by: Nicole D'Andria (Originally posted on May 18th, 2011)
This is a duel review I did with my then-boss Dustin Cabeal (founder of Comic Bastards). I've reprinted the description from Boom! Studios and my section of the review here.
"What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger! The hospital sent cancer patient Alan Gates home to die. Instead, his tumor transformed him into something more than human...When Alan discovers that his tumor is actually a mysterious parasite — he’s granted a second lease on life... and incredible, otherworldly powers! In this issue, learn what is the secret truth behind the parasitic alien living beneath Alan’s skin! It’s dark. It’s twisted. And MALIGNANT MAN is unlike anything else on the stands. This is a sci-fi thriller that can't be missed!" - Boom!
This is a duel review I did with my then-boss Dustin Cabeal (founder of Comic Bastards). I've reprinted the description from Boom! Studios and my section of the review here.
"What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger! The hospital sent cancer patient Alan Gates home to die. Instead, his tumor transformed him into something more than human...When Alan discovers that his tumor is actually a mysterious parasite — he’s granted a second lease on life... and incredible, otherworldly powers! In this issue, learn what is the secret truth behind the parasitic alien living beneath Alan’s skin! It’s dark. It’s twisted. And MALIGNANT MAN is unlike anything else on the stands. This is a sci-fi thriller that can't be missed!" - Boom!
After a great first issue full of originality no less was expected from the next issue of the Malignant Man. Instead, not only are most of the secrets in the series revealed with way too much exposition but the mediocre art makes the issue harder to look at than the first, the originality from the first issue is only slightly present in this issue.
The main problem with this issue of Malignant Man is the ton of exposition given on the history of the Malignant. The mystery of the Malignant in the first issue was the best quality of the issue. In this issue we’re given almost all the answers, though a few are still thankfully unfilled for the next issue to uncover. It is understandable why the pacing is faster than the average comic book series since the Malignant Man is only a four issue mini-series and needs to wrap itself up quickly, but the pacing in the first issue was perfect and this issue blatantly jumped the shark and needs to slow down a bit.
The villains remain as bland as they were in the first issue, barely having panel time so the powers of the Malignant can be shown off, which are pretty cool. The main villain, Mr. Cancer (and I’m still trying to decide if his name is dastardly or corny – I’m leaning towards latter) is finally seen for an instant, but fails to make any impression.
The main problem with this issue of Malignant Man is the ton of exposition given on the history of the Malignant. The mystery of the Malignant in the first issue was the best quality of the issue. In this issue we’re given almost all the answers, though a few are still thankfully unfilled for the next issue to uncover. It is understandable why the pacing is faster than the average comic book series since the Malignant Man is only a four issue mini-series and needs to wrap itself up quickly, but the pacing in the first issue was perfect and this issue blatantly jumped the shark and needs to slow down a bit.
The villains remain as bland as they were in the first issue, barely having panel time so the powers of the Malignant can be shown off, which are pretty cool. The main villain, Mr. Cancer (and I’m still trying to decide if his name is dastardly or corny – I’m leaning towards latter) is finally seen for an instant, but fails to make any impression.
And that pretty much describes this comic: it fails to leave much of an impression. Most ideas from other works are usually the inspiration for many works of today. After a very original first issue Malignant Man has a ton of cliché moments, including a government interested in the ultimate “super-soldier” and a Malignant that looks a lot like a baby critter from Alien. Some of the comic does have touching moments involving children and this is one of the few interesting ideas this issue of Malignant Man touches on. The few secrets still in waiting are making me want to continue the reading the series. The art isn’t terrible, though not great either. The comic is mostly a mediocre one mostly seeming worse because of how great the first issue was. I hope future issues of Malignant Man won’t hit the same flat notes this issue did.
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