Magneto #1 Review

Title:	Magneto
Contributors:	Cullen Bunn Gabriel Walta
Publisher:	Marvel
Issue #:	1
Year:	2014
Pages:	32 Pages
Age Rating:	8+
Story Grade:	B
Art Grade:	A

Magneto's character is transformed from an World Conqueror into a Mutant Vigilante in this new Marvel series; think of the Magneto you've come to love meets the Punisher you know, but shown without the graphic violence you love even more.

This is a new role for Magneto and is quite a step down from the ego-driven-world-conqueror we've come know from Eric. He is considerably more low-key, although he doesn't mind making a scene, a big scene, in which he tears a place apart and everyone recognizes him as Magneto when he finally finds his mark.

The book for the most part has a quiet, almost sleepy, pace about it but isn't boring and keeps the readers interest. And when the tension does pick up, it has as much in part to do with Walta's artistic pace as is does with Bunn's storytelling. And that makes the tension to build and release at just the right moment and that really makes this book pop. This combination and timing was brilliant for me.

The art is strong in split tones with use of a caramel tone and cyan tone treatment to most panels. This is used generally as an artistic visual cue for the pace of the story and it is done evenly throughout the book.

The artwork is clean and detailed. You can definitely see some spanish influence in the artistic style of this book, mostly in the smaller details of things, but I find the style is very fresh and appealing.

All in all, I grade the book a B+. The story was entertaining and the art was engaging. My only real dissatisfaction, which is the case with most comics from the big two, is that the violence is almost always dumbed down in their mainstream titles. This is a vigilante story and vigilante violence has repercussions that should be shown. But the big two usually steer away from that, which is why I usually steer away from the big two. But, aside from the dumbed down violence, all in all this was a fantastic read and well worth a look at.

Until next time... Happy Levitations