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Part One | Part Two
Well, it's done. I finished the last story arc of Mr Majestic today. Going into this series, I hadn't expected to enjoy it as much as I did. I'm both surprised and disappointed that it didn't have a longer run. There were so many more plots and ideas that could have been explored with these characters. It often seems to be the most interesting series that end too quickly.
Well, let's dive in...
Issue #7: Universal Law Book 1: Visions
Summary: Majestic inhales a mysterious dust to protect civilians, and it sends him into a mindscape of dreams and visions.
My thoughts: The first thing I noticed about this issue is that we have a new team of artists. And the new art is... not great. I'm always hesitant to critique art because it really is a subjective thing. That being said, art is very important in comic books because it sells the story, often even more than the writing. It's a visual medium, so it has to be visually appealing. And, for me at least, this wasn't. I felt the new art style didn't match the personality and life of the previous issues. The characters came across too flat and expressions were too vague. Also, they gave a completely new character design to Desmond. Previously, he'd been drawn as a human with a few cybernetic implants; now, he's depicted as almost fully robotic. It was a very jarring change and took a while to get used to.
As for the story... well, unfortunately, I can't say much in favor of that either. I think this is the first issue of the series that really let me down in terms of storytelling. While the series frequently used a cerebral tone in how it conveyed ideas and concepts, this one went far above and beyond that. It felt less sci-fi and more fairy tale. To me, it came across as ridiculously pretentious -- as if the writers were trying to pat themselves on the back for how clever they were being. More importantly, it had no real point to it. I get what they were trying to get across to the readers in terms of the overall story arc, but they wasted an entire issue on what could have been told in a few quick pages. Most of it ended up being rambling nonsense anyway, with very little of it actually tying into the story in the next two issues.
I feel like I'm being unnecessarily harsh on this one. I will say that it was the first issue in the series that I didn't enjoy, so that speaks quite a bit to how consistent the writers have been up to this point. Also, on a completely random note, the one thing I did love about the new art style was Maj's hair. The new look suits him better and makes him look less like a blatant Superman ripoff. (Speaking of which, this issue I learned that he apparently also has freeze breath. How in the world did Fawcett get sued for Captain Marvel, but Wildstorm got away with a literal recolored Superman in their comics??)
My rating: 3/10
Issue #8: Universal Law Book 2: Across the Infinite
Summary: Majestic answers the call of destiny as he leaves to join a group of cosmic beings. Meanwhile, on Earth, Desmond tries to prevent a crisis on his own.
My thoughts: The art isn't any better in this issue, but the writing definitely is. I find it odd that they waited until the second part of a 3-part arc to actually get the story started. We're introduced to a team known as the Universals -- cosmic beings of incredible power who oversee and protect all of reality. Apparently, Maj's father was a member of this group at one point, and now he's inherited that role. I know I picked on the art in the previous issue, but I will say the home of the Universals is drawn beautifully here. The character art still leaves a lot to be desired, but the backgrounds and landscapes are gorgeous. There are a few philosophical debates between the characters in this part of the story, regarding whether having the power to do everything entitles one to actually act on that power. It's a topic that's long been debated in superhero tales, and the writers tackle it in an interesting way here. In contrast, the stuff with Desmond back on Earth is more lighthearted and humorous... right up until the end, that is. The final pages of the issue suddenly present two separate imminent disasters, before ending us on a cliffhanger.
Overall, while this issue was significantly better than the previous one, it still didn't personally interest me very much. Not objectively bad, but not one I would consider noteworthy either.
My rating: 5/10
Issue #9: Universal Law Book 3: Motorchrist
Summary: Desmond tries to stop a massive disaster on Earth while Majestic makes some difficult choices regarding his future.
My thoughts: Wow. That's it. This was the last issue in the series. Wasn't expecting to get so emotional during this final part, but I guess I was more attached to this world and these characters than I thought. That being said, I'm going to try reviewing this issue without that lens of sentimentality.
The story itself wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular either. I'd say it fell squarely into the "just okay" category -- which isn't a great way to end a series. As with the previous issue, there was a split narrative here. Half the story focused on Majestros and the Universals, while the other half focused on Desmond's adventure on Earth. It felt like there was more story wanting to be told here than what we actually got. For instance, there were hints at a more personal motivation behind the antagonist's actions (such as his anger at not being able to prevent his own death while the rest of the group praises Maj's decision to prevent the death of an entire solar system) but it was never really explored. In the end, they let it boil down to "oh, he's insane now" so any further discussion on it was moot. Maj's final decision also seemed to contradict the rest of the story, as he'd been struggling with doubts regarding his actions to protect Earth and if he was ready to give up that responsibility, only to shrug it all off and be totally fine with abandoning those duties in the end. None of the plot threads had what felt like a satisfying conclusion, which left me more frustrated than anything.
I'm also going to take a moment to discuss Desmond's half of the story. First, the art. I complained about the art in the rest of this arc already, but this issue had a completely different artist drawing the Earth-based scenes and... well, it's not great. Not only does the art style make it confusing to track action in several scenes, but it simply doesn't mesh well with the other art style in the Universals' scenes. The story itself in these scenes is okay. I do have a problem with the bizarre choice to have the final conflict come down to a brief commentary on accepting one's darker self. Not a terrible message on its own, but it didn't tie in narratively with any of the plot threads in this arc. The main discussion, and the plot device that drives the conflict in this story, is Maj's choice to use his power to "play god" and whether anyone should be allowed to do that. This ending scene between Maj and his "dark side" could have been a good wrapping up of that discussion and force him to figure out which side of the argument he lands on. Instead, it took a sharp turn into a completely different topic. Not a bad scene, but it felt out of place.
Finally, I have to talk about the goodbye scene between Majestros and Desmond. I can't believe only eight issues ago I was worried about not being able to feel a connection to these characters. I'm not ashamed to admit I was full on crying during their final scene here. I love these two and their frustrating and complicated friendship. The ending would have been easier to take if it had them simply riding off into the sunset to continue their adventures off-page, but this finality to their story made it hurt so much more. It was a good scene. I miss them already.
My rating: 5/10
Final thoughts:
This was my first venture into the Wildstorm Universe, but it's safe to say this won't be my last. I'm intrigued by this world and will definitely be exploring more of its stories.
Part of my motivation to read this series in the first place was because I'd always heard of Majestic and being a Superman copycat -- basically just Wildstorm's version of the same character. As a Superman fan, I was curious to see what he was like. And, yes, in many ways he is a rather blatant ripoff of the Man of Steel. But there are enough differences that I'm able to appreciate them both for what they are without the need to compare them. Majestic is a more hardened person and is more intellect and will than heart, and that makes him distinct from Superman in a way that keeps him fresh and interesting. I want to get to see more of this character in action. (Admittedly, I've already purchased a few of his TPBs on ebay and am anxiously awaiting their arrival.)
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this series. The final arc was certainly the weakest, which is a shame, but even then it was still interesting to read. The first six issues are considerably better and well worth the read. My favorite issues were #1, #2, and #5. The art was great in the first six issues, even if I personally disliked the replacement team in the final issues. The writing was good throughout as well. I loved the sci-fi themes and concepts that were explored in the various stories, especially the temporal-related ones. I also appreciate how the writers kept a sense of dry humor running through it, even during the more serious stories.
My overall rating: 8/10
Well, it's done. I finished the last story arc of Mr Majestic today. Going into this series, I hadn't expected to enjoy it as much as I did. I'm both surprised and disappointed that it didn't have a longer run. There were so many more plots and ideas that could have been explored with these characters. It often seems to be the most interesting series that end too quickly.
Well, let's dive in...
Issue #7: Universal Law Book 1: Visions
Summary: Majestic inhales a mysterious dust to protect civilians, and it sends him into a mindscape of dreams and visions.
My thoughts: The first thing I noticed about this issue is that we have a new team of artists. And the new art is... not great. I'm always hesitant to critique art because it really is a subjective thing. That being said, art is very important in comic books because it sells the story, often even more than the writing. It's a visual medium, so it has to be visually appealing. And, for me at least, this wasn't. I felt the new art style didn't match the personality and life of the previous issues. The characters came across too flat and expressions were too vague. Also, they gave a completely new character design to Desmond. Previously, he'd been drawn as a human with a few cybernetic implants; now, he's depicted as almost fully robotic. It was a very jarring change and took a while to get used to.
As for the story... well, unfortunately, I can't say much in favor of that either. I think this is the first issue of the series that really let me down in terms of storytelling. While the series frequently used a cerebral tone in how it conveyed ideas and concepts, this one went far above and beyond that. It felt less sci-fi and more fairy tale. To me, it came across as ridiculously pretentious -- as if the writers were trying to pat themselves on the back for how clever they were being. More importantly, it had no real point to it. I get what they were trying to get across to the readers in terms of the overall story arc, but they wasted an entire issue on what could have been told in a few quick pages. Most of it ended up being rambling nonsense anyway, with very little of it actually tying into the story in the next two issues.
I feel like I'm being unnecessarily harsh on this one. I will say that it was the first issue in the series that I didn't enjoy, so that speaks quite a bit to how consistent the writers have been up to this point. Also, on a completely random note, the one thing I did love about the new art style was Maj's hair. The new look suits him better and makes him look less like a blatant Superman ripoff. (Speaking of which, this issue I learned that he apparently also has freeze breath. How in the world did Fawcett get sued for Captain Marvel, but Wildstorm got away with a literal recolored Superman in their comics??)
My rating: 3/10
Issue #8: Universal Law Book 2: Across the Infinite
Summary: Majestic answers the call of destiny as he leaves to join a group of cosmic beings. Meanwhile, on Earth, Desmond tries to prevent a crisis on his own.
My thoughts: The art isn't any better in this issue, but the writing definitely is. I find it odd that they waited until the second part of a 3-part arc to actually get the story started. We're introduced to a team known as the Universals -- cosmic beings of incredible power who oversee and protect all of reality. Apparently, Maj's father was a member of this group at one point, and now he's inherited that role. I know I picked on the art in the previous issue, but I will say the home of the Universals is drawn beautifully here. The character art still leaves a lot to be desired, but the backgrounds and landscapes are gorgeous. There are a few philosophical debates between the characters in this part of the story, regarding whether having the power to do everything entitles one to actually act on that power. It's a topic that's long been debated in superhero tales, and the writers tackle it in an interesting way here. In contrast, the stuff with Desmond back on Earth is more lighthearted and humorous... right up until the end, that is. The final pages of the issue suddenly present two separate imminent disasters, before ending us on a cliffhanger.
Overall, while this issue was significantly better than the previous one, it still didn't personally interest me very much. Not objectively bad, but not one I would consider noteworthy either.
My rating: 5/10
Issue #9: Universal Law Book 3: Motorchrist
Summary: Desmond tries to stop a massive disaster on Earth while Majestic makes some difficult choices regarding his future.
My thoughts: Wow. That's it. This was the last issue in the series. Wasn't expecting to get so emotional during this final part, but I guess I was more attached to this world and these characters than I thought. That being said, I'm going to try reviewing this issue without that lens of sentimentality.
The story itself wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular either. I'd say it fell squarely into the "just okay" category -- which isn't a great way to end a series. As with the previous issue, there was a split narrative here. Half the story focused on Majestros and the Universals, while the other half focused on Desmond's adventure on Earth. It felt like there was more story wanting to be told here than what we actually got. For instance, there were hints at a more personal motivation behind the antagonist's actions (such as his anger at not being able to prevent his own death while the rest of the group praises Maj's decision to prevent the death of an entire solar system) but it was never really explored. In the end, they let it boil down to "oh, he's insane now" so any further discussion on it was moot. Maj's final decision also seemed to contradict the rest of the story, as he'd been struggling with doubts regarding his actions to protect Earth and if he was ready to give up that responsibility, only to shrug it all off and be totally fine with abandoning those duties in the end. None of the plot threads had what felt like a satisfying conclusion, which left me more frustrated than anything.
I'm also going to take a moment to discuss Desmond's half of the story. First, the art. I complained about the art in the rest of this arc already, but this issue had a completely different artist drawing the Earth-based scenes and... well, it's not great. Not only does the art style make it confusing to track action in several scenes, but it simply doesn't mesh well with the other art style in the Universals' scenes. The story itself in these scenes is okay. I do have a problem with the bizarre choice to have the final conflict come down to a brief commentary on accepting one's darker self. Not a terrible message on its own, but it didn't tie in narratively with any of the plot threads in this arc. The main discussion, and the plot device that drives the conflict in this story, is Maj's choice to use his power to "play god" and whether anyone should be allowed to do that. This ending scene between Maj and his "dark side" could have been a good wrapping up of that discussion and force him to figure out which side of the argument he lands on. Instead, it took a sharp turn into a completely different topic. Not a bad scene, but it felt out of place.
Finally, I have to talk about the goodbye scene between Majestros and Desmond. I can't believe only eight issues ago I was worried about not being able to feel a connection to these characters. I'm not ashamed to admit I was full on crying during their final scene here. I love these two and their frustrating and complicated friendship. The ending would have been easier to take if it had them simply riding off into the sunset to continue their adventures off-page, but this finality to their story made it hurt so much more. It was a good scene. I miss them already.
My rating: 5/10
Final thoughts:
This was my first venture into the Wildstorm Universe, but it's safe to say this won't be my last. I'm intrigued by this world and will definitely be exploring more of its stories.
Part of my motivation to read this series in the first place was because I'd always heard of Majestic and being a Superman copycat -- basically just Wildstorm's version of the same character. As a Superman fan, I was curious to see what he was like. And, yes, in many ways he is a rather blatant ripoff of the Man of Steel. But there are enough differences that I'm able to appreciate them both for what they are without the need to compare them. Majestic is a more hardened person and is more intellect and will than heart, and that makes him distinct from Superman in a way that keeps him fresh and interesting. I want to get to see more of this character in action. (Admittedly, I've already purchased a few of his TPBs on ebay and am anxiously awaiting their arrival.)
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this series. The final arc was certainly the weakest, which is a shame, but even then it was still interesting to read. The first six issues are considerably better and well worth the read. My favorite issues were #1, #2, and #5. The art was great in the first six issues, even if I personally disliked the replacement team in the final issues. The writing was good throughout as well. I loved the sci-fi themes and concepts that were explored in the various stories, especially the temporal-related ones. I also appreciate how the writers kept a sense of dry humor running through it, even during the more serious stories.
My overall rating: 8/10
