Review by Aziz Bawany

Writer: Mark Waid
Penciller: Peter Krause
Colors: Andrew Dallhouse
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Published by Boom! Studios

Reprints: Irredeemable #1-4

After taking a break from Mark Waid and Peter Krause's creator owned venture Irredeemable, I find myself back at the trade finishing off the first arc with more questions than answers. And what's great about all this? It's a fantastic ride that shouldn't be missed out on. Sure Mark Waid makes it very clear that this isn't the Waid you're used to. Looking for heroes who stand tall and act mighty beyond the mortal reach? You'll find them here, but boy are they flawed, something Waid uses to clearly distance himself from a "cleaner" image, I'm guessing.  

The Plutonian for some reason is offended and something between him and the heroes caused a rift between the groups as what was once a noble Superman-like character is now the evil for which all the world fears. He's on a path of destruction and doesn't care about who he hurts or kills to enact his revenge. So far, we as readers are lead to believe that it was the other heroes who caused this great insult to The Plutonian, leading to all the mass destruction, but as Waid delves further the shades of grey start to take over. Maybe there were tendancies from the beginning and maybe this god-complex of the Plutonian's was just a natural manifestation for a character whose always separated himself from the rest of the world.

It's quite a treat to read, but Krause's art seals the deal. The faces in particular carry a certain weight to them that resonates the fear these characters are experiencing as they're hunted down throughout the world. It's one thing to have a hero looking pretty, but Krause is able to convey this evil Superman meets Miracleman vibe that emotes John Totleben's classic renderings.

As a whole, the package is a steal for only $9.99. I really enjoy Boom's aggressive stance towards gaining new readers, and hope Waid is able to attract some wandering eyes away from those other superhero books. As the book progresses, it seems as if the collected edition might be the way to go as the early pacing problems and plot seem to iron out as one volume rather than four chapters, and hopefully that will work out to more solid stories as it's one of Waid's best reads yet.

Rating: 8 out of 10 (On its Way to Greatness!)