Hunter Killer #11 21 pages and $2.99 from Top Cow/words: Mark Waid; pencils: Kenneth Rocafort/sold at comics shops and www.topcowstore.com.

I am so confused. I'd read the series synopsis on the interior front cover, and the "Previously" blurb outlining what had happened in earlier issues. I thought I'd caught the flavor of this superhero comic book. Then I read the story.

There were so many intertwined plots and characters that I finished the last page with only one overwhelming reaction. "Huh?" Granted, one should expect some unanswered questions when joining a series in progress, but "huh" is not an incentive to read future issues. I re-read the synopsis. It didn't help much.

Sure the art is terrific, even though the style is the typical exaggerated reality that has become a cliché for superhero titles. But there's simply too much packed into this issue to make entry into the series easy and enjoyable.

The mega plot is about a genetic super-race living in a world populated by common Joe's. They self-police their members to keep the world safe from rogue super-humans. In short,
they are the X-Men with a twist.

Previous to this issue, the "Ultra-Sapien" strike-force has enlisted a new recruit who turns out to be more than expected. He is a rogue in the making. The current issue is about his making, and about three or four other subplots. I'm not sure of the number because I couldn't bring myself to re-read the story. The creative team is obviously talented, but needs to remember than less is more. I am not alone in my opinion. I believe the last survey I read said that if a new television show doesn't catch a new viewer's attention in the first few minutes, that viewer will not return. I suspect the same is true for comic books. -- MV

Check out Dreams and Visions #35 for a new Vance short story: www.bconnex.net/~skysong/dream.htm

Interested in the exciting Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection and Toy and Action Figure Museum? Go to fourcolorcommentary.blogspot.com & www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCARtM5BvvU.