by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer
Villains for Hire
Issue #2
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Art by Renato Arlem
Published: February 2012
It’s a very familiar premise. An old villain is after the thrown of the city’s top crime lord, and hires some of the territory’s nastiest and most obscure Spidey and Daredevil jobbers to help him do it. Though it’s not the industry’s most unique set up, it’s still just as entertaining as any great anti-hero team up.
Though I wasn’t quite sold on the first issue, issue #2 was simply — if I may — a hoot. Villains for Hire isn’t exactly the rompous adventure of a crook collection of characters as, say, Oceans 11, but damn if it doesn’t try. The script is filled with attitude and action and exemplifies all the angles we love about a great “popcorn” comic. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning’s dialogue is witty and saturated with humor without sacrificing the integrity the book allows itself.
The plot, however, didn’t grab me quite like an ideal second issue should, but it was not uninteresting. The villain vs. villain gang warfare is more unoriginal than the premise, but the writing and art still shine through. What I most appreciate about this series so far, and hope to appreciate as long as this title lasts, is how the creators aren’t trying too hard to make this book too ‘cool.’ Some B-level rivals still have their cheesy spandex costumes like Tiger Shark, and that’s a good thing. The dim witted money hungry muscle character that he is works better with a lame costume than in a suit and tie.
Renato Arlem finds the right balance of intensity and grit in his panels, and the bits of action are well choreographed.
I honestly went into this book expecting to not care for it, but it’s turned into an unexpected pleasure that I can see myself enjoying as long as it retains the adventurous, borderline B-movie tone it’s kicked off with. Villains for Hire is definitely worth the time of those with an open mind.
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