Mark Bertolini

My nephew LOVES Frankenstein so I purchased this for him. He's 12, and the recommended reading age I could find for this online was 12+, but I gave it a read-through for suitability and don't think I'll be passing it along to him.

I'm certainly no pearl-clutcher when it comes to language, or anything really, and I don't think all content needs to be highbrow or educational, but there's something about how heavily this GN relies on the ol' dumb inbred redneck trope with "Damn" and "Goddamn" being every other word out of these villains' mouths that isn't sitting right with me when I think about gifting this to him. There's way too many awesome comics for kids out there to spend time with a mediocre one.… (altro)

Ethan Shade is a D-list supervillain. When the other supervillains in the “Cult of Intelligence” are planning their attacks, he’s sent out for tea. He could be a better supervillain if he wanted to be, but there’s one thing holding him back: he’s lazy.

Ethan has skills, but he lacks the ambition to use them. He has power, but he doesn’t want the responsibility that comes with making the hard life-and-death decisions. He wants the credit, and is resentful when he doesn’t receive the same recognition as the rest of the team.

Now the supervillains of the world have been eradicated by the “Elder Statesmen”, and Ethan – who no one knows even exists – is left behind. He decides to get out of town while the going is good, and despite the fact that no one is looking for him and he could get away free and clean, he decides to take one last risk and rob a bank.

Events proves that Ethan Shade is as good at robbing banks as he is at masterminding world domination. What starts as a bad mistake snowballs until he’s the most wanted man on Earth.

Ethan is removed enough from the superhero/supervillain culture to see the ridiculousness in the things they say and do, but it’s a world he wants to be a part of. Like the kid in high school talking down on a clique but secretly wanting to be part of it.

James Boulton’s artwork is scratchy and frenetic, at times revealing great detail and at others showing only an impression of events. With these sketches on a white background, Ethan’s personality is brought to life.

Despite the fact that he’s lazy, dangerous and (to be honest) an idiot, there’s something likeable about Ethan. Probably because he’s like a lot of people – he wants the fame and fortune without the responsibility of having to make actual decisions.

http://annikisbookcase.com/2013/06/breakneck-vol-1-knives-out/… (altro)