I read the original Nemesis graphic novel over a decade ago, and my lasting impression was "meh." This reboot does nothing to shift that opinion.

Mark Millar tries to shock with a bit of the old ultraviolence and an over-the-top cop-killer plot. He wants his villain, Nemesis, to be a dark mirror of Batman -- a billionaire who trains from childhood for revenge . . . but against cops, not crooks -- but he has none of Batman's intellect or independence, spending most of the book dancing on the strings of a mysterious master who collects him, directs his training, and points him toward his revenge plot. And that plot is thin and predictable.

Still, this is all just a prelude for the first Millarworld cross-over event, Big Game, and I'll probably be checking that out in the coming year. ( )

Millar's work ranges from clever subversion to nihilistic wanks. This is more of the latter and unfortunately where his recent comics mostly lean towards. ( )