Comic Book Review: Midnighter #2

The Revolution was impressed by Midnighter #1. Ennis delivered a solid debut issue that was an enjoyable read. Midnighter is a pretty bad-assed character. I’m pretty confident that Ennis is going to serve up another good read in Midnighter #2. Let’s do this review.

Creative Team
Writer: Garth Ennis
Penciler: Chris Sprouse
Inker: Karl Story

Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin with Midnighter strapped into the time machine. Midnighter tells Paulus and his henchmen that he is going to kill all of them. That that there is a bomb in his chest won’t stop him. That when Midnighter gets back from this mission, he is going to kill all of them. Paulus activates the time machine and Midnighter is transported back in time to a battle scene between the French and the Germans during World War I.

We then flashback to earlier that day. Paulus and Midnighter are walking through Paulus’ garden. Paulus reveals to Midnighter that when Paulus was a small child he and his family were imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. That one day, Paulus’ mother became too frail to work. So, the Nazi guards bayoneted Paulus’ mother between her legs. Paulus’ father then attacked the Nazi guards and was killed. To make things even more bitter, the British rolled in that afternoon and liberated the camp. If only it had been a little earlier.

Paulus tells Midnighter that he swore he would avenge the deaths of his parents. That Paulus is extraordinarily rich and has created a time machine. Midnighter is the perfect assassin for the mission. That Midnighter will kill Hitler and Paulus’ parents will be saved. Paulus says that any negative repercussions on the time stream from Hitler’s death are pure science fiction.

Midnighter tells Paulus that he doesn’t kill kids so Paulus shouldn’t bother to send him back to when Hitler was a kid to kill him. Paulus reassures Midnighter that he has picked another time and place in which Midnighter can operate with almost total freedom so that he won’t get noticed. Midnighter asks what the hell does “getting noticed” mean.

We cut back to Midnighter in the past at a WW I battlefield. Midnighter hides outside of the German army’s makeshift battlefield headquarters. There the Officer Hauptmann is in charge of this regiment. He instructs Lieutenant Hitler to go deliver a message as to the war’s progress back to the Kaiser. Hitler leaves the headquarters when suddenly; the French army launches their attack.

The French soldiers attack Midnighter as well as the German soldiers. Midnighter tries to explain that he is America and gives up deciding that it is easy to kick butt on the French soldiers rather than try and explain. Eventually, the German army overwhelms and crushes the French army. Midnighter uses the chaos of the battle to abduct Hitler and take him somewhere secluded to kill him.

Suddenly, Midnighter realizes that everything and everyone are completely frozen. Out of nowhere a ship full of time cops appear. They tell Midnighter that he is under arrest. Midnighter mutters that somebody must have noticed. End of issue.

Comments
The Good: Ennis did a good job following up a great debut issue with a very solid read in Midnighter #2. This issue certainly continued the quick pace that Ennis started with the debut issue. I’m glad that Ennis has wasted no time getting this first story arc rolling. Many times it takes writers three to four issues before they begin to hit their stride on a new title. Not Ennis. Ennis came out firing and has this first story arc moving at a nice pace.

Ennis also serves up some good dialogue. I know that Ennis’ dialogue is certainly an acquired taste. But, I appreciate his no-nonsense “realistic” dialogue. It has a nice flow and is rather entertaining.

Now, Ennis does engage in a fair amount of “tough talk.” I know I have been rather critical of Daniel Way over in Ghost Rider and Mike Carey over in X-Men for their inordinate amount of “tough talk” on those titles. Why am I ok with it on Midnighter? Well, because Midnighter is a “tough guy” character and it make perfect sense that he would engage in plenty of tough talking. Also, the kind of thugs that Midnighter is going to be brawling with are also “tough guy” characters so it makes sense for them to engage in plenty of tough talking. However, Ennis realizes that not everyone is a tough talker. For example, Paulus does not engage in any tough talking because that is not consistent with his character.

On the other hand, Way makes everyone a tough talker in Ghost Rider. Even waitresses and cowgirl truck drivers. Carey makes absolutely everyone on X-Men a tough talker. It would be ok if it was just a few characters like Sabertooth and Wolverine. That would be consistent with their characters. But, instead Carey has practically every character including Cannonball, Rogue, Mystique, Iceman and Cyclops. It is just way too much. It is complete overkill and is not consistent with the various characters.

I’m really digging Midnighter. As I said in my review of Midnighter #1, I am a total newbie to the Authority and Midnighter. I thought that Midnighter would be too generic of a tough guy character. I was wrong. Ennis is crafting an interesting personality for Midnighter. Yeah, he is definitely a tough guy. But, Ennis has given him a great dry sense of humor. This is vital in keeping Midnighter from becoming a mere caricature of an ultra-violent style character like you get in a character like Lobo. I also enjoy Midnighter’s no-nonsense dialogue and his blunt and straight to the point approach. Midnighter doesn’t bullshit or beat around the bush.

I also like Paulus’ character. No doubt his abducting Midnighter and placing a bomb inside of him indicates that Paulus is a villainous character. However, his tragic childhood and desire for revenge are completely understandable. Ennis does a nice job making Paulus a villain that the reader can understand why he does what he does and even sympathize with him. Personally, this is the type of villain that I enjoy compared to something unoriginal as a generic white racist themed villain. Good Action. Nazi exception.

Ennis provides plenty of great action in Midnighter #2. That is the obvious strength of this title. Midnighter is an action comic. Period. If you dig ass-kicking protagonists and plenty of violence that Midnighter is definitely the title for you. Personally, I like variety in my comic books, so Midnighter satisfies my craving for pure action.

Sprouse delivers solid artwork on this issue. Sprouse isn’t my favorite artist and I’m not totally crazy about his style. But, Sprouse is an above average artist and his artwork fits Ennis’ story.

The Bad: My only slight complaint is that Ennis continues to have the villains throw gay slurs at Midnighter. I didn’t particularly mind it in the first issue. And I do think it is realistic that aggressive dumb thugs would sling derogatory comments at Midnighter. However, I really don’t want to see this become a constant that in ever single issue we have to see villains make derogatory comments about Midnighter being gay. It looses its impact when that happens.

Overall: Midnighter #2 was another good read. Ennis delivers an exciting and action packed storyline with a violent ass-kicking protagonist. Midnighter is certainly a comic book that action fans will enjoy reading. Midnighter isn’t cerebral and it won’t appeal to people who enjoy slower paced and more intricate and deep stories. But, Midnighter is a solid action comic book that is rather entertaining. I’d certainly recommend this title.