7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old soldiers never die, and sometimes they don't fade away, either, December 17, 2007
This review is from: Brit Volume 1: Old Soldier (Vol 1) (Paperback)
Robert Kirkman sure is darn prolific. I don't exactly know how long the man's been in the comic book industry (Was
Battle Pope Vol. 1: Genesis his earliest published stuff, back in 2000?), but his resume already numbers an assortment of impressive titles (
Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1,
The Walking Dead Book 1 (Walking Dead),
Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1: The Golden Child,
Marvel Zombies,
Ultimate X-Men, Vol. 7, etc.). Now, Brit is a lesser known creation of Kirkman's which debuted for Image Comcis in 2003, and, no, it isn't nearly as popular as his Invincible or The Walking Dead series. Brit (short for Brittany) is, in a way, Kirkman's own bastardized version of the patriotic supersoldier, say, a way older and infinitely crankier (and rated R) Captain America. Certainly Brit clings to his own rough-and-rugged code of honor. How old is Brit? Dunno, but he's pretty damned old. Brit's sole super power seems to be invulnerability (but he only has normal strength). He's a tough so-and-so and sports a burly physique. He can withstand anything, from being shot at or blown up or being chomped at by alien beasts. He's the government's last line of defense, our final hope. So you can just imagine the types of menaces he ends up facing.
Between 2003 and 2004, Kirkman came out with 3 black & white one shot issues - BRIT (2003), BRIT: COLD DEATH (2003), and BRIT: RED, WHITE, BLACK, AND BLUE (2004). Set in the same universe as Kirkman's other superhero Invincible, Brit's guest-starred some in that kid's series. In 2007, the old man got his just desserts and was given his own ongoing series, with Bruce Brown as new writer and with Kirkman editing. But, never mind that. Let's focus on BRIT - OLD SOLDIER, the trade paperback which compiles the 3 mentioned one shot issues. And, as a bonus, this TPB will have these issues in full color.
SPOILERS now.
Absolutely, these stories are recommended for mature readers. There's quite a bit of profanity here and Kirkman's not too shy in depicting sexual situations (although nothing graphic). And Brit, what's he like? Brit is a curmudgeon, brusque and no-nonsense. When he's not saving the world he runs a modest strip club, which is where he met his girlfriend of 3 years now. Jessica is much, much younger than Brit (hell, her dad is younger than Brit), but these two are in love. She's ready to settle down. Brit, not so much. She wants Brit to meet her parents. Brit, not so much. There, so much for the touchy-feely stuff.
BRIT: OLD SOLDIER careens right up Jerry Bruckheimer's alley. It's boisterous and preposterous, it's got big special effects, and it's damned noisy. The messes that Brit gets to sort out are terrifying and would push the needle on the peril meter extremely into the red. Brit ends up tussling with mind-bending criminals, otherdimensional monsters, a destructive snow titan woken from deep slumber, a super-powered nutjob who invades Indonesia, and, oh, the piece-de-resistance: invaders from outer space. Throughout Kirkman explores the extent of Brit's invulnerability (Geez, the crap Kirkman puts the old man thru!). One of the plot lines centers on doubts being raised regarding this invulnerability, which may or may not be eroding. This leads to Kirkman addressing issues of trust and loyalty. This also leads to Brit getting royally peeved.
SPOILERS end.
Someone mentioned BRIT's similarity in tone to Marvel's short-lived
Nextwave: Agents Of H.A.T.E. Volume 1 (This is What They Want), and, yup, that's about right. In terms of Brit's over-the-top challenges and the subversive nature frequently peeking out, this title is very much in synch with NextWave. Oh, NextWave just may be a teensy bit more tongue in cheek, although BRIT's not without its own sense of dark humor. I was at first startled but then I couldn't stop laughing at how Brit resolved the dilemma of being attacked by the mad scientist who could split himself into numerous selves. And then there's Brit's very uncomfortable (but amusing) meal with Jessica's disapproving dad. One more comparison with NextWave? How about both titles boasting a way cool android?
If you like your comics ridiculously violent, with widescreen moments of carnage and mayhem, yet with some characterization thrown in, as well, then BRIT: OLD SOLDIER is your huckleberry. Yup, wanton destruction and senseless melees as brought to you by a grizzled, bastardly senior citizen, who does evolve somewhat from a bachelor to a husband to a father. Kirkman fleshes out the key characters (Brit, Donald, Jessica...) enough that you do tend to invest more into the stories. The artwork is nice, both artists using a light touch to convey the unbelievable peril and, simultaneously, the massive wackiness that is Brit's government job . Tony Moore illustrates BRIT and BRIT: COLD DEATH. Cliff Rathburn draws BRIT: RED, WHITE, BLACK AND BLUE.
Go get some of this. Don't keep an old man waiting.
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