Hello Enthusiasts,
Today I will be reviewing the first volume of Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters by DC. Now I say this is the first volume, but there really isn't any indication by the title that this is the NEW team of Freedom Fighters, rather than the originals. Of course, there may be some Mild Spoilers Below.
This volume takes place after the events of 52, so it is fairly recent (this volume was released in 2007). The original team of Freedom fighters were actually disbanded during the Infinite Crisis and the aftermath in Bludhaven. It was during the Infinite Crisis that many members of the team, including Uncle Sam, were killed in action by the group known as The Society. In this comic it is revealed that Uncle Sam was just in recovery for a while, as he is the collective will of the American people, and so cannot die as long as he is needed. Still, he will need to recruit a new team of Freedom fighters, and that is exactly what he does.
Just to start, I love the character of Uncle Sam. He fits his source material so well, in being a walking propaganda poster for patriotism. His lines and dialogue are some of the highlights of the book, his ideals and opinions being right up front, though without getting political. In fact, oddly enough, this book about fighting factions of the American government does steer clear of a lot of political talk. The only topic here is the topic of oppressing the freedom of American citizens. In regards to that topic, we certainly get a lot of Uncle Sam's opinion, and it comes in the form of several great speeches. I swear, everything the guy says sounds like it's taken from some famous presidential speech or something.
Outside of Uncle Sam's wonderful propaganda, the book does have some decent action and high stakes, though not as high as you might be used to from DC. The Freedom Fighters themselves are all able to hold their own, it never feels like there's one weak link in the team. Even Doll Man, a regular guy who is permanently shrunken, is able to hold his own in a fight. The villains and the plot tie in well with the main DC universe cannon, as the main villain is brought into the universe during the Battle for Bludhaven. I also thought the pacing for the book was perfect, it never felt like it was rushing or taking too long with any particular subject. The book also had a great climax, though I won't give any of the essential plot points away.
The big downside for me was the artwork, it all seemed too still, I didn't really feel the motion of the characters during a lot of the comic. I can kind of understand it to some degree, since they all looked a lot like paintings, similar to those depicting moments in early American history (see the artwork of the signing of the Declaration of Independence), but I didn't feel like it worked here. It all seemed a little muted in a story that could have benefited from something a bit livelier. Also, smaller note, I could have done without some of the strange plot twists that didn't seem necessary.
Overall, this book isn't depicting any defining moments in the DC universe, but it is a fun read. This is my first real introduction to Uncle Sam outside of the Infinite Crisis, and I was eased with what I found. I wouldn't say this is the most important graphic novel to pick up by a long shot, but it's certainly enjoyable.
I give this volume of Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters a 7.5 out of 10.
Sincerely,
The Bored Enthusiast
No comments:
Post a Comment