Writer: Ken Siu-Chong Artists: Alvin Lee, Omar Dogan, Rob Ross & Shane Law
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Plot: The book opens with the Taskmaster using his abilities to catch a con-artist who was bilking a casino out of a small fortune, and it is during this sequence that we learn that the Taskmaster has gone freelance & is offering up his talents to anyone who's willing to pay. We then see that his next client is the ruthless business rival of Tony Stark, Sunset Bain, who wants the Taskmaster to break into Stark's laboratories & destroy a project that is being worked on there. However, when the price the Taskmaster places on the job includes an explanation for why this project needs to be killed, we see Sunset Bain decides that while she'll use the Taskmaster for the job, she'll ensure that once the task is completed, that Taskmaster won't survive to make use of this knowledge. We then follow the Taskmaster as he successfully carries outs the job, but before he can slip away he's confronted by Iron-Man. While Taskmaster is able to get away from the Golden Avenger, when he goes to receive payment for his services, he walks right into a trap.
Comments: The Taskmaster is a character who always seem to me like a villain who just hadn't got himself the right press agent. I mean after making a very impressive debut in the pages of the Avengers, Taskmaster has made a career out of having his plans foiled in some of the lamest manners possible. I mean this is a guy who could arguably hold his own against fighters like Captain America & Daredevil, and yet when push comes to shove his appearances are far too often marred by a climax that cast the hero in a good light, while leaving Taskmaster looking like a royal chump whose only concession is that he didn't get caught in the end. This opening issue makes it clear right from the start that Taskmaster is going to finally get the attention his abilities should merit. While I don't buy the idea that he could mimic another person vocal patterns, the rest of the issue uses his talents in several innovative manners. Plus, the battle he has with Iron Man does a fair job showing Taskmaster outthinking a more powerful opponent.
The Taskmaster is a villain who I've been a fan of for quite some time. I mean his ability to instantly mimic the physical abilities of anyone he watches is a pretty cool gimmick, and it's nice to see this miniseries is finally going to give Taskmaster the platform the character needs to show how effective this gimmick can be. What's more, this issue also frees the character from the anchors that have weighed against him in the past, as the idea of his being a supplier of the goons that serve as cannon fodder for other villains was a clever idea that had long since lost its luster. By making him a solo operator, and providing a logical reason for why he would want to be one, this miniseries has reinvigorated the character, without losing his main selling point. Now I will concede that this issue doesn't present Taskmaster with problems that look overly difficult, but his tussle with Iron Man is fairly clever in how it has the Taskmaster pull off his escape, and the cliffhanger that it ends with looks rather promising.
I get the sense that one of the big selling points of this miniseries is suppose to be the art that Udon Studios provides, but truth be told I can't say I'm ready to sign the art's praises. I mean, yes it does have it's impressive moments such as the one-page spread where Iron Man confront the Taskmaster, and the visual trick that they use to show the reader which character Taskmaster's drawing upon is a very clever touch. I also like the more functional appearance of the Taskmaster's new costume. However, the colors which I suspect are Udon Studios pride & joy strike me as looking a bit diffused & at times I'd even label them bland. I mean it's almost as if they have something against using brighter colors that would highlight the simple, yet clean line work. Maybe it's my childhood raised on the brightly colored Disney films, but frankly when I see art that leans more toward the animated style, I expect the colors to be sharper. It's also doesn't help matters that the art does have a questionable grasp on the human form.
Final Word: It's great to see the Taskmaster finally get his moment in the spotlight, and based on this first issue I can easily see this miniseries raising the character's profile among comic fans, as he real does come across looking quite impressive. This issue shows the writer has put some thought into the material as well, as Taskmaster success does come about due to some fairly innovative uses of the character's abilities, with his minor victory over Iron Man being a fairly convincing display of a lesser powered character managing to outthink a decidedly more powerful opponent. My only concern about this opening issue does stem from the fact that I think in a push to present the Taskmaster as a highly effective character, Ken Siu-Chong has forgotten to include dangers that push Taskmaster to the limit. Basically, the action sequences could use a greater degree of uncertainty.
