Writer: Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Artist: Les McClaine
Publisher: Viper Comics
In two previous miniseries, Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine introduced the wacky super-spy world of the titular character (we don’t know his real name) and his sidekick, Wendy. These were collected into two trade paperbacks: Middleman: The Trade Paperback Imperative and Middleman: The Second Volume Inevitability.
For this third volume, they decided to bypass the serialization in a monthly miniseries and just publish the story in one “collected” version. It’s a good fit; the series is fast-paced and fun, and reading it all at once is a really enjoyable experience.
This volume is another excellent installment of the story, with our heroes going up against Kanimang Kang, an arch nemesis from the Middleman’s past, and the leader of the Federated Agents of Tyranny, Betrayal, and Oppression’s Yoke, or F.A.T.B.O.Y.
In the process of their adventures, they encounter deaf/mute/illiterate sixgun-toting ninjas, giant robots, a giant mutated shark, and a James Bond-style villain who owns a casino and engages in idle-rich forms of entertainment (namely, elephant polo). There’s tons of big, wild action, and lots of great one-liners.
Grillo-Marxuach’s writing is sharp (he also writes for the TV show Lost), making fun of the silliness of super-spy stories while reveling in the settings and ideas they provide. He also manages to work in some good character development, including a twist that will drastically shake up the status quo in future volumes.
Wendy continues to be an interesting reader surrogate, questioning and joking about the ridiculousness of their exploits while secretly trying to have a life outside of her “work”. The Middleman is the opposite, stoically going about his duties like they are everyday occurrences (which they are, for him). He’s kind of anachronistic and old-fashioned, so Wendy, being a modern, capable gal, makes a good foil for him.
No discussion of the book would be complete without mentioning Les McClaine’s stellar artwork. He has a clean, cartoony line, but he fills the pages with wonderful details, and he perfectly conveys the characters’ reactions to their situation. He makes the silly villains and fights believable, and the action is fun and easy to follow. As good as the writing is, the art is what makes the story really come to life.
The same can be said for the characters; the Middleman’s gruff, determined nature and Wendy’s cute brassiness come as much from McClaine’s depictions of them as from the writing. Wendy is an especially enjoyable presence; she comes off as cute and smart without being oversexualized even though she wears a midriff-baring uniform (and, in one scene, a Bond girl bikini).
Really, I can’t recommend the series enough. It’s full of fun action and hilarious humor, with lots of great pop-culture references (each chapter is named after a blaxploitation movie, like “Sweet Wendy’s Badasss Song”). It’s one of the most enjoyable and fun series being published right now. At only $9.95, it’s well worth the price. Check it out, and search out the previous volumes if you haven’t read them already.
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