Nextwave- the pimp slap of slapstick

slapstick /ˈslapˌstik/ noun. comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events.

Warren Ellis has always been one of my favorite writers. I’ve loved his work on The Authority,

Ruins, and Transmetropolitan. I believe that Ellis and I think in a similar way not because of our

creative process, but because of how many things he writes that I enjoy. I feel like when he

writes we’re on the same frequency, and I’m on board for whatever he does. Or I could just be

a fanboy.

Nextwave is not only my favorite comic written by Warren Ellis, Nextwave is not just one of my

favorite Marvel comics, Nextwave is one of my favorite comics of all time.

Warren Ellis created a beautiful and twisted monster when he wrote Nextwave with Stuart

Immonen. This book was made at a very specific time for a very specific reason. Nextwave

debuted right before Civil War, and even though it does not tie-in at all, Nextwave occurs

during one of the largest and most dour events of that entire era, and spits confetti in its face.

Nextwave stars Elsa Bloodstone, Monica Rambeau, Machine Man, Boom Boom, and The

Captain as they hurtle face first into the most bizarre and absolutely insane chunks of the

marvel universe at the speed of sound. For fans of Warren Ellis who have not yet read

Nextwave, be prepared for a sucker punch to the face. This book is not only unlike anything Ellis

has done before, its unlike anything Marvel has done before. Nextwave is special like how a

three-legged Clydesdale horse is special: you’re amazed that it exists at all, and then shocked at

what it is able to do and your family. Thankfully unlike a three-legged Clydesdale, Nextwave will

not trample you asymmetrically.

I would feel truly guilty if I spoiled the plot of Nextwave. There is no conceivable way to discern

what will happen or how it will end. Nextwave is a blindfold to oracles. What I will tell you is

that the Marvel universe is out on full display during this book. Not only is the first issue

mangled with a particularly frustrated Fin Fang Foom, but every single issue is filled with

complete and utter chaos from every corner of that realm. You will be forced to witness the

Mindless Ones, Forbush Man, Devil Dinosaur, Robot Koalas, Police mechas, MODOK Elvis, The

Celestials saying bad words, and the terrifying ordeal of being known. Warren Ellis has crafted a

mirror maze of mind crackling spectacle with some of the greatest comic art of the millennium.

I absolutely refuse to say the plot of Nextwave because it is a disservice to what Stuart

Immonen and Warren Ellis have created.

Stuart Immonen crafts some of the most unique layouts and character designs of any comic in

recent memory. It is a complete miracle that the words and pictures mesh in such a way as to

completely melt the human brain into goo. Opening to any random page of a Nextwave issue is

a treat because of the brilliance Immonen has for design and style choice. Each page of this

book moves like a bullet train with how the action is framed in each panel, and the layouts for

these set pieces (especially in the splash pages) is something that every aspiring comic artist

should have burned in their memory.

I cannot say a single word of the plot, but I have thought of some helpful hints to help you

figure out not what Nextwave is about, but what it is:

• Nextwave is an episode of Looney Tunes Written by HG Wells and Mel brooks
• Nextwave can teach you Portuguese
• Nextwave failed its driving test 4 times
• Nextwave hates itself
• Nextwave is a Christmas ham filled with dynamite
• Nextwave is love
• Nextwave has bones?
• Nextwave is genetically identical to the goo a caterpillar turns into before it’s a butterfly
• Nextwave has a theme song (its actually on YouTube)

Nextwave is one of the most interesting and entertaining books I have ever read in my life.

It is laugh out loud hilarious and completely off the wall bizarre. I highly recommend

Nextwave for any kind of comic reader, but especially anyone looking for something

different.

I give Nextwave 10 out of 10 Flintstone vitamins, and I think I always will.