Agents Of Atlas #6

If  haven’t been keeping up with Agents of Atlas lately, let me give you the scoop: Jimmy Woo, a former FBI agent, apparent descendent of Genghis Khan, and now ruler of the shadow “criminal” empire, The Atlas Foundation, are doing their part in thwarting Osborn’s plans while gradually turning the Atlas Foundation into a…good empire? Whatever Jim and his retro-riffic team have planned for Atlas, it’ll be for the greater good. How they’re getting there has been rather, as Jimmy would say, keen.

While the team had a slow establishment, and then a few issues that involved some convoluted plot structure but beautiful art, the series has been, for the most part, quite enjoyable. Now that things are in full gear and the revolving doors of guest appearances – this issue being Namor’s – has started twirling and whirling, Agents is going at full force, full awesome.

Now, I say this while being well aware that Agents of Atlas, and even Namor can be an acquired taste for some. The Agents are a blast from the past, and Namor has been a royal dick for over 70 years. But I mean, come on; this is a team with a Gorilla Man – not a man dressed as a gorilla, or turns into a gorilla, but is a wisecracking, gun-toting gorilla, man! – and a robot that has as much firepower and only a sliver more personality than Gort from The Day The Earth Stood Still. Not to mention a sultry sea demon and a sassy Human/Atlantean Sea Queen. Not to mention that this is the only book, other than Incredible Hercules, occasionally, in which I actually enjoy reading the recap pages; sometimes they make me laugh more than the issue itself!

The art in the beginning of this run was adequate for the time, since the series needed something bright and flashy for a premiere arc, but I’m glad to see Gabe H. has taken the book to a more pulp-like look, with heavy but clean pencils that pay homage to the books of old, while still maintaining detail for some pretty, sparkling underwater architecture.

This is an awesome issue, and possibly the best one of the series yet. It drops you into the thick of Atlas events – it was nice to see Derek Khanata again - while giving you an issue and story that stands well on its own. Agents of Atlas is everything right with adventure/team comics, and everyone should see why.