StormWatch: Post Human Division #3

[MadBastard]

Don’t let it be said that they ever do anything small in Vegas. This is a lesson that the StormWatch: Post Human Division learns very quickly in the third issue of this serial.

While the Prime division of StormWatch flies around the world, the Post Human Division acts as more of a domestic police force, handling the ground level threats within the United States. Headed up by Officer Doran, the PHD is composed of a motley group that includes killers and criminals as well as heroes. Up to now they have performed their job well enough that the higher-ups have sent them off to Las Vegas to train a local branch of the PHD. Similar to the way the FBI has local offices in every state, the PHD is expanding to increase its capabilities. That description sounds boring and bureaucratic, but the team behind Post Human Division makes it great fun.

For one thing, the mayor of Las Vegas has something that he wants the visiting professionals to take a look at. Unfortunately, it isn’t the girls at the Palomino Club. It does, though, provide for an introduction to a character that this reviewer was not familiar with, namely Dr. Mordecai Shaw, a.k.a. The Monstrosity. Dr. Shaw has a relatively small part in this issue and at the same time illustrates what is best about it; that Post Human Division team has created a cast of characters that are interesting, fully rounded and full of surprises. Part alien, Dr. Shaw spends his quiet moments wrestling with cannibalistic demons. These moments, combined with quiet exterior that Dr. Shaw projects to strangers and friends alike, shows more about the character than any bio ever could.

This masterful story-telling isn’t just focused on one character. The small glimpses that the reader is given into each character are equally revealing. In addition to setting up a progressive narrative, each issue of Post Human Division has given the reader an in-depth look at one or more of its characters. In this issue, the history of Paris is examined and it is as intriguing as it is repulsive.

The art in StormWatch suits the nature of the comic well. Detailed, gritty and revealing, it makes it a surprise when the super-powered bad guys show up, but when they do they seem to fit right in.

Bottom Line: The third issue takes something that could have been routine and turns it into some fun and excitement. Just like Las Vegas. StormWatch: Post Human Division holds as much promise as any current WildStorm title.

http://madbastard.hypersites.com.

[Zel]

It was a good issue. The bit about sex and magic was pretty funny. Although I'm sure if Betty looked hard enough on the net she could find a husband that didn't mind midnight, goat-themed orgies ;)

My main nitpick is Paris' refusal to own up to the fact that he has a power. Even with all the fighting he's done since he's been a child, no amount of 'instinct' will tell you just where the heart is in a human-alien hybrid monster. I wonder if he's in denial or just doesn't want to admit it because he doesn't want to be lumped in with the other post-humans. Looks like he doesn't really have a high opnion of post-humans or at least resents their attitude towrds regualr humans.

[MadBastard]

Well, Paris comes from an extremely rough background, so I suspect education wasn't big on the list of things he got as a kid. Most likely his attitude stems from some leftover prejudice that had been ground into him by his father when he was a child.

[christosgage]

With all due respect, I am not too sure Paris has a power in the sense that he is a post-human. If you ever read abut micro-expressions and how people trained to recognize them (and only some people are even able to be trained this way) can tell what even the most highly trained liars are really thinking, it's pretty amazing. They could pass for telepaths. Call it a power if you will, but I don't know that it makes the person who does it a super-human.

Then again, maybe Paris is a post-human. Who knows? ;)

[MadBastard]

That's an excellent point. Humans, the normal every day variety, are capable at processing information at incredible speeds, particular when under stress. What makes me think that Paris might be post-human, though, is that he never once got beat. I mean, if a baseball player had a 1000 batting average, it would make me a bit suspicious.

[Khellendros]

That's an excellent point. Humans, the normal every day variety, are capable at processing information at incredible speeds, particular when under stress. What makes me think that Paris might be post-human, though, is that he never once got beat. I mean, if a baseball player had a 1000 batting average, it would make me a bit suspicious.

Paris is obviously on steroids.

[Killer Bee]

It was an awesome issue.

The series was so awesome, I bought 4 extra copies and told my LCS to put it in people's pull list and if they didn't like it or care for it, just put it in someone else's box.

I'm trying to spread the word man. :D

[Zel]

With all due respect, I am not too sure Paris has a power in the sense that he is a post-human. If you ever read abut micro-expressions and how people trained to recognize them (and only some people are even able to be trained this way) can tell what even the most highly trained liars are really thinking, it's pretty amazing. They could pass for telepaths. Call it a power if you will, but I don't know that it makes the person who does it a super-human.

Then again, maybe Paris is a post-human. Who knows? ;)

Humans are social animals, we evolved the ability to read the emotional states of other humans because it was essential to our survival.

I don't care how good at recognizing micro-expressions in other humans someone is, once you cross over to other species all the subtle cues you look for go out the window. Put your guy that's super-duper at reading body language into a room with a horseshoe crab and tell me how it goes.

And the link between reading body language and figuring out where the heart ended up in the scrambled egg biology of a human-alien monster... could only be a post human power. At least to me.

[Chris Thomas]

1. I always hate the statement 'if you aren't reading this then you are missing out'-but it is so true here

2. the art continues to shine--and the inking is amazing.

3. the characterizations are some of the best ever.

4. the plot snakes along a strange and fascinating course.

5. I have to believe that the "Paris Origin Story" was some nod to Sleeper. whatever it was--it worked. and I was truly suprised by the reaction to his story. but it made sense.


maybe this says something about me--but although DC and Marvel are making some decent stuff in their main lines right now--but between The Boys, Invincible and Stormwatch PHD, I feel comics have a future. finally--someone is moving them into the 21st century.

[christosgage]

Thanks folks...and Killer Bee, thanks for spreading the word!

Best,

CNG

[Khellendros]

Just read this issue, it was pretty good. The Paris/Fahrenheit relationship got rolling and derailed pretty damn fast. And, Paris not having a power strikes me as bizarre. I read the microexpression thing, and his origin, and I'm not sure how a technique meant to let you guess with considerable accuracy at someone's emotions/mental state translates to being able to pick out a freaky monster's heart by glancing in its mouth. Still, look at what Taskmaster from Marvel can do, and they keep insisting he's still human.

The sex/magic thing was just... weird. But, since there aren't a ton of magic users running around in Wildstorm, I guess it doesn't contradict anything.

On the positive side, Paris is awesome, powers or no. The scene with Gorgeous walking into the room and just wrecking everyone with a couple sentences was great. All the little flashes of what Dr. Shaw was really wanting to do to people was cool. And, the art is alright. Definitely not bad enough to make reading the book a chore. Book's definitely keeping my interest.

[Killer Bee]

I went back to my local comic shop today and they said 2 of the people who took the freebie Stormwatch kept it and added it to their pull list! Sweet! I even convinced the owner to read it and he's hooked. He loved it so much, it was his book recommendation of the week.

[Fatguy]

I just read the new issue this morning, and I absolutely loved it. The Farenheit/Paris stuff was good, but she came off as a total ass imho with her reaction to his story. I agree, in a real life situation, that would be a lot to swallow, but she as a "superhero" has surely heard worse.

I did like the glimpse into Paris' past, it actually made him a much more sympathetic character in my eyes.

Excellent issue.

[aukevin]

I got around to reading this issue today, what a great issue! I've enjoyed each issue so far. When I decided to get this title during the relaunch I figured I'd give it a couple issues to see how it is, but really didn't think I'd like it since I wasn't a huge fan of the old Stormwatch stuff. Man was I wrong. It has been great and I hope it continues this way.

[cactusmaac]

Great stuff.

I'm not really convinced by Doran being in charge though. Giving a low-ranking cop a job like this when he hasn't done much besides exercising quick thinking during a fight isn't very convincing.