The Winter Men

[SpecialAgentPunk]

who's planning on getting this? It seems interesting, and russian plots are always fun.

[K'Nort]

I pre-ordered the first issue. Haven't read anything outside of the Previews blurb. Art looked nice too.

[The Adventurer]

It looks really interesting, I've preordered the series and hope it's really good.

Paul Leon is definitly one of my favorite artists.

[GeorgeG]

Wasn't this first solicited as a 12-issue maxi-series? Now it's only six issues.

[Scott Beeler]

Looks like really good stuff to me. I'll be buying it.

[Agent Cooper]

When did this become a WildStorm title, and has this affected the story in any way?

I'm pretty sure I remember this being solicited as a DC/Vertigo book (quite a while ago), and I got the impression that it was about the men who used to be members of the Rocket Red Brigade (along, possibly, with other Russian superheroes). Maybe I was mistaken about that, but I was surprised that it had become a WildStorm title.

It looks good, though. I plan on buying.

Anyone have any info?

[Scott Beeler]

Now that you mention it, I remember that too. It was one of the projects in the Vertigo preview sampler back... two years ago?

I don't really care what label it appears under, but I think Wildstorm might actually be more appropriate. When I think of superhero stories with ideosyncratic approaches, I think more Wildstorm than Vertigo -- things like "Astro City", "Ex Machina", "Sleeper", the ABC books.

[matt levin]

It's on my list, too. Premise seemed interesting, & it's got Leon on art: ok by me, certainly for a try-out!

[The Adventurer]

First issue's out today.

I enjoyed it, it's got a Queen and Country conspiricy thing going on, with the Superscience in the background as a kind of mcguffen. The dialog can get muddy, but the plot's not hard to follow, the art rocks hard too.

It's good setting and has a good feel, but I really want it to get into the Super Science angle, it layed a bunch of great ideas, but as of yet, hasn't done anything with them.

[Volk1]

Great first-issue...basically laying down the format of the story, the characters, the settings.....I was kinda bummed that the setting seems to be moving to New York now (as if NYC doesn't get enough action) instead of staying in Russia but if the writing and gritty art stays the same..I'll be up for the whole run...

[zilla31]

def a good frist issue. kris is a great character. i just heard about this last week and i'm def glad i did. like Volk1 i was kind of bummed when i found out it was going to switch to NY too... they did a great job laying the tracks for a Russian setting... can't wait for #2.

didn't you guys love the overall "feel" of the book? good work by the writer and artist in this dept.

[K'Nort]

Really impressed with the first issue. Great classic hard-boiled noir feel. The Gotham Central-type art adds to that. And it's not predictable right off the bat.

[Scott Beeler]

I concur with the other positive comments. Very good atmosphere and post-Communist Russia realization (writing and art both), nice character introductions, some intriguing plot hints. Looks to be a good miniseries.

[Mo S.]

This was definitely my favorite title in a sea of very good books out this week. I appreciate the extra pages (for no extra price!), and the attention to tone, plot and characterization. Leon's art is wonderful and Kalenov is a great character.

If you are on the fence about this, buy it NOW, because there are enough plots going that picking it up with issue #2 will not be easy.

[matt levin]

funny; took me two sittings to read through this: the coloring' so relentlessly flat lacking the dynamics of straight black and white or the warmth deeper, richer browns and grays might've brought; the introductory story seemed too unfocused for me, and I had no real reason to care about any of the characters.

Nonetheless, I'm certainly willing to follow the story for the next two or three issues before I drop it entirely. Glad you all found it to your taste!