Not For Kids: THE MARSHAL LAW OMNIBUS

Steve — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:15:13 +0000

With all the hoopla over WATCHMEN these days, it's sometimes hard to remember that it wasn't the sole piece of groundbreaking comic book work done in the 1980s. Point of fact, Kevin O'Neill, who would later work with Alan Moore on the LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, co-created (with Pat Mills) Marshal Law, and in a sense, continued what Moore and Dave Gibbons had started with their deconstruction of the superhero genre. It's arguable that Mills and O'Neill were two of a very small group that actually contributed to the whole "adult superhero" phase the industry went through, not for a quick buck or to bandwagon jump, but because they actually had something interesting to say and the skills to back it up.

MARSHAL LAW was originally published by Marvel's Epic Comics imprint in 1987 before hopping about from publisher to publisher, finally landing at Top Shelf Comix this year, where the entire series will be reprinted in a deluxe Omnibus edition. The title tended more towards satire than WATCHMEN did, with over the top violence, hyper-sexual content and themes and razor-sharp political commentary, but while it could at times be titillating (especially to a then-teenage comic book fan), it was never really gratuitous. Even the "lesser" spin-off titles such as the somewhat odd crossover with Hellraiser's Pinhead was a solidly written and illustrated story that felt like it mattered and wasn't simply a greedy cash grab.

Admittedly, the title may not be for everyone. It was, after all, illustrated by the only artist to ever be refused the Comics Code Authority's seal of approval based solely on how disturbing his art was. But for those of us who remember the series fondly, or were fans of titles that came later and ended up somehow taking all the glory for "doing things first" that MARSHAL LAW had basically already done (we're looking at you, Authority/Ultimates) could do far worse than to set aside a few dollars for the upcoming collection.

THE MARSHAL LAW OMNIBUS is scheduled for release November, 2009.

Breaking News - Paul Levitz Replacement Named! It's being
Spider-Man Never Had It This Good Again This TV ad
E-Reader for Kids While I'm

Nerd Dads! » marshal law

Not For Kids: THE MARSHAL LAW OMNIBUS