What do you want from this comic?
Okay, first let me apologise for the length of this posting - it may be a bit lengthy, but hey! how often do I post anymore?!
Second, I have (so far) only read Issue # 1 of Omega Flight (Issue 2 will be arriving at my door in about one week's time) - however, I have read all the postings here, as well as have checked out the links to other blogs and reviews and message boards. I have immersed myself in Omega Flight as best as I am able. I do not profess to be an expert? I am merely asking the question; What do you want from this comic?
I found the first issue to be...just okay. I read it over carefully, then packaged it up and put it away. I have had no desire to read it through a 2nd time; at least, not yet. Seriously, I enjoyed Avengers:The Initiative # 1 way more than OF # 1. And I am not even an Avengers fan!
Some message boards, and some posters here, have bemoaned the pace of the series. Because of the slow pace, some people have called into question Mr. Oeming's abilities as a writer, while others have cursed Marvel (yet again) for cutting this back to a mini-series at the last moment.
I have noticed something that disturbs me. Whn I read the thoughts of other comic fans (people on other sites than AlphaFlight.net), it seems to me that those who wholeheartedly support OF are fans of Alpha Flight. The fans who latched onto OF beacuase of an established hero forced ont this team because of the events of Civil War (Arachne, USAgent) , or because they are big BRBill fans, these fans are the ones who are starting to drop this series, or are complaining the loudest about it. It seems almost like the ones who support it, are the ones who got shafted by the deaths of their heroes in order to make this series a reality. Ever heard the expression, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you?"
Does anybody else out there notice this trend as well? I find it to be...disturbing.
Okay, here is what we have, We have two American heroes on Canadian soil. One wears the American flag, was sent here by SHIELD, and has a big-time attitude problem. The other is a 2nd-rate hero who is running from persecution, and whose boyfriend (the Shroud) is still back in America. These two heroes seem to me to be "unlikely" to make their move to Canada as Canada's super-powered protectors permanent. Next we have an alien, whose alter-ego could be Canadian, although he was previously shown to be an American soldier. This alien's back-story was completely cut out of the mini-series, thus making his reasons for being here in Canada, still virtually unknown. Already message boards are lighting up with people asking that he be returned to space in his own monthly title (if you ask me, that means people think that -1- he is not believable as a Canadian super-hero, and -2- he is too good for Omega Flight, he deserves his own series, thereby suggesting that he could make it on his own...but OF cannot). Again, a small likelyhood that he will stay in Canada for long. After that, we have the man in the "Guardian suit." The man who murdered Alpha Flight. Nobody wants him on the team. He doesn't want to be a hero, either. He is scared, weepy, and whiny. He wears the Maple Leaf, but the costume was designed by Reed Richards and SHIELD (so where is the real Guardian suit, then?). And he is an American from Alaska. Next up is a powerful young Canadian sorceress. She still has somewhat limited experience with her powers. She has been known to fly off the handle, and make rash decisions (sorry Dana, but it is true - see volume 1 of AF). She has been described (by one person on a message board) as being, in this series, a whiny brat. And, as is seen in Issue 1, she doesn't want to be a superhero right now, she wants to be the shaman to her people. Finally, we have the furry strongman. An accomplished and veteran hero, he has been mentally and emotionally scarred from the deaths of his teammates. He doesn't want to be a hero right now, and definitely not a leader (by the way, as evidenced in Volume 3 of AF, if anybody knows how to find Canadian superheroes to fill out a roster with Canadians, it is Walter Langkowski!). His heart isn't in it, and it shows; he is getting his butt thumped in battle.
Again I ask; What do you want from this comic?
Not meaning to be overly negative, but what hope is there for this to make it as an ongoing series? Who will lead this team? Will Sasquatch even be on it? Remember, before the mini-series started, Oeming said that Sas would "maybe" be a member of the team. Just because he is in the comics, doesn't make him a member of Omega Flight. How long will Beta Ray Bill stay in Canada, and why? When things die down, won't Arachne return to the USA to be with her boyfriend? Will the rude and brash USAgent be happy staying in Canada long-term? Will Canada get sick of him and his flag-suit and show him the door? Surely having him in Canada has to be a political nightmare!
There are a lot of variables to consider. Personally, I do not think that this comic will survive long-term without the return of some original Canadian heroes (some more, I mean - Talisman and a soon-to-be depowered Walter are not enough to make this team Canadian). You cannot have Americans protecting Canada. You can't have SHIELD running Canada's border security. It...just...doesn't...work. Not long-term, it don't.
For long-term survival, you need to be bring back at least two of the Alphans that are presumed dead. Pointer cannot remain; let SHIELD take him, and go home. USAgent can stay for a while, but eventually the media outcry in Canada will force him to leave (or be escorted out). Arachne can stay if she wants to, but only if she becomes a citizen. And if she stays, then does the Shroud come to Canada too, or do they break off their relationship? Also, there has to be a clear-cut leader on this group. Somebody stand up and lead already! I believe Sasquatch will be de-powered. Perhaps Walter can stay on as the team's scientific mind (think Dr Pym from West Coast Avengers), making them handy little gadgets and stuff. And honestly - there has got to be some more Canadian heroes out there somewhere. Find them! Bring them aboard!
As it is, I can't see this team surviving and thriving. The whole team dynamic just doesn't work for me. It is way too forced feeling. And a whole lot of other people out there feel the same way.
In the end, if this comic's support comes mainly from fans of Alpha Flight, then why not give us what we really want?
So...what do you want from this comic?
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Originally Posted by Legerd
BTW...I totally agree with on the AF fan, "giving us what we want" angle...However, Marvel hasn't delivered in the last two volumes, but there's always hope for the future.
