U.S. WAR MACHINE #1

By: Arnold T. Blumberg
Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2001

Marvel tested the waters with the more mature bent of the Marvel Knights line, and now they're going all out with an imprint specifically designed to allow creators to craft stories that would never fit within the family-friendly confines of the Marvel Universe. The MAX line of comics dips into the Marvel Universe for inspiration and then takes a sharp left turn into plenty of cursing and good old fashioned violence.

The real star of this title is the war machine known as Chuck Austen. Perhaps all these years of delayed delivery dates and titles that tell tales as slow as molasses have worn down our expectations, but my God, what is this man made of? He's churning this stuff out on a weekly basis! Of course, the real question is: Will the series sustain itself on that schedule and provide the same quality we'd expect from a monthly? Let's find out, shall we?

Tony Stark has invented a devastating weapon of destruction, an ambulatory tank outfitted with countless armaments and none too subtly dubbed the War Machine. But after a shocking first time out, the stunning suit of armor has soured Stark on working in munitions, and he has decided to step away from that pursuit. In fact, he's already decided to replace the War Machine which he vows will never be used again with a new personal bodyguard by the name of Iron Man. Will the War Machine languish without direction, never to be employed again? And what about those lucrative government contracts? Ah, but there wouldn't be a series without the War Machine, so Stark's promise isn't likely to last out the premiere issue.


Chuck Austen provides fast-paced, manga-inspired entertainment with plenty of SKLANK and SPANG sound effects and a modicum of dialogue. This is high-octane mayhem for people who want their fix and gotta have it, with no time for nuance or meticulous character development. Perhaps there isn't enough, because I found it very difficult to figure out in what version of Marvel continuity this series is set. It seems to be something completely different, since Stark's introduction of Iron Man as a new invention clearly does not fit into the Marvel Universe proper and also doesn't jibe with the ULTIMATE line either, particular given that subgroup's all-ages friendly bent.

This new title is also a bit rough around the edges, with some stilted artwork and page layouts, but the frenetic tone of the series is all that matters. U.S. WAR MACHINE will put the big hurt on anyone who steps in his way, and readers will no doubt cheer him on with every head shot. There are certainly plenty of those in this debut issue. By the time you've washed away all the brain matter that goes flying around in this premiere, you'll probably be ready for a fresh dousing with issue #2.

This is comic book storytelling for fast food junkies with a short attention span and a craving for excess. Strangely though, despite the freedom that the MAX imprint affords, there isn't that much here that is over the top, head explosions notwithstanding. Considering how often other writers go for the obvious embellishments, where is all the profanity? Perhaps that's the sort of icing on the cake that awaits us as the series continues. U.S. WAR MACHINE is forgettable but passably entertaining comic book popcorn.

U.S. WAR MACHINE

Grade: C+

Issue: No. 1

Author(s): Chuck Austen

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $1.50