Madman Atomic Comics #12

Ever since Mike Allred relaunched his seminal comic series "Madman" as "Madman Atomic Comics," I've had a love/hate relationship with the series. I've been an Allred fan for years, having read previous "Madman" stories, "the Atomics," "Red Rocket 7," and his "X-Force"/"X-Statix" run with Peter Milligan. All of his work blew me away and made for some of the most fun and exciting comics on the shelves. With "Atomic Comics," however, Allred's work has started leaving me unsatisfied and the series newest issue, number 12, is no different.

The issue focuses on hero Frank Einstein (Madman) rushing to the laboratory of Dr. Flem and to his love Joe, who has just been separated from sharing a body with super heroine It Girl. On his way to the lab, Frank is repeatedly waylaid and more unexpected obstacles follow. Previous issues of the series have been heavily wrapped up in either formal exercises or philosophical discussions, so this issue does deliver more action than many of the others in "Atomic Comics." However, I still found the issue to be lacking. The trials facing Einstein felt arbitrary, even knowing their source, and overall I have been left wondering what the point of the Joe/It Girl storyline has been.

One thing that was not lacking, however, was Allred's art. The issue's letters page discusses Allred's experiments in art and all that work is really paying off. His figures have a richness to them that had not been seen in previous work. His well-defined backgrounds are a pleasant treat that really adds depth to the pages. While I may miss the incredibly pop art -style Allred was employing during his "X-Force"/"X-Statix" days, I can't deny the artistic growth in these pages.

It is the constant signs of improvement that keep me coming back to the series. As disappointed as I get over a plot development or my lack of enjoyment of an issue, there is always something exciting in the pages of "Madman," like Allred's artist strides, that keeping me buying the book. With the promise of standalone stories, Darwyn Cooke, and the return of the Atomics in rock band form, I am going to find it hard to stay away.

-Nick