The Good: Stunning, detailed visuals; excellent, fast paced action involving G-Force.
The Bad: Weak, wordy dialogue, forced characterization.
The story: The citizens of Central West (a megametropolis, ultimate center of commerce and home to the Promethean Engine, which generates a significant portion of the globe's power) have been brainwashed into obeying Spectra. Loss of power and resources holds the rest of the Earth helpless. G-Force is sent to Central City to find Professor Lewis Arden, an expert in mind control viruses, and the Phoenix is shot down by the city's mechanical watchdog, "T.H.O.R." Mark and Keyop are swept off the Phoenix and have become prisoners inside Central City, while Jason, Princess and Tiny are left to escape T.H.O.R's attacks and consider their options. Meanwhile, token jerk General Tomak is revealed to be more than he seems, and after an impossible escape from a UN warship shot down by Thor, he seeks out Chief Anderson for a little talk, and confesses a deep little secret.
The story overall could do with less verbage--less talk and more action will play to the strengths of this book and reduce the need to suspend disbelief. I have trouble believing in the scope of Central West's importance. There are portions of the world that the world relies on for partial supply of any given object, but making one location the sole source of any vital resource stretches the limits of credibility. I'm also a little confused by the continuity. In earlier issues, it was inferred that Spectra was a new adversary that the world knew little about. Having Jason's parents killed by Spectrans when he was a child means that somebody had to know about them years before. I also can't believe that Anderson doesn't know about Riga. The introduction of the Rigans this issue have confused fans of the series. Although Colonel Cronus commands the Red Impulse Squadron in the comic (as he does in Gatchaman), he led the Rigan Red Rangers in the BotP TV series. Readers familiar with the series and not familiar with the comic will be confused.
The characters: The characters run true, but they are hindered by painfully wordy dialogue. Each word balloon is crammed with so much talk, it's hard to believe the characters have time to act. We finally discover what makes Jason tick, but this information is wadded into a big ball and shoved at the reader: Princess and Tiny go on a long exchange telling us what a scary character Jason is, and later Jason unnecessarily explains his "game face" to Princess. Jason's past could have been better handled through scenes ("show, don't tell" applies to comics as well as other forms of writing), spread in nice little tidbits throughout the past seven issues, and I get the impression the scenes in this issue are "damage control" to convince readers that Jason isn't such a bad guy after all--just misunderstood (directly addressed in the line, "Just because Spectra had my parents murdered in front of my eyes as a kid, [sic] doesn't make me a rabid psychopath"). And he had better be understood now, because he gets to be the hero this issue.
Jason also talks about breaking some ribs and then blathers something about the bone enhancement G-Forcers have, but I'm not sure what. More unnecessary wordiness that drags down the action.
In a scene where Zoltar menaces the captured Mark and Keyop, he orders his guards leave him alone and get "his utensils." With one word, the scene is ruined. I believe the term is, "implements," as in torture. "Utensils" implies he is about to enjoy a repast of lightly braised Eagle and Swallow along with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Har.
The art: The art is what makes this issue great, featuring intriguing little technical details adapted cleanly from the show's original weapon design sheets. I loved the shot of the weapons cabinet, which features the toys G-2 used in all three Gatchaman series, and I also liked the demonstration of one of the features of Jason's visor. The visuals also did a great job in demonstrating some the special abilities the G-Forcers have.
The cover Alex Ross features Princess in a strong yet pensive pose. Look, Ma! No panty shot!
The bottom line: A real mixed bag, but one of the best issues so far. Get it for the art and the action.
