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They don’t like you and if you like them, there’s something wrong.  Heroic altruism is a myth that doesn’t exist in the world of Nextwave.  If I was going to give you directions on how to get to Nextwave, I’d say go straight until you hit the Marvel Universe and then take a hard right and never, never look back.  The road behind you will just make you long for the safety of Spider-Man and the Avengers.  Where you’re going, there are no super-heroes.  There are just people with powers that make things explode.  Explode real good.

It’s almost pointless to try and discuss the plot of this book.  What passes for a plot is just an excuse to have a good time, beat people up and make fun of them when they’re down.  Warren Ellis has assembled a group of C-Listers.  Actually calling them “C-Listers” raises their credibility up quite a bit.  Triple-Z listers is probably closer to what they are.  The only two who have a modicum of a reputation are Monica Rambeau, once called Captain Marvel, once called Photon, now called usually just Monica.  Former Avenger’s chairperson, she’s now “leading” Nextwave.  Most everyone would call it “leading,” but the members of Nextwave call it just “bossing around” when she shouts out orders like she’s still commanding Hercules or Doctor Druid. Joining her is Aaron Stack, formerly Machine Man, formerly X-51.  He’s a robot and makes it clear that everyone else around him are just “fleshy ones.” He’s fun.  Kind of like a big electronic toy that just wants beer.  Add in a 2nd generation monster hunter, an X-Force reject and a Captain that they can’t actually print what he’s “captain” of. Then there’s Dirk Anger, director of H.A.T.E.  Imagine Nick Fury but with issues.  Deep, emotional issues that mostly involve his mommy. 

Nextwave fights everything from Fin Fang Foom (who wants to put everyone in his pants [a dragon that wears pants?]) to the Beyond Corporation.  For the Beyond, imagine a less competent Hydra or AIM.  And then imagine an even less competent secret organization and you may be getting an idea of what Beyond is like.  But the Beyond Corporation is just Ellis and artists Stuart Immonen’s macguffin here.  They’re a secret criminal organization that exists merely to give Nextwave something to kick and explode.

Stuart Immonen must change his art style for every single job.  I’ve always thought of him as a soft artist with soft lines and soft curves.  In Nextwave, he’s channelling Sal Buscema and every Marvel artist in the late sixties and seventies.  Angular and sharp, I can’t think of anything Immonen’s drawn that looks like this.  For a book that appears so anti-Marvel in sentiment, this is the most classic Marvel looking book, complete with giant robots, old monsters, Celestials, giant flying headquarters and heroic poses.  The characters in Nextwave can’t help but strike a pose during battle.  They look heroic even as they’re beating eachother up. 

This collected volume contains a copy of Ellis’s pitch for the book.  In one line, Ellis perfectly sums up everything this book is about:  “It is most especially about THINGS BLOWING UP and PEOPLE GETTING KICKED.” How can you not love a book that is so perfectly summed up?  Things do get blown up and people do get kicked.  If you want the Avengers, go read New Avengers.  If you want your heroes, they’re over playing in Civil War.  If you want explosions and kicks, settle in for Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E: This is What They Want.  This is probably what you want.  You just don’t know it yet.

And I didn’t even mention the theme song.  How many comics have their own theme song?

Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E.: This is What They Want HC
collects Nextwave #1-6
Written by: Warren Ellis
Penciled by: Stuart Immonen
Inked by: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colored by Dave McCaig
Lettered by: Joe Caramagna

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