With the Inhumans coming to the small screen soon, it only felt right to launch this new feature with a run that gives a good look into their world and the main players. Inhumans is a 12 issue series under the Marvel Knights imprint from 1998. The series is written by Paul Jenkins and pencilled by Jae Lee. Recently, there have been new Inhumans comics, but this one is essential reading. Plus, I wouldn’t really be diving too far into the archives if I picked something more recent, would I? That said, let’s dive in.
In this series, the Inhumans are under threat from a group of humans. Politics play a role, but it’s not as in-your-face as one would expect. They exist, but it feels like it’s not quite of the utmost importance. The Inhumans have always been on their own and it’s not a surprise to them if they stay that way. You get a great look at what Black Bolt, Medusa, and Maximus are all capable of. Jenkins crafts an excellent story from start to finish. Despite never speaking, Black Bolt comes across as a brilliant character. His brother, Maximus, thinks he’s the brilliant one, though. So not only do you get the outer turmoil, but you get the inner family turmoil, too.
I don’t want to give too much away for those who have not read it, so we won’t dive into the exact twists and turns the comic takes. What I will let you know, though, is that those twists and turns are entertaining. The first trailer for the upcoming show lacks a lot of what fans are wanting to see. This comic truly handles the Inhumans with the care and respect they deserve. Jae Lee compliments Jenkins’ writing with some great art. In certain moments, like when Medusa controls her hair, he captures the complete essence of the characters. It’s a great look for the book and at the same time, he does well with the scenes of destruction, too.
Have I mentioned that Lockjaw is in it? Who doesn’t want to see a giant dog with powers? Sure, Lockjaw is in the show, too, but I’m betting we won’t get a narration of his thoughts like we do here. There’s some comedy sprinkled with this story and it makes it one worth reading. Be sure to check it out on Marvel Unlimited or grab a copy of the entire run on Amazon.
