Comic Review. 'Nemesis'

Nemesis 2009

Written: Mark Millar.

Art Work: Steve McNiven.

Published:  Icon Comics imprint of Marvel Comics.

The Page I have chosen that I believe is a good synopsis of the story:

In the scene I have chosen it gives a synopsis for most of the story and the reasons as to why Nemesis does what he does. We find out in this scene of Nemesis supposed past. His parents ran a hunting club for 15years where they hunt down runaway children like animals with their rich friends. Blake Morrow was the one to figure this out and arrest everyone. His father hung himself before Morrow got to his room. The scandal tore young Anderson's family apart and he was adopted by his saintly Uncle. Bored by the constant choir practices and manners. Matthew ran away and traveled around learning from criminals. At 12 he was a gang lord, 15 he was Asia's greatest drug exporter and at 23 he headed a Zoroastrian death cult and he finally able to fulfill his mother's wishes who said to him while seated in the electric chair to destroy the clever policeman, the one who stopped the champagne. This is where Nemesis was born.

Characters

Nemesis: Called a Super Villain. He targets a particular policeman in a particular city and makes it his mission to kill that policeman by a certain time and date along with causing as much of death tole and destruction as possible. He has done this in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and North Korea and now he's focused on America. According to a policeman's description he likes to target those who he considers to be vain. Which is odd as he is extremely vain himself. But he targets Morrow for a personal reason and out of revenge for a "stolen childhood". The black sheep of the Anderson family he calls himself, Matthew Anderson. 

He targets the Pentagon and kills everyone inside except for Morrow and his partner. He has kidnapped the President, allows himself to arrested and releases the prison inmates. He kidnaps hus children and holds the for ransom in exchange for humiliating Morrow with his dark family secrets and he artificially inseminates Morrow's daughter with his homosexual son. We later discover all this was just a ruse. Nemesis just played the part of a vengeful son and he isn't Matthew Anderson. In fact he is just "rich and bored" and enjoys harming people. He is extremely well calculated and prepared which is what makes him such a dangerous villian/ foe. Preparation is the key to success in this case to the point where he can terrorise several countries.

He's dressed entirely in white. He's wearing a tight body suite, cape and a mask that covers his whole head except for his nostrals to his chin. He basically looks like a white Batman. You can tell he is extremely wealthy by looking at the expensive technology and gadgets he has around his home. His suite's mask is booby trapped with tiny explosives around his head if anyone decides to remove it. His suite is removed and put on by robotic arms which remind me on Ironman.

Chief Blake Marrow: Nemesis' new target who he has always admired as a "worthy opponent". Marrow received a death threat from Nemesis on a neat business card like piece of card reading "Blake Morrow, March 12th at Midnight, Flatline still counts." Marrow is considered to be one of the greatest policemen and has lowered Washingtons crime rate by 60%.  Apparently he is Nemesis' ideal target who he would love to humiliate as he is a family man and a Catholic. However we later discover he has what he considers to be dark  family secrets that he was forced to admit to. His wife had an affair, his son is a homosexual and his daughter had an abortion. Being a strong Catholic and a famous man of the law his family didn't tell him with the fear of being rejected by him. He put his work before his family which was the main reason his wife had an affair. So his family wasn't as perfect as it seemed. Blake is determined to get his revenge on Nemesis for hurting his family. He seems to learn to appreciate his family much more when Nemesis forces him to face those dark secrets and by placing them in danger. Nemesis at one point almost seems to act as a family counselor to Blake. After defeating Nemesis Blake refuses his promotion and takes a much needed family vacation with his wife, son, daughter and her triplet daughters, which suggests he is finally putting his family first and seems much happier. Blake is always dressed in a suite and looks professional for his career. He has a very calm personality when faced with criminals and just blasts their heads off. He loses that calm exterior when the tables are turned and he can no longer control the situation though. He is also very calculated and a good leader when it comes to planning out strategies.

Settings

In the scene I have chosen it has four panels set in different locations. Firstly it is set at the Anderson home at the front door as the residents are led away down the stairs by the police. Young Matthew and his Uncle helplessly watching.The sky is dark which suggests its night time.

It is then set some where in Asia when Matthew is about 12years old or older, wandering the dark derelict back streets of a city. The sky is dark suggesting its at night again.

It is then set in prison where we see his mother sitting in the electric chair about to be executed for her crimes while she says her final and not very heart warming words to her son. The clock behind her says that it is half 10.

The scene then returns to Nemesis back at home, only his grinning mouth visible stating this is where the idea of Nemesis originated.

Mise en Scene

In the third panel there are particularly strong imagery. There are obvious hints all through this small rectangle telling the viewer what is about to happen. The danger high voltage sign in the back on the left. Big metal chair where the mother sits. Metal helmet on her head with lots of wires attached. The large switch in the back on the right where the chair will be switched on and the clock beside it counting down the time minutes she has left. Overall this panel has quite dark and sinister imagery.

Camera Work/ Perspective

• View of people being led away by police. Going from left to right. Police cars visible in lower right corner. Sad Matthew and his Uncle visible on the left, close to the camera.
• One Point Perspective looking down the dark street. Matthew in the centre. Most dominant feature in the image.
• Point of View shot looking at the mother in the chair from the front. She is right in the centre suggesting importance.
• Zoom in on Nemesis' evil grin. Emphasising the evil sinister tone.