Uncanny Inhumans #8

By Charles Soule, Kev Walker, Scott Hanna and David Curiel

There were many questions that formed after the events of Secret Wars. An 8-month gap in the Marvel Universe left many fans wondering how certain events fell into place. One of the biggest questions around the Inhumans books revolved around the pairing of Medusa and Johnny Storm. In Uncanny Inhumans #8, we finally get some answers.

Charles Soule has done about as good a job as any writer can in making these characters interesting. If we’re being honest here, making the Inhumans a “must read” is a hard sell for many, but Soule has been making this series truly enjoyable. This issue, we get some of the gaps filled in from the 8-month lapse in time. Soule succeeds in making Medusa and Johnny’s relationship come together organically and not forced. He takes the time to flesh out some of the beats that make them come together, such as a simple conversation, which Medusa said she missed. We also get some light shed on why Johnny was chosen to be the liaison for the Inhumans, and that also seems logical. The second part of the issue deals with Medusa and Johnny’s relationship in the present day. They are having a bit of trouble with it, so it’s nice that Soule gives us the build up to the relationship and then some of the reasons it isn’t currently working. As far as the writing goes, there really aren’t too many gripes. This was an issue that fleshed out a couple of characters very well and gave readers some of the answers they’ve been waiting for.

The pencils this issue are handled by Kev Walker with inks by Scott Hanna and colors by David Curiel. Kev Walker’s pencils have the tough task of following Brandon Peterson. Walker’s work in this issue is decent, but there isn’t really anything special about it. His style at times feels similar to John Romita Jr.’s with a boxy feel to it at times and the pencils feel a bit too cartoony and expressionistic for the tone of this series, which has had Peterson and Steve McNiven on pencils prior. Johnny Storm freaking out in a restaurant and lighting himself up only to be extinguished is a little cheesy, and to be fair, Walker does draws it to look very cheesy and accentuate that humor really well. Maybe that’s the point of this part of the book, but the pencils just don’t seem to fit some of the more serious points of the story, like being trapped in a burning building. The colors by David Curiel are pretty good this issue. The shading on Medusa and Johnny’s faces as the flames approach them is wonderful. Curiel really does a fantastic job in all aspects of his task.

Uncanny Inhumans has been a surprisingly decent book from Marvel, regardless of what the sales say. Charles Soule has done a good job in making this title accessible and easy to get into. His writing has been fun and on point. The art took a step back this issue, but Kev Walker may just need to find his groove with these characters. If you haven’t already, give Uncanny Inhumans a shot, it’s worth a read.