REVIEW: Project Argent by John Cheese
Mar 21, 2018 20:32:10 GMT -5
D. Golightly and johncheese like this
Post by Gavin McMahon on Mar 21, 2018 20:32:10 GMT -5
I haven't been around this site for long, I've almost exclusively written for Marvel Omega and DC Omega (where I was Editor-in-Chief from its revamp) but one thing I have noticed in all my time writing for fanfiction websites is that feedback and reviews aren’t always common place. John Cheese, as well as being prolific writer, always seems to be on hand with reviews and it’s only fair that he gets some in return. As anyone whose read any of my previous works can attest, I’ve always loved strong female characters that don’t lose their femininity or vulnerability so what better series to spend the evening reading than . . .
Luck was on my side that this series only began last year and so, as of March 2018, there are only seven issues. It’s a very manageable number to binge! Another favourable turn was that this cast is comprised of typically minor characters that are getting their chance to shine under John’s pen . . . and I can’t think of anything better. We’ve read the adventures of Captain America and Iron Man a thousand times or more and so, when a writer steps outside of the box and brings something fresh to the table, it’s always an exciting prospect. Enough of the background, let’s get on with reviewing the issues!
Opening on a conflict in an otherwise introductory issue is always a great way to showcase the cast, or in this case the character of Flintlock, and still employ some excitement. I liked the genuine reactions of Flintlock in her conversation with the lawyer and, although I feel it could have been amped up slightly or he could have been presented as more disconcerted than he was giving all the spear-throwing, I enjoyed that Flintlock’s services weren’t quite willing so much so that she was in a bind the mysterious Argent was able to become a beneficial business arrangement. I liked the introduction to each of them, each of the women given a moment of spotlight but still leaving enough mystery to keep the reader interested in finding out more . . . Perhaps the most enigmatic of the women is Sarah Hannigan, the Mistress of the Occult, as she doesn’t seem to be a canon character that can be found on a Google search. Ana Sable has set out the mission, we know the cast, and now the action can truthfully begin. I’m very eager to find out just who Paige Cooper and her mother were making a deal with and, despite loving the odd original character, I hope it’s a known character with an awesome twist. I’m not sure what I expected from the scene initially but I had wondered if the wishes would backfire in some way (such as turning Paige into a villain with animal attributes or something)! Still, enough intrigue to read on.
It’s not very often that a character in Marvel is presented as an out-and-out racist such as Carmen Sanders without exposing some connection to Hate-Monger or National Force, so to see that she was the aide-de-camp to the U.S. President – given America’s ongoing political climate and race issues – was a very modern touch on her character. I enjoyed the interactions of Silver Scorpion, Flintlock and Sarah Hannigan. There were a few moments when I was a little lost by just who was doing what – although I finally realised that Flintlock would be impersonating Carmen. A good old bar brawl never goes amiss! Zawadi and Rosetta Stone were thoroughly entertaining and I loved that their banter continued amidst the fighting. Throwing Outback into the mix is a nice nod to the relatively unknown Wanderers and Flintlock’s past. I thoroughly enjoy the world weaving at work here, as Wakanda enters the fray, it seems the agents of Argent may be biting off more than they, or even Ana, bargained for.
As I enter issue three, I’m glad we got a little spotlight on Scorpion because she’s by far been the least developed of the cast. There wasn’t a lot of building but there was a clear identification of her skillset with a hint towards a brassy personality. Now that the character building is truly underway, I’m glad we seem to be striking out against the villains they’ve been hunting for two issues. There’s be comedy, drama and action, but it’s definitely time to push the plot now that we know these women better. The battle with ‘Cuda didn’t disappoint. I feel like it was eventful and showcased each of their abilities – it was nice to get a hint at Zawadi’s history too. The pace of this issue is definitely not like the last, it seems like we’re heading into the climax of this arc at break neck speed as we’ve found both Laserworks and Ghost Maker also. I’m interested about Hannigan’s background, as she’s dealing with Loa which makes me wonder if she’s a voodoo practitioner. The succeeding battles against Laserworks and Ghost Maker were also a joy to read, it’s simply a shame that the latter seemed to be killed in the fray. He’s a character I always liked from the Russian side of the Marvel Universe. Just when you think it’s all worked out in their favour, there’s a fourth assassin! Exciting.
Boom! This is it. After a taste last issue, Silver Scorpion is finally getting the character development that the others have had. The trauma she’s undergoing is unique amongst this cast of hard-as-nail women and it adds another level of realism. She screwed up, someone got injured and she – rightly – blames herself. I enjoyed that development. On the reverse, Flintlock’s anger is also very raw and real. I’m glad Ghost Maker’s back (I wasn’t sure if his newer abilities came after the cut-off). It began as a bunch of agents in search of assassins but I’m loving the growing mysticism of the story – particularly as I feel like it’ll eventually reveal some of Hannigan’s past. I’m loving her (if that isn’t obvious). “I can find anyone I’ve fought against in the past”. That line makes me think Silver Scorpion may play a bigger part if Ghost Maker returns as she’s the only one who hasn’t faced him. If these women are dangerous, Flintlock is definitely proving to be volatile.
Having reached issue five, and seeing the images selected for each character, Sarah Hannigan is not what I expected. I pictured her as a African or Latina-appearing character beneath that hood but it is what it is. Hahah. That said, on with the review! I’m very excited for this issue as we’re gonna get some of the histories, or at least your interpretation of them, and that’s gonna be fun! Zawadi’s history was one that I was vaguely familiar with but I enjoyed this interpretation of it. We’ve seen people be exiled from Wakanda in the past – lest we forget Nakia of the Dora Milaje – and the consequences of her actions seem to continue weighing on her shoulders. The isolated Rosetta Stone makes a little more sense now, her trust has been broken and her ego wounded, and she’s slowly opening up again. I liked the resonance of Flintlock having her ability to love stolen from her and whilst her action wasn’t morally right, I liked the interaction between her and Sarah less. Adult women being hurt and angry is one thing but the emotion of Hannigan’s revelation was undercut with childish name-calling. That said, I loved that Hannigan – in her flashback – looked past her emotions and gave up everything to protect the world, no matter the cost. An autistic superhero, excellent. The world of superheroes could always be more diverse and her self-harm is relatable. Ana’s the enemy – wait, what? Can’t wait to see how this turns out.
Ah! Ana’s been as manipulated as the rest of them and finally, we have our foe’s name and she’s canon: Barbara Robb, the Dream Weaver. I liked this reveal, I liked that a relatively obscure character is making a splash at the site – as they all are – and representing the “big bad”. I particularly liked that I was right about this granter of wishes being involved with Hannigan’s past. It was nice to witness pre-Zombie Hannigan in action, since we’re unlikely to do so in the near future, and to explore her role as a paranormal hero. Zawadi taking a firm leadership role is one of my favourite parts of the issue to be honest. I enjoyed the later interactions of Hannigan and Flintlock much more than their post-flashback. There was bitterness and resentment, the sorceress is far from willing to forgive, but they reacted much more like rational adults than screaming children. As they develop, this is definitely how I – personally – would enjoy their interactions until they learn to trust one another.
Having binge-read this series I honestly could’ve swore that issue one established Flintlock’s name as Rachel Clay, yet this issue introduces her as Rachel Grey. Slightly inconsistent with the established work. That said, I was incredibly excited for this issue because I loved the set-up at the end of issue six. I loved the Dweller in Darkness reveal, who doesn’t love the Lovecraftian in a mystic tale? All-in-all, this scene was setup and I thoroughly enjoyed the world that Hannigan operates in. Zawadi’s leadership is challenged and I loved it, she held her own against Ana and the others had her back which harkens back to them finding that harmony as a team. Nice nod. Fresh off of one betrayal, the agents are faced with another! Jesus. I enjoyed Flintlock so I hope her wish is something that won’t cause her to disappear from the title. I’m a big fan of the developments this issue and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!
As a whole, I enjoyed this series immensely. There was a lot that it had going for it in terms of strong, female characters that were more than capable of working as a unit, despite their varied backgrounds and morality. Sarah Hannigan is definitely my favourite character in the series but I did enjoy the majority of them. You played slow mystery with Silver Scorpion and Hannigan but it was a great pay-off. Each of the women has been well-developed at this point. I’ve always loved female-led titles, one of my favourite ever series was Meriades Rai’s Heralds at Marvel Omega, and there’s a lot in common with that here. You’re filling a niche. There’s no big names, there’s nowhere to hide and you have done an amazing job in defining this world. I can’t wait for more!
I won’t dwell on the negatives but it’s only fair that I mention them. I’m not sure if there is a lot of work that goes into re-reading the work for discrepancies before it’s submitted but there are mistakes that could easily have been fixed: such as misplaced words, confusing structure and spelling mistakes or typos (originally introduced as Jenifer Barstow, she is intermittently referred to as Jennifer which is only a small thing, yes, but can be distracting. It also occurs with Ana and Anna as well as Damballah which occasionally loses the H). Something that helps me with my writing is finishing it, taking a break and then re-reading it for an edit. I still make mistakes but not as many as I could’ve have done.
In the end, despite the few things I mentioned above, you’ve won over a fan for this series and I look forward to reading more.
Luck was on my side that this series only began last year and so, as of March 2018, there are only seven issues. It’s a very manageable number to binge! Another favourable turn was that this cast is comprised of typically minor characters that are getting their chance to shine under John’s pen . . . and I can’t think of anything better. We’ve read the adventures of Captain America and Iron Man a thousand times or more and so, when a writer steps outside of the box and brings something fresh to the table, it’s always an exciting prospect. Enough of the background, let’s get on with reviewing the issues!
Opening on a conflict in an otherwise introductory issue is always a great way to showcase the cast, or in this case the character of Flintlock, and still employ some excitement. I liked the genuine reactions of Flintlock in her conversation with the lawyer and, although I feel it could have been amped up slightly or he could have been presented as more disconcerted than he was giving all the spear-throwing, I enjoyed that Flintlock’s services weren’t quite willing so much so that she was in a bind the mysterious Argent was able to become a beneficial business arrangement. I liked the introduction to each of them, each of the women given a moment of spotlight but still leaving enough mystery to keep the reader interested in finding out more . . . Perhaps the most enigmatic of the women is Sarah Hannigan, the Mistress of the Occult, as she doesn’t seem to be a canon character that can be found on a Google search. Ana Sable has set out the mission, we know the cast, and now the action can truthfully begin. I’m very eager to find out just who Paige Cooper and her mother were making a deal with and, despite loving the odd original character, I hope it’s a known character with an awesome twist. I’m not sure what I expected from the scene initially but I had wondered if the wishes would backfire in some way (such as turning Paige into a villain with animal attributes or something)! Still, enough intrigue to read on.
It’s not very often that a character in Marvel is presented as an out-and-out racist such as Carmen Sanders without exposing some connection to Hate-Monger or National Force, so to see that she was the aide-de-camp to the U.S. President – given America’s ongoing political climate and race issues – was a very modern touch on her character. I enjoyed the interactions of Silver Scorpion, Flintlock and Sarah Hannigan. There were a few moments when I was a little lost by just who was doing what – although I finally realised that Flintlock would be impersonating Carmen. A good old bar brawl never goes amiss! Zawadi and Rosetta Stone were thoroughly entertaining and I loved that their banter continued amidst the fighting. Throwing Outback into the mix is a nice nod to the relatively unknown Wanderers and Flintlock’s past. I thoroughly enjoy the world weaving at work here, as Wakanda enters the fray, it seems the agents of Argent may be biting off more than they, or even Ana, bargained for.
As I enter issue three, I’m glad we got a little spotlight on Scorpion because she’s by far been the least developed of the cast. There wasn’t a lot of building but there was a clear identification of her skillset with a hint towards a brassy personality. Now that the character building is truly underway, I’m glad we seem to be striking out against the villains they’ve been hunting for two issues. There’s be comedy, drama and action, but it’s definitely time to push the plot now that we know these women better. The battle with ‘Cuda didn’t disappoint. I feel like it was eventful and showcased each of their abilities – it was nice to get a hint at Zawadi’s history too. The pace of this issue is definitely not like the last, it seems like we’re heading into the climax of this arc at break neck speed as we’ve found both Laserworks and Ghost Maker also. I’m interested about Hannigan’s background, as she’s dealing with Loa which makes me wonder if she’s a voodoo practitioner. The succeeding battles against Laserworks and Ghost Maker were also a joy to read, it’s simply a shame that the latter seemed to be killed in the fray. He’s a character I always liked from the Russian side of the Marvel Universe. Just when you think it’s all worked out in their favour, there’s a fourth assassin! Exciting.
Boom! This is it. After a taste last issue, Silver Scorpion is finally getting the character development that the others have had. The trauma she’s undergoing is unique amongst this cast of hard-as-nail women and it adds another level of realism. She screwed up, someone got injured and she – rightly – blames herself. I enjoyed that development. On the reverse, Flintlock’s anger is also very raw and real. I’m glad Ghost Maker’s back (I wasn’t sure if his newer abilities came after the cut-off). It began as a bunch of agents in search of assassins but I’m loving the growing mysticism of the story – particularly as I feel like it’ll eventually reveal some of Hannigan’s past. I’m loving her (if that isn’t obvious). “I can find anyone I’ve fought against in the past”. That line makes me think Silver Scorpion may play a bigger part if Ghost Maker returns as she’s the only one who hasn’t faced him. If these women are dangerous, Flintlock is definitely proving to be volatile.
Having reached issue five, and seeing the images selected for each character, Sarah Hannigan is not what I expected. I pictured her as a African or Latina-appearing character beneath that hood but it is what it is. Hahah. That said, on with the review! I’m very excited for this issue as we’re gonna get some of the histories, or at least your interpretation of them, and that’s gonna be fun! Zawadi’s history was one that I was vaguely familiar with but I enjoyed this interpretation of it. We’ve seen people be exiled from Wakanda in the past – lest we forget Nakia of the Dora Milaje – and the consequences of her actions seem to continue weighing on her shoulders. The isolated Rosetta Stone makes a little more sense now, her trust has been broken and her ego wounded, and she’s slowly opening up again. I liked the resonance of Flintlock having her ability to love stolen from her and whilst her action wasn’t morally right, I liked the interaction between her and Sarah less. Adult women being hurt and angry is one thing but the emotion of Hannigan’s revelation was undercut with childish name-calling. That said, I loved that Hannigan – in her flashback – looked past her emotions and gave up everything to protect the world, no matter the cost. An autistic superhero, excellent. The world of superheroes could always be more diverse and her self-harm is relatable. Ana’s the enemy – wait, what? Can’t wait to see how this turns out.
Ah! Ana’s been as manipulated as the rest of them and finally, we have our foe’s name and she’s canon: Barbara Robb, the Dream Weaver. I liked this reveal, I liked that a relatively obscure character is making a splash at the site – as they all are – and representing the “big bad”. I particularly liked that I was right about this granter of wishes being involved with Hannigan’s past. It was nice to witness pre-Zombie Hannigan in action, since we’re unlikely to do so in the near future, and to explore her role as a paranormal hero. Zawadi taking a firm leadership role is one of my favourite parts of the issue to be honest. I enjoyed the later interactions of Hannigan and Flintlock much more than their post-flashback. There was bitterness and resentment, the sorceress is far from willing to forgive, but they reacted much more like rational adults than screaming children. As they develop, this is definitely how I – personally – would enjoy their interactions until they learn to trust one another.
Having binge-read this series I honestly could’ve swore that issue one established Flintlock’s name as Rachel Clay, yet this issue introduces her as Rachel Grey. Slightly inconsistent with the established work. That said, I was incredibly excited for this issue because I loved the set-up at the end of issue six. I loved the Dweller in Darkness reveal, who doesn’t love the Lovecraftian in a mystic tale? All-in-all, this scene was setup and I thoroughly enjoyed the world that Hannigan operates in. Zawadi’s leadership is challenged and I loved it, she held her own against Ana and the others had her back which harkens back to them finding that harmony as a team. Nice nod. Fresh off of one betrayal, the agents are faced with another! Jesus. I enjoyed Flintlock so I hope her wish is something that won’t cause her to disappear from the title. I’m a big fan of the developments this issue and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!
Overview
As a whole, I enjoyed this series immensely. There was a lot that it had going for it in terms of strong, female characters that were more than capable of working as a unit, despite their varied backgrounds and morality. Sarah Hannigan is definitely my favourite character in the series but I did enjoy the majority of them. You played slow mystery with Silver Scorpion and Hannigan but it was a great pay-off. Each of the women has been well-developed at this point. I’ve always loved female-led titles, one of my favourite ever series was Meriades Rai’s Heralds at Marvel Omega, and there’s a lot in common with that here. You’re filling a niche. There’s no big names, there’s nowhere to hide and you have done an amazing job in defining this world. I can’t wait for more!
I won’t dwell on the negatives but it’s only fair that I mention them. I’m not sure if there is a lot of work that goes into re-reading the work for discrepancies before it’s submitted but there are mistakes that could easily have been fixed: such as misplaced words, confusing structure and spelling mistakes or typos (originally introduced as Jenifer Barstow, she is intermittently referred to as Jennifer which is only a small thing, yes, but can be distracting. It also occurs with Ana and Anna as well as Damballah which occasionally loses the H). Something that helps me with my writing is finishing it, taking a break and then re-reading it for an edit. I still make mistakes but not as many as I could’ve have done.
In the end, despite the few things I mentioned above, you’ve won over a fan for this series and I look forward to reading more.