REVIEW: 'Nemesis: Reloaded' #1 by Mark Millar, Jorge Jiménez, and Giovanna Niro

 

NEMESIS: RELOADED #1

Writer: Mark Millar

Artist: Jorge Jimenez, Giovanna Niro

Letterer: Clem Robins 

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: January 11, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

MINISERIES PREMIERE

The world's most evil comic book is back! Who is Nemesis, and why does this eccentric billionaire who dresses up in a mask and cape want to terrorize people instead of helping them? Isn't that how this is supposed to go? Trigger warning: Too violent and too cool for some!

Score: 

★★★★★ (5/5)

If you're a fan of Mark Millar's 'Nemesis' you won't be disappointed with this soft relaunch of the psychotic character he created with artist Steve McNiven back in 2010. In the preface, Millar explains how surprisingly popular that limited series was and how it's led to not only this iteration but how the long-languishing live-action adaptation might actually happen now. If you're not familiar with Nemesis you'll need to brace yourself for a non-stop action extravaganza where the supervillain runs amok leaving behind a trail of bodies and limbs with nary a hero in sight. Some say he's the "anti-Batman" but really, he's Batman with the mentality of the Joker. An unrelenting brutal terrorist who just happens to look good while creating mayhem. 

'Nemesis: Reloaded' wastes little time swinging into action as Millar enlists the talents of one of the hottest artists in the industry Jorge Jiménez. It's only fitting that Jiménez's dynamic style served his work on DC's Batman well and now he gets to trade in the dark cape and cowl for a blood-splattered white one with Nemesis. Jiménez's cinematic eye provides an exhilarating experience as Nemesis falls from the sky, tramples pedestrians, mows down cops, and chops and dices security personnel. And it's all done with style and panache usually reserved for good guys like the aforementioned Batman and Daredevil. This isn't some anti-hero, Nemesis is a straight-out methodical psychopath with a plan and little regard for human life. 

Giovanna Niro's brilliant color work electrifies the night with rich purple, blue and black hues while giving a darkened pool area a dingy yellow tone that descends into a grotesque greenish mosh pit of dead bodies. As with everything, the designs, the colors, and the action scenes are all heightened, wringing every ounce of adrenaline from the reader's body. The motivations and actions are morally reprehensible and yet the reader can't turn away or put the book down no matter how offended one might be. Nemesis is oddly charismatic as only a serial killer can be and is committed to turning Los Angeles upside down. After one issue, I'm convinced he'll succeed and I want to witness every last panel. 

'Nemesis: Reloaded' is not for the squeamish. Readers can leave their moral code at the door and just succumb to the madness that is a supervillain unhinged, unchallenged, and unstoppable. A protagonist this bad has never looked so good. It is an absolute coup that Millar joined forces with Jiménez because 'Nemesis' is a stunning piece of art soaked in blood and depravity. Shocking, exciting, and exhilarating, but never boring.