Weaver has a unique ability: he can steal other people’s skills including their memories, abilities, and expertise for a limited period of time. However, rather than using this power for good, Weaver chooses to cheat and con his way through life. When he gets bored of one place, he moves on. However, after one of his cons goes wrong, Weaver finds himself on the run. With no where to go, he must trust a mysterious woman to help him. While following this woman, Weaver will learn he is not that special after all.
SUMMARY
Pros
Plot has mysterious elements
The art is fantastic
Cons
Average, unremarkable protagonist
Formulaic character development
READER RATING!
[ratings]
UNCANNY #2
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Colorist: Bill Crabtree
Editor: Joseph Rybandt
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Uncanny: Having been in Singapore for a year now, Weaver is at a local casino gambling against Lee, its owner. Thinking he can use his skill stealing abilities to outwit him, Weaver sets a trap for Lee. Unfortunately, the trap goes south and Weaver owes two hundred grand to the casino. Lee has one of his bodyguards escort Weaver back to his room where he discovers his money missing and credit cards stolen. Using his powers, he manages to escape to the airport. However, instead of flying back to the United States, the planes gets stopped at the runway and Weaver must run from airport security. He is picked up by a motorcycle driving woman named Maggie who takes him to safety.
TROUBLE IN SINGAPORE
Andy Diggle’s Uncanny #2 continues Weaver’s adventures in Singapore, attempting to escape Lee’s men. Weaver is an intriguing character and focus is squarely on him throughout the comic. His narration of the events unfolding allows the writer to develop Weaver’s personality more than any other character’s in his comic. The narration reveals Weaver as a very selfish and arrogant individual who abuses his power for his own personal gain. Like all protagonists with Weaver’s characteristics, he eventually is faced with a moral dilemma, but does the right thing. Unfortunately, this character archetype has been done many times in other comics and Weaver, as a protagonist, does not distinguish himself from these other characters. He is a cookie cutter hero. Still, one good aspect of Uncanny is the mysterious plot surrounding Maggie. There are many questions left unanswered in the first two issues that will keep the reader’s interest. Also, the reasonable amount of action and violence will help the reader move through the story. At times it can be overdone, but this is expected with comics outside of the mainstream industry.
BLANK EYES AND ROUGH EDGES
Aaron Campbell’s inky shadowed comic art bends well with the mysterious nature of Uncanny. Since it takes place in Singapore, many of the characters surrounding Weaver are of Asian descent, which Campbell does a great job portraying. The artist demonstrates expert use of color in his scenes with lots of black and dark blue. Despite the shadowy nature of the art, locations such as warehouses and city streets are easily distinguishable. One drawback with the illustration is the character design of the main hero, Weaver. Much like his personality, Weaver’s portrayal is unremarkable and average. As the only Caucasian in Uncanny so far, Weaver looks like every other white protagonist in comic books today.
BOTTOM LINE: GOOD READ BUT NOTHING REMARKABLE
Andy Diggle and Aaron Campbell’s Uncanny is a nice read if you are looking for a lot of action and some mystery to the plot. Unfortunately, the protagonist is average by comic book standards and does not deviate from normal conventions. Readers can look forward to some mysteries unraveled over the next few issues, but do not count on anything big happening in this series.
