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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Marvel’s Inhumans is making its way to television this fall, and before that happens, we should probably discuss the comic’s run from November 1998 to October 1999.
The Inhumans’ home Attilan is located on the ruins of Atlantis, and conflict is aroused from both inside and outside its barriers. From inside, one of the children undergoes Terrigenesis, and if you have seen Agents of SHIELD, you would know that beauty is not always the outcome of these transformations. (Although, this sub story comes with a pretty neat twist if I do say so myself.) The child is ostracized by the Inhuman society due to his drastic appearance and is without choice forced to be enslaved in the underground system, which keeps Attilan and its infrastructure maintained.
At the same time, the outsiders aka the human beings question the goodness of the Inhumans. That is, are these Inhumans to be trusted? Are they allies or are they enemies to humanity? Eventually, armed forces grow impatient and start attacking the barriers, and the Inhumans look to their leader, Black Bolt, for guidance. Should they stand their ground and defend their home, or do they attack and lose the reputation they were initially given by the outsiders? In the end, sacrifices are made and lives are lost. Inevitably, society will never be the same. The only thing that can be asked is how we can move on.
In addition to what transpires within the twelve issues, Black Bolt’s own brother, Maximus the Mad, has a hand in the conflict. However, you’ll have to read the comic to understand his view of the battle.
I think a story like this–which is set 19 years ago (man, I feel old)–still has relevance in a modern world such as this. I don’t know about you, but I really like when a comic book (or adaptation thereof) gets political. I mean, it did well in Agents of SHIELD. Face the facts: Comic books were created as a response or reaction to current events. Like this incarnation of the Inhumans, the X-Men were created due to civil discrimination of sorts.
From within, society feels a variety of mixed emotions. Fear, hatred, love, confusion, despair, jealousy. A society looks to their leader(s) or role model(s) to inspire them to do what’s right. However, there will always be at least one person who will want to change the game according to his vision, and this can tear the reputed society asunder.
Likewise, outsiders will exhibit the same feelings because they are unsure of how to deal with foreign individuals. The bottom line is that we are all scared, and how a situation is approached comes at a cost, and comes with its own repercussions. We all have the same common goal: to survive as long as we can and make the world in which we live a better place. Together, there can be peace, but in this 1998-1999 run of the Inhumans, the exact opposite happens. Men, women, and children die at the hands of monstrosity. This kind of makes you wonder: Who is the real monster, the outsiders or us? The answer depends on where you stand. You can not merely say that everyone in a group is to be feared, but when one person does the wrong thing, it almost suddenly gives off a bad impression.
This comic is worth reading, and I would give it a 7/10 for its great themes. Don’t believe me? Give it a try.
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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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