Title: Wanted

Author: Mark Millar, JG Jones, Paul Mounts

Publisher: Image Comics 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 208

Rating:  4/5 stars  Movie: 4/5

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; Mount TBR; 52 Books in 52 Weeks -- Week 1; Book Bingo -- 2 from TBR; T4MC -- M Author (15 points)

First review of 2013!!!!

What if everything in your life was out of your hands and those around you propelled your fate? Your girlfriend left you for your best friend; your boss gave your job to someone better. What if then, after all this, someone gave you back total control? What if he revealed you were the next in line to join a secret society of super-villains that controlled the entire planet? Mark Millar and J.G. Jones provide a look at one man who goes from being the world's biggest loser to the deadliest assassin alive.

My initial reaction was "that reminded me of Kick-Ass."  And then I actually looked at the authors and realized that Millar wrote both.  Silly me.  This volume still reminds me of Kick-Ass with the hyper-action violence and larger than life characters.  But at the core, we get a story of lifelike characters.  Even with the costumes or superpowers, at their core these characters are just like us.  I really enjoyed the story of Wesley's transformation.  As an extra note, this volume also reminds me of The Boys, but without the really interesting political angle.

Movie:

I saw the movie two years, obviously before reading the comic.  At the time I thought it was a somewhat interesting story, but I wasn't over the moon for it.

After reading the comic, I have a new found appreciation for the film.  It's definitely different, but keeps the main story of Wesley Gibson intact.  We see his transformation from pathetic loser to top assassin.  The movie ditched the superhero and supervillian angle, but the story and tone stays.  And the movie is shot beautifully.  All of the special effects and stunts pull the watcher into a fantastical world.  Plus James McAvoy is just outstanding...

52 Books Week 1: Journey to Your Imagination

This week's theme was books set in Canada.  Unfortunately I have a limited selection this week as I am not at home.  Instead of the theme, I am just going with the first read of the year.