Irredeemable vol. 7

While the series’ current direction, which has sent The Plutonian off-planet to an intergalactic mental hospital, may seem like a necessary evil for what writer/creator Mark Waid has planned it’s still quite compelling.  In getting the world’s most powerful superhuman out of their hair, we find that the inhabitants of Earth have traded  the devil they know for the devil that they don’t in The Survivor.  It’s long been insinuated that he only has his own best interests at heart, though to what extent his plans for self-aggrandization reach is a mystery to all but a few select members of the cast.  Long story short:  The series has momentum, and despite its high cover price, I’m eager to pick up a new volume whenever it comes out.

That momentum continues here as we get to see The Plutonian’s efforts to escape the asylum and the unholy partnership of Modeus, who “loves” him, and Qubit, who actually has his best interests at heart, to find the former hero.  While The Plutnoian has been a solo act for most of the entire series, that changes here as he gets to know Auroran — the character who penetrated his prison of the mind in the previous volume — and recruits some of the hosptial’s more dangerous residents in his quest.  While they’re all appropriately creepy, the most imaginative of them is Mallus.  He has tachyon hammers for hands so the harder he hits you, the further you go back in time.  It’s a great concept for a character in a superhero comic, and I’m betting that Grant Morrison is cursing himself for not thinking of him first.

Though the volume is full of the nasty fun that comes from demolishing superhero archetypes, it’d be a great entry for one scene alone.  After we find out the truth about Auroran, he pours his heart out to The Plutonian and the other inmates he has gathered about the sad story of his life and how he has finally found meaning in working with them.  It’s a good speech that makes you sympathize with the character and hope that everything turns out for the best.  When I got to the end of it, I was hesitant to turn the page.  Here was a character that had suddenly become quite interesting and even likeable and I knew that as soon as I turned the page, it would all go to hell.  Brutally.  Telling you this may seem like I’m giving away a huge spoiler, but once you read it for yourself I’m willing to bet that you’ll feel the same way.