66 comments on “OUT THIS WEEK: MADROX #1”

  2. I really enjoyed it. The tone was a lot different than I had expected, and it was a pleasant surprise. I’m always glad to see people prove that the mutant characters can work without tights or Sentinels. And the art was great as well.

    Is it too early to ask if there’s any chance for an ongoing? 🙂

  3. If you really want to read it now, go to the Mile High site for a free preview of the entire issue

    http://www.milehighcomics.com/firstlook/marvel/madrox1/

    I thought it was wonderful. I really liked the art. My favorite pages of art were pages 18 and 19. The blood splotches really looked cool. It was cool seeing the gang together again.

    Everything I’ve heard from people who are giving it a chance have been really really positive. I hope sales reflect that and you can make this an ongoing.

  4. Nice first issue. Fine job of introducing the main character and supporting cast. Fine job of introducing a mystery. Good dialogue, cool art.

    I remember Madrox when he was in New Mutants (it was New Mutants first, right?) Thought he seemed a bit limited then, but you are pushing the concept in cool, positve ways here. I’m in for the second issue.

    I missed your run on X-Factor, as I had quit reading mutant books. Shortly after I realized you were writing it and started buying it, it ended. So I’m unsure of how the characters (him and Wolfsbane) have developed since New Mutants.

    Again, excellent first issue.

    Thanks!

  5. Minor minus for Rahne slipping back into her accent; in my experience, folks like that try to obliterate their pasts and wouldn’t let it out, especially under stress.

    Plus for Guido .

    BIG, BIG plus for Madrox. Strong characterization, neat use of powers.

    Very happy to see this and hope it continues as an ongoing.

  8. Liked it. The characterizations for Jamie, Rahne, and Guido were dead on. (Of course, that’s based on their portrayals in X-Factor, so maybe I’m biased. ;)) The narrative captions did a really good job establishing the mood of the series and Jamie; good gumshoe stuff. Very much looking forward to the next issue, and I’d buy it as a regular series as long as this quality kept up.

  9. Got it today and loved it. Great story, great art. My only quibble is with Rahne’s speech patterns, which come off as more Irish than Scottish. Then again, I’m first-generation Scots in the USA, so maybe I’m more sensitive to it than I should be. (And it’s still light years better than the straight-out Irish accent/speech pattern she had in that Ben Raab NEW MUTANTS mini about a decade ago — “begorrah” indeed!)

    Here’s hoping you (and we) get an ongoing out of this.

  11. Does that mean it’s only five issues for sure? If so, I’m kinda disappointed — just because this first issue was so great. I would never have guessed in a million years that Multiple Man would have his own book, even a limited series, but an on-going would be even better for my favorite Marvel mutant. If it ends up just being a five issue run, maybe someone can convince Milligan to put Madrox and Strong Guy in the X-Men? Hah… Unlikely, but he’s the only other person besides PAD that I could see writing them well.

    Anyways, totally awesome book.

  13. Bought the first issue.

    You’ve always written a good Multiple Man and have come up with unique ways to make use of his powers. I’ll be buying the rest. Hope you get more issues, or at least more Madrox Mini-series.

    Now if you could somehow write Quicksilver too.

    Eric

  15. Peter:

    Another winner. Actually, I think that Jamie has never been handled better in regards to his powers.

    Now how about a Guido and Quicksilver miniseries?

  16. I picked it up and enjoyed it. I think my only other encounter with “Madrox the Multiple Man” was in X-Men #125-128 (the “Proteus” story), in which he was really just a minor supporting character. Given that John Byrne drew him as someone who appeared to be at least in his 30s, it’s a little strange to see him appear to be in his early 20s (?). But whatever.

    I enjoyed the ramifications of Madrox’s powers, sending doubles off to experience different lifestyles. Handy that absorbing the double doesn’t hurt the base version. (Also interesting that there is a base version – couldn’t the doubles double themselves, and so forth? Well, maybe not.) Enjoyed the script, got a few chuckles out of it, expect the meat of the story will come in the second issue. I especially appreciated seeing that Rahne has grown up quite a bit (no, I don’t mean in that way!) since her days with the New Mutants (the only other time I’ve seen her).

    I wasn’t wild about the art. It struck me as being in the same shadowy style as, say, Earth X or Alias, which by-and-large I find to be nondescript, and the extremely subdued coloring just reinforced this. Just not a style that grabs me.

    I expect I’ll buy the whole 5-issue series (barring some unexpected setback like, you know, losing my job or something).

  17. Really cool stuff, this. I mean, there wasn’t much going on but it’s a first ish and I’m really excited about seeing these characters back together again. Now if you can just somehow work pietro into the story I’ll be perfectly contented…

  18. I got the first issue and really liked it. I’ve recently been buying a whole bunch of your old X-Factor issues and I have to say, I like the way you write these characters.

    Also, I think this detective thing could work for Jamie. It’s always helpful if a mutant character has a gift or gimmick beyond their power (Cyclops is a tactician, Wolverine is a trained secret agent and fallen samurai, Gambit is a master thief, etc.) Jamie Madrox as a detective could give him another angle to play. Imagine, a PI who can be everywhere at once. The Marvel Universe sort of has a shortage of good detectives anyway.

  19. I enjoyed the story….didn’t like the art. Too dark for me. It was nice to see these characters again.

  20. It puzzles me why Marvel isn’t releasing a trade paperback of PAD’s X-Factor to coincide with this series! It has art by some guy named Quesada–did he ever make something of himself?

  21. Joe Quesada only worked on the last few issues of PAD’s run, including X-Factor 87, which is my all time favorite comic.

    Madrox 1 was excellent, and I hope it sticks around past it’s five issues! Thanks PAD from someone who loved your X-Factor, and will be rereading it again now.

  22. I’ve been looking forward to this one, as X-Factor was what first introduced me to your work. The aforementioned X-Factor #87 (psycotherapy issue) remains one of my all time favorite one-issue superhero comics.

    That said, I thought it was a good start. It will be easier to tell once the story is finished, but for now I had a lot of fun with it.

  23. I don’t read X-Men comics.

    Never really got into it. Not my bag. Closest experince has been a few X-Men mentions in those big company cross overs, reading about on the Internet, the old FOX cartoon and the movies.

    Subsequently, when I heard Peter David (one of my favourite authors ever since I picked up the giant size TNG novel VENDETTA when I was a kid) was doing a mini-series about an unknown X-Men character he wrote about years ago, it didn’t phase me at all. However one of my buddies who used to be a comic book geek when he was a kid (esp. X-MEN) said one time over beers “If I had a superhero power, I’d want to be multiple man.” I asked him “Multiple Man? Who the hëll is that?” And he’d explain the power to me, which sounded pretty cool.

    I did read a few pages of the preview that was posted awhile ago on here and dug it. But I thought “Yeah, I love PAD but I’ll wait for the trade”.

    But I walked into the store today and there was a *single* copy of MADROX on the shelves. You know that instinct you get sometimes (“Hey, its the last comic left on new comic Wensday! That must mean its good!” even if it means the retailer probably only ordered one copy) And it was a new PAD comic starrin at me. So I caved.

    I went outside the store, sat on the bench, lit up a smoke and just plowed right through it. One issue and I love it. The art, the tone, the style – it just oozes gumshoe noir cool with overtones of freakin superpowers.

    Chalk up the fact that Madrox’s superpower is, well, superfreakin cool. I love the idea that “He didn’t know where to go in his life so he went in all directions at once.” How this character was not snatched up by all the other X-writers is beyond me. Just his power alone should make him prime real estate.

    Anyways, not really knowing a single lick about these characters, I thought PAD did a great job introducing them to the main trio (Strong Guy, Wolfsbane & Madrox himself) with style and ease. the way Madrox got affected by absorbing a drunk dupe and then frightened to absorb the injured dupe (“STILL NOT CARING!”) was a cool little aspect to his character. His voice-over was very droll and witty. (“I am a parade. I am my own best friend.”)

    And, while this issue was just about saying who these people are and what they can do, I thought it really did a great job of that. The mystery that is set off the issue (and will presumably run the entire series) was a real kicker.

    It, well to say it simply, it was just freakin cool. The cover was cool, the dialogue was cool, the style was cool, the art was cool. Not cool in a superhero smash kind of way, but cool in a superhero noir kind of way. It reminded me of a burn-out version of POWERS or GOTHAM CENTRAL.

    This may be an obscure character and he may have a convoluted backstory. I hope PAD keeps it simple. I just want to go from square one with these guys and see all the cool things that can happen when you have as funkified a power as this one.

    So, sign me up, one of the better comics I’ve read this month.

  24. I loved it and guess what?! They didn’t put it in my sub and I forgot to buy it!!!ARGH!!! But I am going back Friday, so, will get it then…

  25. I loved the first issue, but since many of the reasons for that have already been stated here, I’ll ask for some background information instead. I read all of Peter’s run on X-Factor (and approximately a half-dozen issues after that) then lost interest in the mutant titles. What happened with Rahne? I picked up on ‘decision to drop the accent’ bit, but why does her hair grow now? What changed?

  26. Really enjoyed it. (Loved Guido’s special way of contacting Jamie.) Sorry for nothing more detailed, but I was on-board for the book as soon as I read about it. (Still a bit miffed about Marvel’s decision to drop “Ðìçk” from the original story title, especially since Image has been pretty good about their “Hawaiian Ðìçk” comic–though, “Soul of a Gumshoe” seems to work as well. I also noticed the change about Rahne’s religious upbringing that you changed from the preview.)
    As for Roger Tang’s comment about Rahne slipping back into her accent, I beg to differ. I’ve known quite a few people whose accents become more pronounced under stress, especially people who’ve tried to hide or minimize their “natural” accent. (It’s not simply with speech, but most all natural behaviors and actions come out when a person faces high levels of stress. People who’ve spent time hiding their natural behavior can usually compensate or cover their slip pretty well, but that’s merely as part of their long history of hiding their undesireable or unwanted behavior.)

  27. Now that i’ve seen it printed full-scale, i still think that the cover looks amazingly like a particularly good Steranko “S.H.I.E.L.D.” cover…

  28. I really liked it, too. I’m in for the haul on this one, and hopefully it’s a long haul at that. Keep up the good work, Mr. David.

    In answer to Neil Robertson: After Rahne’s time in X-Factor, she joined the Britain/Muir Isle-based Excalibur. When that team disbanded, she stayed on Muir Isle for a while with her adoptive mum, Moira Magtaggert, and Warlock, a resurrected teammate from her New Mutants days. I believe Jamie may also have been hanging out there for a time, since he had lived with Moira prior to his time in X-Factor.

    Then Moira was killed by Mystique, who also shot Rahne with a gun that removed her powers. Rahne showed up next (to my knowledge) in the recent New Mutants series. One of the students used his powers to heal Rahne and restore her powers. She was acting like a badass at first, having decided to leave her “quaint” Scottish accent behind her. She has since begun to more closely resemble the Rahne seen prior to Moira’s death.

    As for her hair, she’s learned how to use her power to make it grow to a longer length.

    Hope that helps (please, others, correct me if I’m wrong somewhere).

  29. To be honest I had misgivings about picking up this book. I never read an issue of Xfactor save for the ones that popped up in a trade paperback called Inferno. Fortunately thanks to Peter expertly introducing of the characters I immediately got into full swing of things. After rereading issue one of Maddox I felt like I knew each of the characters and their quirks intimately.

    Does anyone know how many dupes Maddox can create at one time? If there is no limit to the number of dupes he can create he can easily be Marvel

  30. AdamYJ: Also, I think this detective thing could work for Jamie. It’s always helpful if a mutant character has a gift or gimmick beyond their power (Cyclops is a tactician, Wolverine is a trained secret agent and fallen samurai, Gambit is a master thief, etc.) Jamie Madrox as a detective could give him another angle to play.

    Mostly, it’s helpful if a mutant character is actually a character – someone with interesting traits which lead to interesting story developments – and not just someone with super powers. But, that’s true of any character.

    Cyclops was interesting not because he was a tactician, but because he tragically felt he had to keep himself apart from everyone else due to his powers (a characteristic he shared with the Thing), and yet he was a capable leader and fell in love with a beautiful woman, thus putting him in positions which he naturally tended to feel uncomfortable in.

  31. Greatly enjoyed Madrox (particulary the Guido communications system). It is supremely difficult to balance comedy and seriousness but as almost always, you pulled it off. I’m not sure where the series is headed but is is obviously not the traditional BIG SUPER FIGHT clich

  32. Liked it a great deal — and without the benefit of having read your run on X-Factor (so I have no idea who Rahne and Strong Guy are/were). I’m a sucker for noir gumshoe mysteries, so you’ve got that going for you, and it looks like Madrox will be an interesting character (the “can’t decide what to do, so he did everything” angle has a lot of potential).

    Anyway — a solid first issue. If the rest of the series holds up as well as this, I’ll be first in line for the next mini (or ongoing!)

  33. PAD,

    I never read your x-factor books. They never appealed to me, I believe they came at a time I was completely turned off on X-men. So I am coming from somebody who is not completely familiar with these characters or your take on these characters. That being said, I really really liked this issue. I can’t wait for next month.

    By the way, I would be reluctant to call this a X-men book. It is vaguely X-men related, but not really.

  34. LOVED IT! I really hope this book stays around and is not just a mini. I think certain writers really have the “voice” for certain Characters… Perfect example would be Gail Simione on BoP, and Peter has caught Madrox and Stong Guy perfectly.
    As for the poster who says the accent wouldn’t slip out of Rahne, even under stress…I have to disagree. Everyone I know from Ireland (thats a lot too) always slip out of their “American” accents when either mad or excited. The more relaxed and into the moment the more they start with the ” ta’ wont nutting mate.”

  36. Really dug it. I’m happy to see Guido and Rahne back in action, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been this interested in Jamie Madrox, or seen him used used creatively.

  37. Okay ,you got another title that jumps to the top of the reading list.If its any indication response seems good since i got the last issue in the store(that or it was foolishly under ordered)Anyway ,like Madrox a lot though for some reason his narrative reminds me of Ed norton in FIGHT CLUB”I am a parade,my own best friend”.Love the t shirt and the creative use of his talents.
    Potentially this makes him one of the more powerful mutants depending on how long his doubles spend on a given task.Potentially he could be
    Madrox -Master of Kungfu
    Madrox -Master of the mystic arts
    madrox -the man without fear
    Okay scratch the last one but you get the idea.Though with all the absorbed experiences and skills Jamie must have unique and interesting views of the world having several different perspectives in his head.Hope this becomes a monthly along with your return to the Hulk 🙂

  38. I took you to task on FA, Peter, and I stand behind what I wrote. (Did not like it after eight issues, the first of your books I have ever gave up on) But MadroX was GREAT. This is some of your best writing; I can tell you really had some fun writing it. I did not much care for him in X-Factor, but you made Jamie a fun and interesting guy! Will continue to read. But get Marvel to turn this into a reg. series!

  40. PAD: I didn’t mention it before, but I REALLY liked the cover. David Lloyd has always been amazing with shadows and lighting, and the mood on this one was great. Imagine that, the author of VENDETTA and the artist of V FOR VENDETTA finally collaborating.

    Any chance of straightening out the whole Random mess if MADROX goes beyond the initial storyline?

    Andrew Holman: Thanks for the update, concise and classy. Somehow I managed to keep up with Guido’s appearances for the most part, but Rahne slipped under my radar.

  41. It’s amazing how you always think of the most imaginative ways to use super powers. I know this is work and bread and butter, but you have fun with these characters and it shows. Only you seem to be able to breath life into Guido (and I missed that guy, I really had hoped he be around more after X-Factor.)

    Of course I’m along for the ride. And thank you for doing an X book so far apart from most other X-books. This is what the franchise needs, more originality in the spin-offs.

  42. Some technical questions: Was the fly on Maddie’s finger, that later flies up the ceiling, in your script or was that a contribution from the artist? Shouldn’t the line: “And a dog.” have ended with a question mark “?” based on the way he said what he said right afterwards? Finally, what’s the deal with the door sign? Right at the last panel, isn’t it (from that angle) supposed to be in reverse?

    Aside from that, this issue totally rocked and if Marvel DOESN’T make it an ongoing, more’s the pity for the biz and fans alike.

  43. Definitely enjoyed it. Favorite line: “The national bird is now the cuckoo, but the chocolate’s better.”

    I’m on the fence about the art — I think it works for the atmosphere of the book pretty well, but it’s also a little murky for my tastes. (Plus, I don’t think that looks like Rahne, and I’ve always liked her. 🙂

    That said — well worth the price tag. Hope it draws people, and more importantly that you can hook them here and then drag ’em kicking and screaming over to FA.

    TWL

  44. Excellent. The necessary exposition was painless, Guido was great as always (when you write him)and Madrox went from one of the goofiest characters in the Marvel universe to one of the most intriguing. You could literally take this book in ANY direction.

    Loved the Swiss joke.

  45. PAD,

    I loved this first issue. The story was engaging and the art fit the mood. Sadly to say, I missed your run on X-Factor since I wasn’t a PADophile at the time as I am now. I look forward to the rest of the series and, with luck and good sales, a follow-on series.

    Regards,

    Dennis

  46. PAD–

    The first issue was eXcellent. I haven’t been one for X-books a whole lot in the past, but your X-Factor run–what I’ve read of it (have the whole thing, just haven’t read it all) is top-notch, and you’ve clearly taken the best character in those issues to the next level. Kudos. I’m in for the rest of the series.

    ~Gary

  48. >>Does anyone know how many dupes Maddox can create at one time? If there is no limit to the number of dupes he can create he can easily be Marvel

Comments are closed.