You know, it's all well and good for heroes to fight evil, save the world, and defeat nefarious villains, but why can't they make a little cash for their trouble? Sure, Spider-Man had to learn that whole "power and responsibility" lesson the hard way, but that's just because he was being kind of a jerk at the time. Heroes are out there risking serious injury, messing up their social lives, and spending tons of cash on fancy rocket-packs and whatnot. They deserve a paycheck for this crazy lifestyle! Altruism alone just doesn't pay the bills.
That's why the concept behind Heroes for Hire makes perfect sense! The first Heroes for Hire were Luke Cage and Iron Fist, back in their '70s heyday. The title has popped up once or twice at Marvel since then, but this new series stands completely on its own. Even though this particular incarnation of the title is really a sequel to the recent (and awesome!) Daughters of the Dragon mini-series, no prior reading is needed to jump right in and join in the fun!
This new, ongoing series is written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, with art by Billy Tucci and Tom Plamer. Gray and Palmiotti have teamed up on many great comics, including Jonah Hex, Punisher, and Daughters of the Dragon. In Heroes the pair have put together a fun, action-packed adventure with an eclectic cast of characters, including some B-listers who never seem to get the attention they deserve. They've turned Misty Knight and Colleen Wing into wonderful, complex, leading ladies, and given them a great cast of supporting characters like Shang-Chi, Black Cat, Palladin, and Orka. Anyone who can make Humbug a fun and interesting character must be a great writer!
Of course, artist Billy Tucci is most know for his creator-owned character Shi. When you hire a guy who is known for drawing gorgeous women, it would be a shame not to give him plenty of material to work with! Gray and Palmiotti put their artist to good use in this book. Not only do they have him drawing the previously mentioned Misty, Colleen, and Black Cat, but they also threw a sexy-but-dangerous new Taratula into the mix. (Trust me, this character is nothing like the guy with the bandana and the pointy shoes that Spider-Man used to fight.) Tucci rises to the challenge with action-packed art full of both eye-candy and intense kung-fu kicking action. Now that's entertainment. (Don't feel left out if you like your eye-candy to be a little more beefy! Shang-Chi is shirtless more often than Captain Kirk.)
Not only is this first issue a fun start to a new series, it is also a "can't miss" Civil War spin-off. Misty and company are hired by Iron Man as government agents to help track down costumed villains who are not complying with the Superhero Registration Act. The Heroes for Hire are a little uneasy about getting involved in the Civil War conflict, but those goverment salaries with benefits sure do look good...
Help support struggling heroes, and give Heroes for Hire #1 a try. It's guaranteed at Four Color Fantasies this week, so you can't lose. Besides, if you hurt Misty's feelings, Colleen may go all Kill Bill on you.
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