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Review: Michael Turner's Fathom: Blue Descent #0

After 12 years Aspen promises more answers.


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After twelve years, Aspen fans will finally get answers about Aspen Matthews and her past.
 

The Good

This is a zero issue. It sets things up nicely. If you've never read a Fathom comic, you can...dive right in and see where things are going. Despite the time that Aspen Matthews has been around, we haven't seen her past fully explored. Now new and old readers can discover the secrets of her past and parents together. 
 
The art by Scott Clark and the colors by Jeff Chang are beautiful. They're still following in the footsteps of Michael Turner and the art, along with the story all just flow together like...the water in the ocean.
 
There's literally a whole world here for Aspen and readers to explore. The $2.50 cover price makes it easy for new readers to take a chance in deciding to pick this up.
 

The Bad

As beautiful as the art is, it is very reminiscent of Michael Turner. What? How can that be a bad thing? While I enjoyed the art, I have to wonder if Scott Clark is purposely trying to draw (successfully) in Turner's style. I recall his art from back in 1997's Alpha Flight series and the art is pretty different. How would a Fathom comic be accepted if drawn in a different style?
 

The Verdict - 4/5

I've been an on-again-off-again Fathom reader. There's been times that comic almost felt like just an excuse to have a female in little clothing swimming around. With Blue Descent, it looks like we will be getting answers here. After reading this zero issue, I'm actually looking forward to reading the rest. Let's see what answers Aspen will have for us.
 
It was a good issue but still a zero issue. It's setting things up for the rest of the mini-series but it's not one of those super light zero issues that some publishers put out. I would've liked to have seen a little more to the issue but again, it's setting things up for what's to come.

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FoxxFireArt

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Edited By FoxxFireArt

Ahh, I'm trying to work on my Batman 4koma and get it finished before Thurday or Friday. Yet, I want to read the reviews. So torn.
 
I believe I got a few issues of the original run of Fathom. It's not half bad stuff. I like that cover image. It doesn't bother me too much that Clark is trying to emulate Turner's style. Where is the harm in trying to create a level of consistency for the reader? It would only be bad if he wasn't doing well at it.
Sort of along like lines of when a new artist took over for J. Scott Campbell after he left Gen 13. It just didn't have the same personality or feel anymore.

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Aspenfan1

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Edited By Aspenfan1

Thanks for reviewing this book!  As for trying to emulate Turners style I don't have a problem with it.  Getting a peek into Aspens past is going to be good cause it has been along time coming.

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Precise

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Edited By Precise

I've been reading Fathom before so i'm hoping to pick this up as well. But for a lot of people the appeal of Fathom has always been the beautiful art by Michael Turner (it was what i was drawn to as well) so it's not really a surprise that they're going for a similar art style.

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Astroknot

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Edited By Astroknot

I always found Fathom interesting, but never actually read it. Mostly because this girl I had a crush on in high school looked exactly like Fathom the way Michael Turner drew her. 

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gmanfromheck

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Edited By gmanfromheck

Don't get me wrong, I'm not really coming down on the art. But with our format of reviews, I had to find something "Bad." The art really is nice. Makes me want to go swimming.

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Preacherl2k

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Edited By Preacherl2k

WOW G-Man I was just looking at covers for Fathom, Hmmm maybe G-Man is a mutant with mind powers??  
 
I was just saying this "water"comic works cause its target demo is guys, that doesn't work with Namor!!
 

ttp://www.comicvine.com/forums/off-topic/5/whos-aspen-is-better/548025/#1
 

  Kinda scary...