Gen 13 #17

I haven’t read an issue of Gen 13 since I picked up an annual more than a few years back, so I thought it would be fun to revisit the Gen kids. The reason I quit reading the title, other than tired plotting, was the artwork always detracted from these lovable characters. I’m afraid to say that not much has changed since I stopped reading the title. I was refreshed to find that the original cast is still around with Fairchild, Burnout, Grunge and the rest of the gang still causing mischief.
This issue centered on another mind game. As the kids discover (again) that one of their own is a plant by I.O. Sadly, they discovered the same in the original series with John Lynch, their founder/caretaker. So why are we revisiting this same plot line. To save the others, Fairchild must survive a machine that makes her relive her most painful memories visually and will electrocute her if she gets too angry. While an intriguing concept, which could have played nicely into another back story or perhaps even story arc it ended to lead to another storyline to find out who the traitor in the midst is.
Gen 13 has always been New Mutants meets Big Brother, and at first, under the helm of J. Scott Campbell and Jim Lee it was refreshing, and could have been the X-Men for a new generation. Sadly this title reeks of wasted potential. The artwork is too heavy handed, and I don’t know if it’s a style thing for Oliver, but I could not find one panel where a character’s nose was not over-exaggerated or their eyes not crossed slightly. It was clearly amateurish. I had high hopes for this issue but I was ultimately disappointed.
I would have to give this book a five out of ten. The plotting, with a new storyline could be great, however it fails to meet its potential. The same could be said for the artwork. I would recommend this only for the avid collector who must get EVERY single issue of a particular title.
For the best book for 2008 so far, see my post on Battlestar at
http://www.comicbookjournal.net/battlestar-is-pure-dynamite/.
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