Emil’s love of Hope is put to the ultimate test.
Cable #20
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Pencils: Gabriel Guzman
Inker: Mariano Taibo
Colors: Thomas Mason
Letters: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover: Dave Wilkins
Summary: There’s trapped, and then there’s trapped…like when you’re marooned in the vacuum of space and every part of your ship is crawling with parasitic aliens who want to plant the eggs of their unborn at the base of your spine. There’s screwed, and then there’s screwed…like when Bishop, the mutant cop with a nuke in his arm, is set to blow everything to hell the minute he sees his target—the girl you’ve spent 15 years trying to protect. There’s no time left. No food. No air.
Review: The dramatic conclusion of Emil’s story is brought out in Cable #20. His romance with Hope has been the only real compelling thread of Hope’s saga since the end of the Messiah War. The stress of one’s first true love for a normal human couple is bad enough but when one of those young lovers is either the savior or destroyer of all -sapien life on earth, well, that throws a galactic monkey wrench into the gears.
Hope’s protector and adoptive father Cable uses his brute strength to overcome an Acanti whale before his brain is eaten allowing his edible value to be determined. On the other side of the spectrum is Bishop who is dealing with a telepathic parasite (a sleazoid) baby of the Brood alien race. The hive mind of the Brood controls Bishop in an effort to find Hope who Bishop has promised will be the greatest host for Brood young.
With an army of Brood literally at his back, Bishop plans a faceoff with Cable in order to easily pursue Hope in peace. The predictability of Cable’s dysfunctional relationship with Bishop stirs to the surface. Cable’s only chance against the Brood is to have Bishop’s help. Of course freeing Bishop from the mind control of the aliens means Cable and Bishop will have yet another tête-à-tête. This scenario is old and boring even for readers of just a few issues.
Pay attention to the tough decisions made by Emil and the series will be much more satisfying than if you focus on the repetitive fights which simply lack originality. Not a single component of the art helps either. The character renderings are only passable on occasion and the colors are too bright for a space adventure. That leaves the inks which aren’t as abundant as they should be. Only dedicated fans will stick it out with this title.
