Bustin’ Loose: ‘Nemesis: Rogues’ Gallery’ #1 Advance Review

Nemesis is a criminal mastermind who should never, ever be counted out. And yet that’s exactly what the collective heroes did at the end of Mark Millar and Pepe Larraz’s epic crossover of last summer, Big Game. Dismissing him as a villain consigned to the history books was not a good call. And for that, they should be ashamed because even paralysed from the neck down, Nemesis is still a savage sonofabitch. A savagery brutally and vividly brought to life by the artwork of Valerio Giangiordano who brings a more precise realism to this series, that only helps realise the bloodletting far more viscerally. A particular one-page splash early in the debut issue of will be all the evidence you’ll need to illustrate my point. But I won’t be spoiling this vicious moment for you here. If you’re a Nemesis fan, you know what you’re walking into. A series where it’s just as much fun watching Nemesis grotesque plans play out as it is admiring the always on point art.

And so, this series is not one in which we will be witnessing a paralysed antagonist wasting away in a hospital for five or six issues, and I don’t think it will be too much of a spoiler to say that he does escape his incarceration. But, as I’ve said, it’s the plan behind it that’s always the fascinating to find out. Something I’ve been wondering about the moment Big Game concluded and a new Nemesis series was announced. And a plan that is most satisfactory as it fuels most of the first issue’s narrative while laying down a subplot that is designed to cause problems for Nemesis, who’s amassed a rogues’ gallery very different from any Batman of the Flash had to deal with, as the subtitle to this third season more than implies. But then again, he’s the bad guy, so it’ll be interesting to find out exactly who his revenge squad will be made up of and what they intend to do to try and take him down. Best of luck with that one if the collective superpowered might of the whole Millarworld can’t.

As well as a tight, taut and tense script from Millar there is also further elements of the Dark Knight filtering into this book. Which, in my mind, are all appropriate inclusions, rather than derivative. Knowingly included to make this bad ass the closes dual opposite to Batman that’s ever been realised since The Wrath from the Batman Special (1984). But turned up to eleven. And then some.

There are aspect of Batman’s relationship with Ra’s Al Ghul, as well as hint of Batman’s many daring escapes in Nemesis’ hospital breakout, but the best inclusion has to be the final two pages of this promising first issue and a set up for this third series that will certainly have a huge impact on Nemesis and Millarworld too. A great statement of intent and reminder of Millar’s own creative mind to paint himself out of corners he creates for himself in the most imaginative of ways.

In conclusion, Nemesis: Rogues’ Gallery #1 is vicious, violent, and a victory of storytelling and art. The man you love to hate is back and he’s taking no prisoners.

Nemesis: Rogues’ Gallery #1 is out on Wednesday 24th July from Dark Horse Comics.