Comics / Spotlight / Progressive Panels

Siege: Embedded #1 (of 4)

By Andy Frisk
January 8, 2010 - 21:38

After the events of Siege #1, where Norman Osborne manufactures a disaster on a scale large enough to give him carte blanche to pursue his agenda of domination even further, reporter Ben Urich and cameraman Will Stern, both covering the disaster, get an even bigger opportunity to expose Osborne for who he is...

Siege: Embedded is the story of two journalists' quest to uncover and report Osborne's machinations. As the world's media descends to cover Osborne's disaster, world class reporter Urich is barred from reporting on it. He's on Osborne's list of journalists not allowed on site. The media darling Director of HAMMER is a media darling only because he carefully controls the type of reporter he allows to cover his actions. Namely, he only allows those insane enough or blinded enough to believe his lies to report on him. Todd Keller, the Glen Beck of the Marvel Universe, who dominates the first several pages of Siege: Embedded #1 in a hilarious parody of the real life Beck, becomes Osborne's official mouthpiece. The irony of this is so thick, no explanation is necessary, except maybe that it's a very insightful irony...

Reed manages to put together a perfect first issue to the first mini-seiries to spring out of Marvel Comics' new event The Siege. There are no superheroics, except for perhaps Volstagg's eating abilities, but plenty of well plotted, if rather ironically obvious, satire and commentary. The sheer amount of intelligent, insightful, and important commentary running through major event titles at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics currently has been simply amazing in its quality. Comic books are often considered the fool of written and drawn fiction, but who better to demonstrate and point out the emperor's shortcomings than the court jester?

Samnee's art is perfect for this series. His style of realistic approach to his subject meshes well with the importance of the underlying theme of Siege: Embedded. Wilson's dark colors don't suffocate the artwork, like heavy coloring can, but rather casts an ominous gloom over the events of issue #1. It's a fitting metaphor for what's happening and even more fitting a metaphor for the days ahead for the Marvel Universe if Urich and Stern fail.

Siege: Embedded looks to potentially be the Siege event that's not to be missed. In the end Siege will portray the downfall of Osborne through pleny of super powered fist fights and battles, but Siege: Embedded will chronicle the actions of some closer to real life heroes: the serious reporters (not "entertainers" like Beck and Keller) who serve as the cornerstone of the "Fourth Branch," and who at least try to keep the demagogues honest.

Rating: 10 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12