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Midnighter #2
Midnighter, Volume 2: Anthem
The Midnighter discovers who he was before he became the Midnighter and attempts to reconnect with his roots in a small middle American town that's been taken over by an international force of mercenaries.
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2008
89 people want to read
About the author
Keith Giffen
1,940 books214 followersKeith Ian Giffen was an American comic book illustrator and writer. He is possibly best-known for his long runs illustrating, and later writing the Legion of Super-Heroes title in the 1980s and 1990s. He also created the alien mercenary character Lobo (with Roger Slifer), and the irreverent "want-to-be" hero, Ambush Bug. Giffen is known for having an unorthodox writing style, often using characters in ways not seen before. His dialogue is usually characterized by a biting wit that is seen as much less zany than dialogue provided by longtime collaborators DeMatteis and Robert Loren Fleming. That approach has brought him both criticism and admiration, as perhaps best illustrated by the mixed (although commercially successful) response to his work in DC Comics' Justice League International (1987-1992). He also plotted and was breakdown artist for an Aquaman limited series and one-shot special in 1989 with writer Robert Loren Fleming and artist Curt Swan for DC Comics.
Giffen's first published work was "The Sword and The Star", a black-and-white series featured in Marvel Preview, with writer Bill Mantlo. He has worked on titles (owned by several different companies) including Woodgod, All Star Comics, Doctor Fate, Drax the Destroyer, Heckler, Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, Reign of the Zodiac, Suicide Squad, Trencher (to be re-released in a collected edition by Boom! Studios)., T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and Vext. He was also responsible for the English adaptation of the Battle Royale and Ikki Tousen manga, as well as creating "I Luv Halloween" for Tokyopop. He also worked for Dark Horse from 1994-95 on their Comics Greatest World/Dark Horse Heroes line, as the writer of two short lived series, Division 13 and co-author, with Lovern Kindzierski, of Agents of Law. For Valiant Comics, Giffen wrote XO-Manowar, Magnus, Robot Fighter, Punx and the final issue of Solar, Man of the Atom.
He took a break from the comic industry for several years, working on storyboards for television and film, including shows such as The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy.
He is also the lead writer for Marvel Comics's Annihilation event, having written the one-shot prologue, the lead-in stories in Thanos and Drax, the Silver Surfer as well as the main six issues mini-series. He also wrote the Star-Lord mini-series for the follow-up story Annihilation: Conquest. He currently writes Doom Patrol for DC, and is also completing an abandoned Grant Morrison plot in The Authority: the Lost Year for Wildstorm.
Giffen's first published work was "The Sword and The Star", a black-and-white series featured in Marvel Preview, with writer Bill Mantlo. He has worked on titles (owned by several different companies) including Woodgod, All Star Comics, Doctor Fate, Drax the Destroyer, Heckler, Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, Reign of the Zodiac, Suicide Squad, Trencher (to be re-released in a collected edition by Boom! Studios)., T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and Vext. He was also responsible for the English adaptation of the Battle Royale and Ikki Tousen manga, as well as creating "I Luv Halloween" for Tokyopop. He also worked for Dark Horse from 1994-95 on their Comics Greatest World/Dark Horse Heroes line, as the writer of two short lived series, Division 13 and co-author, with Lovern Kindzierski, of Agents of Law. For Valiant Comics, Giffen wrote XO-Manowar, Magnus, Robot Fighter, Punx and the final issue of Solar, Man of the Atom.
He took a break from the comic industry for several years, working on storyboards for television and film, including shows such as The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy.
He is also the lead writer for Marvel Comics's Annihilation event, having written the one-shot prologue, the lead-in stories in Thanos and Drax, the Silver Surfer as well as the main six issues mini-series. He also wrote the Star-Lord mini-series for the follow-up story Annihilation: Conquest. He currently writes Doom Patrol for DC, and is also completing an abandoned Grant Morrison plot in The Authority: the Lost Year for Wildstorm.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 2, 2016
It's rare that I make particular note of the art in one of the comics I'm reading. I think part of this stems from the fact that I started reading comics later in life, so I'm still catching up in terms of my graphic literacy.
But the truth be told, I'm a texty person. I'm a story guy, so I guess it's natural for me to focus more on the words than the pictures.
But the graphics did catch my eye here, and, unfortunately, not in a good way. I read one page where one of the panels had been cut and pasted again and again. And while it wasn't in a fight (people were just sitting on a bench and talking) it was still odd and distracting to have a woman sitting in panel after panel with the same fixed grin on her face when she was supposed to be having a conversation.
The anthem story, which comprises the majority of this volume, was quite good. But the comic that leads off this collection was confusing more than anything. I know what they were trying to do (tell a story backwards) and I respect that they were attempting to do something new and different... but the execution simply didn't work. It almost seemed like they started out with a kinda mediocre Midnighter story, then rearranged the pages in an attempt to make it exciting.
So yeah. I enjoyed it. But this volume had some problems.
Does that mean you should skip the series? No. It's good. And this comic was good too. It's just that I can't be entirely, whole-heartedly gushy about this particular piece of the series.
That said, the next volume is very solid, and since it's a continuation of this storyline, you really need to read this one before that....
But the truth be told, I'm a texty person. I'm a story guy, so I guess it's natural for me to focus more on the words than the pictures.
But the graphics did catch my eye here, and, unfortunately, not in a good way. I read one page where one of the panels had been cut and pasted again and again. And while it wasn't in a fight (people were just sitting on a bench and talking) it was still odd and distracting to have a woman sitting in panel after panel with the same fixed grin on her face when she was supposed to be having a conversation.
The anthem story, which comprises the majority of this volume, was quite good. But the comic that leads off this collection was confusing more than anything. I know what they were trying to do (tell a story backwards) and I respect that they were attempting to do something new and different... but the execution simply didn't work. It almost seemed like they started out with a kinda mediocre Midnighter story, then rearranged the pages in an attempt to make it exciting.
So yeah. I enjoyed it. But this volume had some problems.
Does that mean you should skip the series? No. It's good. And this comic was good too. It's just that I can't be entirely, whole-heartedly gushy about this particular piece of the series.
That said, the next volume is very solid, and since it's a continuation of this storyline, you really need to read this one before that....
February 14, 2020
Tales from the Wildstorm universe.
The Midnighter is sort of Batman, but with Wolverine’s healing ability and attitude/bloodlust x 10.
And, he’s Apollo’s (Superman?) boyfriend.
Two stories contained herein:
Because Midnighter has the ability to see a battle unfold before it starts, the first issue is told from the end to the beginning. Neat.
The second multi-issue story has Midnighter searching for his original identity. This leads him into conflct with a para-military group called Anthem.
And it’s Midnighter up against the entire group…
…and their assorted goons.
Bottom Line : I’ve always enjoyed The Authority stories no matter who the creative team was. Here Giffen aligns his skewed comic touch to The Authority and its ultra-violent world.
Three and a half stars rounded up.
The Midnighter is sort of Batman, but with Wolverine’s healing ability and attitude/bloodlust x 10.
And, he’s Apollo’s (Superman?) boyfriend.
Two stories contained herein:
Because Midnighter has the ability to see a battle unfold before it starts, the first issue is told from the end to the beginning. Neat.
The second multi-issue story has Midnighter searching for his original identity. This leads him into conflct with a para-military group called Anthem.
And it’s Midnighter up against the entire group…
…and their assorted goons.
Bottom Line : I’ve always enjoyed The Authority stories no matter who the creative team was. Here Giffen aligns his skewed comic touch to The Authority and its ultra-violent world.
Three and a half stars rounded up.
April 21, 2019
A young woman throws herself out a window after seeing Midnighter kill a bunch of guys. She accuses him of killing God. Jenny hands Midnighter a disk with information from his past. It mentions his real name - Lucas Trent - and his home address in a town called Harmony. The town is a nest of pro-American extremists called Bellwether who swiftly identify Midnighter and keep him monitored.
November 6, 2010
Giffen to me has been a comedy writer - a good one at that, parodizing the genre damn well. So to see these examples of his hard-hitting, tightly written, well-paced stories is still surprising - but a surprise I'll welcome any day of the week. A master at work is a sight to behold.
August 1, 2010
I actually liked it a lot. I wasn't able to put it down and go to bed so I stayed up till almost 2 hours past my bedtime since it was late when I started it...
December 6, 2022
Book 2, featuring two stories; 'Fait Accompli' and the titular 'Anthem', set in DC's WildStorm universe.
Midnighter is having a crisis of identity, which leads him to seek out his lost past and his forgotten life as Lucas Trent. However, he is soon targeted by Anthem, a private security corporation whose goal is to paint meta-humans as an existential terrorist threat in order to seize more power for themselves.
The first story here is a very short one. It has the interesting novelty factor of being told in reverse, with each page being a step back in time until we finally learn that everything we've read so far is Midnighter predicting the outcome of a fight before it even happens. Structurally it's a really clever idea but in practice it makes for a nigh-on unreadable comic.
The majority of this book is made up of the title story, however, which is thankfully much better. I liked the idea of Midnighter having a crisis of identity, wondering who he was before being transformed into a meta-human, and then embarking on a journey which, ultimately, reveals to him that who he is is Midnighter. Having him viciously dismantle a militant right-wing paramilitary group to discover that was also very satisfying.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
Midnighter is having a crisis of identity, which leads him to seek out his lost past and his forgotten life as Lucas Trent. However, he is soon targeted by Anthem, a private security corporation whose goal is to paint meta-humans as an existential terrorist threat in order to seize more power for themselves.
The first story here is a very short one. It has the interesting novelty factor of being told in reverse, with each page being a step back in time until we finally learn that everything we've read so far is Midnighter predicting the outcome of a fight before it even happens. Structurally it's a really clever idea but in practice it makes for a nigh-on unreadable comic.
The majority of this book is made up of the title story, however, which is thankfully much better. I liked the idea of Midnighter having a crisis of identity, wondering who he was before being transformed into a meta-human, and then embarking on a journey which, ultimately, reveals to him that who he is is Midnighter. Having him viciously dismantle a militant right-wing paramilitary group to discover that was also very satisfying.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
September 30, 2018
Fact Accompli (#7). Yeah, there's sort of a reason for Brian Vaughan telling this story backward, and it's got a few fun bits, but there's really no depth here [3/5].
Anthem (10-15). New author Keith Giffen takes over, and fortunately gets Midnighter back on its feet after four rampling and mediocre issues. This arc has a great premise: who did the Midnighter used to be? It also has a plot that feels positively Authority-like, as we meet a corporation bent on sowing fear and hate into the populace, so that they can then step in and protect them from the heroes that they've demonized. The visuals make this even creepier with a bunch of (literally) faceless adversaries. The arc is at its best when Midnighter is fighting these forces in his "old home town" ... and its a lot weaker when the fight moves out of that concrete, personal environment into the home base of the enemy. Overall, though, it's an arc that really feels like it fits into the rest of the Wildstorm universe [4/5].
Anthem (10-15). New author Keith Giffen takes over, and fortunately gets Midnighter back on its feet after four rampling and mediocre issues. This arc has a great premise: who did the Midnighter used to be? It also has a plot that feels positively Authority-like, as we meet a corporation bent on sowing fear and hate into the populace, so that they can then step in and protect them from the heroes that they've demonized. The visuals make this even creepier with a bunch of (literally) faceless adversaries. The arc is at its best when Midnighter is fighting these forces in his "old home town" ... and its a lot weaker when the fight moves out of that concrete, personal environment into the home base of the enemy. Overall, though, it's an arc that really feels like it fits into the rest of the Wildstorm universe [4/5].
July 2, 2017
I have recently become a fan of Midnighter on the back of Steve Orlando's run and I am now going back over the history of midnighter to find out more about this character.
Midnighter is an interesting character combining being probably the most lethal man alive with being gay and you have a very interesting mix. Culturally Midnighter is an important character, showing that you can be gay and absolute badass is something you don't get to see in any media let alone comics.
In this book the villain Anthem is also very clever, a state built on fear that aims to control the populace to bring law and order, an old trope done in a different way. Anthem make the mistake of going after Midnighter and like all before and after them will love to regret it - that's if they live at all.
Midnighter is an interesting character combining being probably the most lethal man alive with being gay and you have a very interesting mix. Culturally Midnighter is an important character, showing that you can be gay and absolute badass is something you don't get to see in any media let alone comics.
In this book the villain Anthem is also very clever, a state built on fear that aims to control the populace to bring law and order, an old trope done in a different way. Anthem make the mistake of going after Midnighter and like all before and after them will love to regret it - that's if they live at all.
September 15, 2018
The story of Midnighter trying to discover who he was in Harmony, Indiana. The place also happens to be the base of a paramilitary organisation called Anthem, Anthem seeks to take over USA by any means possible. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Midnight was the only person to prevent Anthem's plans and their metahumans.
The story arc was quite interesting, Midnighter's usual humour was indeed, humourous. But the illustration was just awful, it was sort of a butchered manga style. On a side note, this is the volume where Midnighter remained mostly unmasked for his (violent) adventure.
The story arc was quite interesting, Midnighter's usual humour was indeed, humourous. But the illustration was just awful, it was sort of a butchered manga style. On a side note, this is the volume where Midnighter remained mostly unmasked for his (violent) adventure.
April 25, 2018
Gets a bit confusing, but fun to see Midnighter turn the tables by wearing an improvised wig.
April 1, 2025
Downgrade from Ennis.
February 5, 2017
Not bad thing to read after the Ennis run with this one. Nice sleek art, nice violent story.
January 27, 2013
The central premise sounds thin and unpromising, but it genuinely works, allowing insight into Midnighter as a man without ever compromising his essential integrity; he is neither watered down nor weakened by the exploration - very hard to pull off, so kudos. And "Anthem" are bizarrely interesting enough in their own right to make the story highly enjoyable.
September 25, 2019
Rep: gay mc
February 6, 2012
I really liked this one. It makes me want to check out the whole spinoff series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews