If the first two issues of Dynamite’s new Ben 10 relaunch were meant to pull in new readers who weren’t familiar with the original animated series and longtime fans aching for new Ben 10 content, then Ben 10 #3 is the issue that will either fully hook them or serve as a hopping off point. In either case, there’s plenty to make a longtime reader out of fans old and new: not only is Ben almost run over by his cousin Gwen, who incorrectly mistakes him for the alien causing intense havoc, but the bounty hunter Kraab is on the warpath – and their Grandpa Max is in the crossfire!
Again, I love that Man of Action – specifically Joe Casey, who handles scripting duties – has taken the right “realistic” approach to rebooting Ben 10. Most fans and some creators incorrectly believe that for a property to be “taken seriously”, it has to be full of bloody violence, swearing, and sex. That not only feels like a truly immature approach to storytelling, but it misses that you can revamp a property and take a realistic approach without descending into nihilism. Ben 10 #3 is a great case; while there’s still casualties on Krab’s end, it takes the time to explore Ben’s state of mind as he’s still getting used to the Omnitrix. In perhaps one of the best moments, he freely admits to Gwen he’s scared, which feels plenty real to me.
I also love the big shakeup concerning Grandpa Max, namely that he reveals he knows about aliens from the jump. The original Ben 10 series took a whole season before Ben and Gwen learned more about Max’s past. Having him reveal it now not only shakes up the dynamic longtime fans have come to expect, but also leads to some badass moments. Case in point: Max’s RV, which is affectionately named the “Rustbucket,” feels less like a typical RV and more like a tank on wheels. Which is perfect for battling alien bounty hunters!
Dynamite
Robert Carey’s artwork might remain a point of contention for some people. A large part of that is due to the alien designs, as Cannonball feels less like the roly-poly alien he was in the original series and more like an eldtrick horror thanks to the way Carey draws his face. It also doesn’t help that Carey adds an element of body horror to Ben’s transformations, with his flesh stretching and distorting in inhuman moments. But some fans will be happy to see Carey’s take on Diamondhead, who’s been one of Ben’s most iconic aliens. Not only does Diamondhead still retain the jagged edges running throughout his body, but he’s also part of an intense fight scene that involves him sending Kraab flying with one punch.
Once again, Taylor Esposito and Ren Spiller do a great job of giving each alien their own unique speech patterns. Diamondhead’s speech bubbles are lined with a crystalline barrier, Cannonball’s are distorted and purple, and Kraab speaks in a robotic pattern. It makes each of them feel distinct, and speaks to a wider galaxy out there. The final pages also hint that Ben isn’t out of the woods yet, as both the military and the vile Vilgax are on his heels.
Ben 10 #3 closes out its first story arc with plenty of action and alien life forms, while also throwing in a twist that redefines the events of the classic series. As someone who was a fan of said series, I’m enjoying the direction that this one is going in.
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