DC Comics
Marv Wolfman, writer
Tom Mandrake, artist
To date, Marv Wolfman has returned to his Night Force property three times, the most recent this past year for a seven-issue limited series, and this third Night Force is the best, IMHO, due in no small part to the fact that it WAS a limited series this time out.
The cover of the first issue boldly proclaims this latest Night Force to be "The Classic Series, Reimagined For A New Era!" I think this is mere hyperbole, playing into the newness of the rest of the DCnU relaunch. To be sure, Tom Mandrake's Baron Winters looks quite a bit younger and more athletic in build than in previous incarnations. But the characterization Marv Wolfman supplies is the same old uncaring maestro readers have come to expect. And once again, events from the previous incarnations of this series are referenced as actual past events these characters played a role in and some brief cameos are included by some of those past players. It isn't a stretch to believe that Winters' new, younger appearance is merely due to his ageless quality and/or an after-effect of the last story arc from the previous volume of Night Force.
In this single, seven-chapter story arc, a completely new threat is conceived for Winters and his agents to face. Forces unknown are selectively breeding human beings to achieve their own goals. The threat dates back hundreds of years and is quite epic in scope, very nearly succeeding in bringing about Winters' own demise. And perhaps that is another reason this latest volume seems better than its predecessors: the threat seems dire enough to truly challenge Winters, even frighten him. Winters typically has tended to come across as somewhat bored by his past missions.
Especially if you are a fan of Vertigo comics, these three volumes of Night Force would definitely be worth a look.
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