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This is easily one of the top 5 graphic novels I have ever read (and I have read quite a few of them). I'll keep this short and say that both the story and the art are breath-taking. Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee basically made a name for themselves with this series. It shines a new light on the so-called "superheroes," The Inhumans. More about politics, evolution, and power than any real superheroics, The Inhumans is not to be missed.
One other note -- 9 year olds will be completely lost in this story. This is definitely NOT a children's book, not because of content, but for sophistication. It's insulting to all graphic novel readers for Amazon to label them as children's books simply because of their medium.
Rating:  -
Based on their current series Sentry, I decided to give Jenkins and Lee's previous series, Inhumans, a try by picking up this book. And a very pleasant surprise it is! Jenkins crafts a story about an outcast group of superhumans under their enigmatic, mute leader Black Bolt and his royal family, living in their city of Atillan behind an impenetrable dome on a remnant island of the former Atlantis. Black Bolt's mad brother Maximus launches a subtle and devastating plan to recapture the crown, hinging on the Inhumans' isolation from the rest of the world. Told in a mixture of sweeping narrative and down-to-earth thoughts and experiences of Black Bolt's subjects, Jenkins effectively humanizes the inhumans while still making them seem apart from mankind.
Lee's art is a fine companion to this story; he's come a long way from his muddy work on Namor in the early 90s. Stylish and haunting, his figures nonetheless have a sense of reality to them (well, as much as figures with green skin, scales and wings can seem 'real'), and his layouts are similar to Kelley Jones' art on Sandman.
The book falls short of perfect, however. The story leaves open questions such as why the Inhumans returned to Earth (they've been living on the moon for the last several years, which seemed to be the perfect solution to the fact that Earth's polluted atmosphere is poisoning them; new readers of the Inhumans may be confused as to exactly where they've returned *from*), and the ultimate plan behind all of the actions here only barely makes any sense (it seems an awfully high price to pay for the stated goals). Lee's artwork often seems a little too focused on the figures, leaving the backgrounds in shadow and making everything feel detached. More attention to the characters' surroundings would make the story feel even lusher.
But ultimately this is a very rewarding book, not quite like anything else out there.
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Jenkins captured the essense we never knew about the Inhumans. I never read the Inhumans in my life. I only read reveiews and on-line comments on this series. So with extra money, I gave this a try. Like I said, Jenkins gave me the Inhumans I NEVER knew. They're pretty cool after the read. The art of course is indescribable. It's simply stunning. But the story is complicated and very fresh. No wham bam pow boom! It has political intrigue, schemeing plots, suspense, and downright horror. It's not might vs. might, it's might vs. right. The Inhumans could easily punched their way out of trouble, but they showed us how truely ingenius they are and in doing so, how heroic as well. Jenkins takes heroism to a whole different and provoking level as if he is telling us the difference between being human and being a superhero. The Inhumans tradepaperback is not cheap. But it is printed on good paper and is great to keep on a bookshelf. I'd recommend it, but I will reserve some caution. The story is compelling but also complicated and twisted. The artwork is supurb,but there's so much going on, the art will lose itself to the story and vice versa. Many readers may become bored or lose their minds reading this complex graphic novel. But fear not, if you are unfamiliar with the Inhumans, as I was, it would not hinder your enjoyment. NO backgrounding required. No buying other issues to get the complete story, it's all here. It's truely an imaginative work.
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This superbly crafted work of super-heroic fiction collects Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee's inspiring 12-issue maxi-series 'Inhumans.'
No doubt this earns a place on the shelf against the likes of Watchmen, Maus, From Hell and select others. Certainly one of the better books of sequential art.
An extraordinary team-up of writer/artist. Very few mesh so well together to drive the story to levels that render emotional vehemence whilst providing undaunted prose (so clearly displayed in issue #9).
No knowledge of Marvel history/continuity is needed.
Please read also 'Sentry' of the same creators. Look for it, it will be here soon.
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I'm not exagerating when I say that this is pretty near the best comic story I have ever read. The only thing that could compare is Frank Miller's work on Batman and Sin City. The first thing to catch my eye was Jae Lee's artwork. I still think of his work on WildCATs Trilogy as some of the worst art I have ever seen. But with each new page of Inhumans, I was blown away by his dark, forboding style. He has refined his technique into a thing of true beauty. The story, however, is what truly sets Inhumans apart. Paul Jenkins is able to juggle an incredible number of complex characters while still dealing with issues of racism, classism, fear, and hatred. Somehow, he handles so much and still prevents the story from ever becoming bogged down. Through it all, he uses a technique rarely found in comics today, subtlety. If you like comics, buy this. If you just enjoy a good story, buy this. If you know how to read, for Pete's sake, buy this. As a final sidenote, Lee and Jenkins are presently three issues into a five issue series for Marvel called "Sentry." If you have the ability to get your hands on them, I highly recommend these as well. Keep and eye on these two boys, they are by far the best Marvel has to offer.
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