THE INTERMAN: Volume One

When the CIA rediscovers decades-old records of Interman, a genetic experiment aimed at producing perfectly adaptable Cold War secret agents, panic erupts. Without more information, the allied intelligence services decide the mutant, Van Meach, must be killed before he becomes a dangerous rogue warrior. Until now, Van Meach has lived a relatively normal young man's life and is a threat to no one. He's a successful soldier of fortune, aware that his ability to grow gills, etc., as needed is an advantage, but not challenged enough to explore his past or to test his adaptive abilities' limits. That changes when he suddenly finds himself being hunted by government assassins. This book's episodes show him beginning to discover who he is as he jets between exotic locales with danger at every stop. He's accompanied by an older assassin who wants to get to know Van Meach before he kills him. The concept seems vaguely derivative, cobbled together out of generic parts, and Parker's art doesn't set this book apart from other super-powered young adult adventures. The squiggly drawings look like secondhand Doug Wildey (of Johnny Quest) or perhaps a distant photocopy of Alex Toth. Layout and landscapes are more successful than personality or expression, which limits interest in the characters. Fortunately, Parker's script makes the characters distinctive. Van Meach, in particular, is an appealing hero, mildly ironic without the hard-edged cynicism of many Bond imitators. (July)

FYI:Paramount Pictures has optioned film rights to this comic.