The Manhattan Projects #18 – Review

If you’re looking for an extra dose of blood and guts this month, The Manhattan Projects #18 might be just what you’re looking for. But for this issue at least, that’s about all you’d get.

Here’s the official word from Image:

The Manhattan Projects are in peril as the Great Game of the Infinite Oppenheimers is revealed.

Like many readers out there, I love the premise of this title which offers an alternate history that begins after the secret projects of World War II and the creation of the atomic bomb. And while it’s true that Jonathan Hickman’s plots can often meander, giving way to one strange sci-fi development or another, issue 18 is a pretty major departure from anything resembling plot. Example: the bulk of these pages is a bloodbath with the General literally walking around and shooting anything standing as he hunts down an alien that’s attempting to save our captured scientists — the scene is so long it devolves into humor so dark it’s almost silly (but that’s exactly what fans of this title have come to expect). In this sense, it’s forgivable even if it’s not enjoyable.

Nick Pitarra’s art style is almost as quirky as Hickman’s writing style. A blend between old-fashioned cartoons and hyper-realism, he’s found a knack for capturing the insane mood of this book — especially the gory parts.

For longtime fans of The Manhattan Projects, issue #18 will offer a familiar romp full of gore. But for those looking for a story, try again next month.