I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I'm not especially interested in The Inhumans. There are a few of them I like-Karnak, Ms. Marvel, Black Bolt-but as a child of the 1990's I am conditioned to love The X-Men, and when I think of The Inhumans I think, "Goddamn Marvel. Trying to replace The X-Men with The Inhumans". It's a petty thought. Sure, The Inhumans are more prominent now more than ever, but that's not always a bad thing. In today's Current Issues, you'll learn why. This is Marvel Comic's "Mosaic".
Writer: Geoffrey Thorne
Artist: Khary Randolph
Mosaic: a picture or pattern produced by arranging together small colored pieces of hard material, such as stone, tile, or glass. Or people, in this case. "Mosaic" follows a pro basketball player named Morris Sackett. Sackett has everything he's ever wanted; a celebrity girlfriend, a good father/manager, and a successful career his peers envy. All of that is taken away one night when a Terrigen Mist swallows Sackett and seals him into a cocoon. When he wakes up he's having an out-of-body experience. Literally. Discovering he is some kind of "energy ghost", Sackett watches as his body is researched by Brand Inc, the company he and his Dad are sponsored by. Without control of his new body, Sackett accidentally possesses the body of a kid named Fife. He hops from body to body slowly learning how his powers work. He can possess anyone and learn and utilize any of their skills even if he's in another body. For example: he possesses a man who can speak another language, then he hops into the body of a male nurse. Now-as the nurse-he can still speak the language of his last host. He doesn't know how long these abilities last, and-what's worse-if he spends too much time in someone's body he starts to believe he is that person. Having to ignore his host's memories and thoughts and remember who he is, Sackett is able to make it back to his penthouse.
Once there, he meets Fife again. Because Fife was the first person Sackett hopped into, Fife can see and hear Sackett and could get into the penthouse from memories he picked up from him. From there, Sackett learns from the memories of his female assistant that his life wasn't as picturesque as it seemed. From a young age, Sackett's father knew Morris was special. When he signed on with Brand, it was so the company could monitor Sackett and study his hidden powers. His basketball career, his fame, and his fortune was all synthesized to keep Sackett happy and oblivious. Even his girlfriend was a lie, she was hired by Brand and Sackett's father to be Sackett's girlfriend. In reality, she's actually sleeping with his female agent and the two of them are going along with this so they can get the money and run away together. Seeking answers, Sackett hijacks another body and goes to Brand Inc. But who does he possess?
Spider-Man. Yes, Morris uses Spider-Man's body and powers to break into Brand Inc. and free a bunch of hostages who were people Morris possessed earlier in the book. In the final confrontation, Sackett blows up Brand Inc., kills the head of security, and leaves his father with a promise: He'll be back. For his body. And for him. After this he finds himself with The Inhumans Royal Family, and now he finds himself at a crossroads: To embrace his new Inhuman Family, or to continue his path of vengeance.
Mosaic is a real sleeper hit from Marvel right now. I think Morris is unlike a lot of characters I've seen lately. He's out for himself and you can't really blame him. He's been built up all his life by his father and then learns his entire life was just a set-up. For a pro athlete that must really weighs on his confidence. That's the other thing, his confidence and the lessons his father gave him. "Shiners shine, and grinders grind", is the motto Sackett lives by. His father taught him that if someone is special they should show the world how special they are, but if someone is not special they have to work to be better. So, Morris thinks he's better than everyone on his team. When Morris gets access to Spider-Man's body he tries to learn who Spidey is. But he cannot. After an entire year of his body being possessed by Doctor Octopus, Spider-Man's "Spider Sense" developed an immune system to mind control. Sackett is able to use his body, his powers, and see some fragments of memories, but he can't find Spidey's identity. What he does find is Uncle Ben's "With great power..." speech. Sackett's own motto conflicts with Ben's, which provides great insight to the kind of character he is.
And then there's the whole Inhuman thing. When he met The Inhumans, I was really worried. Usually The Inhumans ruin my books just by putting themselves in the forefront and, sure enough, when he spends enough time with The Inhumans (mainly because the Inhuman known as Iso is hot and he's single now) Sackett is caught in a fight between The X-Men and The Inhumans. Now this part is interesting. Instead of helping The Inhumans, Sackett tries to run away. Kind of like me when I see The Inhumans. But his "not my problem" attitude shines again by proving he doesn't want The Inhuman's problems.
Geoffrey Thorne has worked on episodes of multiple Star Trek series, episodes of the "Ben 10" series, "Law & Order" episodes and much more, so his bones as a writer have already been made. To see him present a character like Mosaic is truly refreshing. Again, this isn't a common character. Sure, guys like Wolverine and Ghost Rider aren't especially chipper or nice, but they at least try to help people. Mosaic just avoids conflict unless it directly effects him, he truly is looking out of number one. Thing is, we don't know how long it will stay that way. Spider-Man was a dick before he learned the world didn't revolve around him, Booster Gold is constantly mired because he spent more time looking out for his own career rather than the betterment of mankind. So only time will tell if Mosaic embraces his new responsibilities. Khary Randolph's art and colors are phenomenal. His art is hard-edged, neatly exaggerated, and very imaginative. When he enters a new body, Mosaic is surrounded by a world of glass fragments, each fragment holding a new memory. And like our minds, it's virtually endless. Khary presents this world of the mind with a distinct style that flows well with the book. The colors bring the book to life too, the bright blue lights featured on Mosaic's body and in the mind world are a great staple color that gives the book a sense of motion. It's also very cool to see two talented Black creators working on a book about a new Black superhero.
All and all, Mosaic is a pretty awesome series. I feel for it the same way I felt for "All-New Ghost Rider" a few years ago. It's refreshing to see a new Black Marvel character who isn't "the new this" or "a new that". Mosaic is an actual original character, divorced of any prior superhero. Even when presented the chance to be an Inhuman member, Mosaic would rather be on his own. It's awesome, really. I hope this book continues to be great and I hope Marvel keeps this character around. A character who can possess the bodies of other characters would be super useful in the future. Mosaic has the potential to be one of the most powerful Marvel characters to exist, and more so, to be one their most praised.
Thanks for reading!
Go check out "Mosaic", it's only on issue seven!
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