REVIEW: ‘Taskmaster,’ Issue #1

Taskmaster #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It comes from the creative team of writer Jed MacKay, artist Alessandro Vitti, colorist Guru-eFX, and letterer Joe Caramagna. The issue opens with what appears to be the scene of an attack. We see blood spatters, broken decorations, and Taskmaster’s telltale shield stuck in the wall. The perspective then shifts to Taskmaster himself on a golf course. He expresses frustration that he has been hired to play in a charity golf tournament against Bullseye.

Before he can hit the links there is one small problem. That problem is the hail of bullets that kill his partner. The mysterious assailant follows him as he flees, showering him with gunfire the whole way. Taskmaster hops into a golf cart in the hopes of escaping, only to see his pursuer keeping pace easily. Eventually, he abandons the cart after it sustains too much damage. Now on foot, he flees only to find himself rescued by an unexpected benefactor. But the good news quickly sours as Taskmaster finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that puts his life and career at risk.

Taskmaster has always been one of my favorite Marvel villains. Thankfully, Taskmaster #1 does a brilliant job of encapsulating the fun and cool aspects of his character. MacKay’s script is a brilliant blend of humor and action. Something about Taskmaster’s ringtone being Dolly Parton’s classic hit “9 to 5” is hilarious and perfectly fitting. His banter with the attacker is fun, even as you can see him shift from concern to panic at their dogged pursuit. The plot itself feels like a setup for a mixture of a superhero movie and a heist flick. Knowing Taskmaster’s ability to mimic the physical abilities of anyone he watches, I can’t wait to see where this story takes him.

The art from Vitti is gorgeous. The action is dynamic and fluid, while also being perfectly easy to follow. The fact that Vitti was able to make a chase scene between a golf cart and a motorbike feel thrilling is a testament to his ability as an artist. The colors from Guru-eFX are similarly eye-catching. The palettes compliment the artwork and help to keep every panel looking vibrant and lively. The letters from Caramagna are an unexpected star of the show. The SFX are well portrayed, and the speech and narration help pull your eyes across the beautiful art. But honestly, I just love how clear and visible they made those Dolly Parton lyrics. I couldn’t help but chuckle every time I saw that yellow text pop up in the corner of the panel.

Overall, I’m a big fan of Taskmaster #1 and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. The creative team has a fun and exciting idea, a great character to execute it with, and a perfect understanding of how that character should behave. As a lifelong fan of Marvel Comics, I can happily report that this series starts out with a bang. If you like action, comic book movies, or comedy, then this is right up your alley.

Taskmaster #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.