Alex Ross illustrating Marvel Dimensions

Gizmodo's talking about a new Marvel project artist Ross is drawing, with the Golden Age Human Torch prominently featured:

Called Marvel Dimensions, it starts off telling the origins of iconic characters, one of which io9 can exclusively reveal. Below, you can see his take on the birth of the Human Torch—specifically, the Jim Hammond android. Created by Carl Burgos and first appearing in 1939’s Marvel Comics #1, Hammond was made under Marvel’s predecessor, Timely Comics, and stood as one of its “Big Three” alongside Captain America and Namor.

Using Hammond’s longtime sidekick Toro—also made by Burgos, debuting in 1940’s Human Torch Comics #2—Ross establishes what Marvel Dimensions is aiming for and how unlike anything else the android would’ve been to the world in 1930s Marvel. Like in the original comics, Dimensions‘ take on Hammond gradually learns to control his flames and fights Namor before the two help America with “the Big One” that was WWII. [...]

There’s another hook to Dimensions, and that’s the promise of Ross shifting from origin stories to “something darker and more unpredictable.” The specifics of that are under wraps, but the pre-Torch pages tease at what could be. On the moon, a Watcher points out the “notable differences” between different worlds and details that could emerge from additional perspectives like Toro’s. The book features heavy hitters like Spider-Man and the X-Men, and under Ross’ photorealistic hand, they have the potential for stories both illuminating and strange as the synopsis suggests.

Right, because all we need is darkness without light at the end of the tunnel. Seriously, no matter what the setting, it's appalling how they keep doing something that's actually predictable today. And if the Golden Age stories already portrayed Hammond learning to best master his powers, why does it need to be retold in brand new format that badly? Do they think the early art samples are that bad to the point they believe new audiences can't appreciate it, especially in an era where art's become uninspiring? Another example of lacking confidence in how to market older tales to newer audiences.

I don't deny Ross is a talented artist in his own way, but "photorealism" is hardly my cup of tea in an era where phony realism's become the norm too often with woke pandering, and when past stories are emphasized too often, no attention is paid to newer issues that could be challenging. Something they made every effort to avoid for years now. And under current Marvel management, they no longer have the potential to be illuminating, nor strange in a good way.