Wanted

I don't say this often, but when it comes to Mark Millar's Wanted, you're better off just watching the movie.

About a week or so ago, I decided to watch the film adaptation starring Angelina Jolie alongside the greatest actor of all time - Morgan Freeman. In it, Wesley Gibson is a schmuck going through each day, following the same routines, hating life, knowing girlfriend is screwing his best friend, allowing his fat-ass boss talk down to him. Enter Fox (portrayed by Jolie) who shakes Wesley's world and introduces him to a secret society - The Fraternity - of assassins, which his departed father belonged to. 

I don't usually go for films starring Angelina Jolie - the last movie worth watching was possibly Hackers or something - and normally don't allow films to influence me to read their literary counterparts (this is a flat out lie). But after watching Wanted, I had to read the graphic novel by Mark Millar. After reading it, it's no wonder why those behind the film decided to loosely base their story on that of Millar's. 

Calling Wanted the Watchmen for supervillains is a bit too much. I just can't think of another comparison. Millar created a world in which supervillains are real. Several years after removing the world of the superheroes, supervillains own the world - only no one knows about it. That includes Wesley Gibson, the poor sucker who is slowly rotting away at his day job. Whose girlfriend is fucking his best friend. Whose boss treats him like shit. Who cannot speak up for himself, let alone stand up against those who ridicule and abuse him. Enter the Fox (who, notably, should've been portrayed by Halle Berry) who let's Wesley Gibson in on the little secret, starting with his father - the greatest supervillain to ever live, The Killer. Now that the Killer has been assassinated, it's up to Wesley to take his place (as part of an inheritance agreement left behind by his father). Not only does Wesley decide to take the challenge, he also loves his new life of murder and raping without consequences. Nothing can stand in his way, right? Well, except for the inner feuds long boiling between members of the Fraternity. 

Like I said, I'm glad the movie deviated greatly from the graphic novel. It wasn't the best movie, but it sure as hell had a better story, a better twist and a more realistic feel to it - despite its very unrealistic set up. I suppose, what I'm saying about the graphic novel's ending is that it's a big fuck you to the reader. Oh well, until next time.