I have always loved Alpha Flight, at least the original series and, yes, the idea. A super team staffed and run by Canadians for Canada. I can't help it, I like the concept so I always give it a try.

Well, a fool and his money, you know.

To be fair, this creative team did achieve the impossible. I thought after the last reboot of Alpha Flight that the team could not possibly suffer a worse disservice. And, evidenced by the change in name, I think the powers-that-be at Marvel agreed. Can't name another book Alpha Flight because people still have a bad taste in their mouths from the last one? Let's use the only other letter of the Greek alphabet we know.

Yes, their creativity spans the gamut from A to B. This distasteful mish-mash of contrived concept, slapdash writing, slipshod art and neglectful editing should never have been inked, much less distributed and sold. The entire misguided enterprise screams rush-job. Aren't editors supposed to catch things like this before they see print?

I like a lot of Oeming's writing, which makes me wonder what could have possibly been the impetus for this series? Were some or all of the characters' copyrights about to lapse? I don't believe so. Does someone at Marvel secretly harbor a burning hate of Canada and all it represents? Most of the team were not only not Canadians, but discredited Americans at that. There was nothing to associate this team with Alpha Flight, other than the incidental inclusion of a couple of characters that had been associated with that team.

It didn't even live up to the legacy of the original villainous Omega Flight. Walter Langowski is such a rich character and the best that could be done with him is to turn him into a furry Hulk on angel dust? And what in the name of Aunt Petunia was Beta Ray Bill even doing in this book?

As a writer, I am embarassed to say that I cannot sufficiently express my disapprobation for this drek. I simply lack the words. The English language lacks the words. There is an Ubuntu dialect that has over four hundred different ways to use the sneeze as an expression of insult and it lacks the words.

Scott Kolins is not to everyone's taste, but I think he has done some darned fine and distinctive work in the past. But in this case, the less said about the art the better.