We’re No. 1! is a weekly feature looking at first issues in new comic series, as well as one-offs and special releases. In his reviews, Jeff highlights stories with diverse characters and plot lines Geekquality readers can care about, as well as points out comics that miss the mark.
Hopefully everyone had a nice holiday period, eating and drinking a little too much and spending time with family and friends. With the comics release schedule thrown off by the holidays, there were fewer new releases than normal last week on Christmas Eve. Thus, we’ll cram all the best and worst #1’s of the holidays together in one jumbo sized holiday special package, just for you.
Last week, there was a handful to choose from, despite the overall low number of offerings. Marvel went back to their biggest star with the second chapter of Wolverine’s secret past, Origin II, #1. With new writer Kieron Gillen joining artist Adam Kubert, the book has a similar look and feel to the first mega-blockbuster series. However, Gillen’s story finds James Howlett living wild in the frozen Canadian wilderness, hunting with a pack of wolves. When the incursion upon their territory by a polar bear leads to the death of his “family”, the man who will be Wolverine is forced to return to the world of men. Polar bears don’t normally roam so far south, and recent global climate events have shown us how dangerous the results can be when they do. In poetic storytelling, Gillen uses these unfortunate climate changes not only as a plot device but a metaphor for the world of men driving the wild things – like Logan himself -into areas that are dangerous to all.
Other notable new series from Christmas week included Image’s The Saviors #1 by writer James Robinson and artist J. Bone. It’s a tale of Tomas Ramirez, whose small town turns out to be housing aliens in disguise. It’s a premise we’ve seen before, and while J.Bone’s art is compelling even in black and white, the plot leaves a lot to be desired in terms of originality. Also out last week was The Deceivers #1from Boom! Studios, written by Steven Grant with art by Jose Holder. Intrigue and mystery rule in this story of two American con men posing as an oil magnate and a disgraced European prince in order to scam wealthy elites. But when a brash CIA agent determines that one of these men is Ulysses, an international terrorist and thief, she pressures both into service to catch … themselves? The plot here is too convoluted to follow in just a single issue, and Holder’s frenetic artwork doesn’t lend itself to clarity here.
Meanwhile, New Year’s Eve bore more fruit at the comic shop with six new series, all from “indie” comic companies. That term seems to have faded more than ever in 2013, with companies like Image, Dynamite, Boom! And Dark Horse cementing themselves more firmly than ever as rivals to the Big Two, and a few of these new releases will surely continue the trend in 2014. The best of the bunch is Legenderry #1, from Fables creator Bill Willingham with art by Sergio Fernandez Davila. It’s a steampunk reimagining of a world filled with Dynamite’s signature pulp heroes. The first issue features versions of The Green Hornet and Dynamite staple Vampirella as they thwart mysterious assassins attempting to kill Red Sonja’s sister. Davilla’s art is polished and gritty at the same time, as Davila does an excellent job with the steampunk aesthetic. Legenderry promises to introduce original takes on characters like the Six Thousand Dollar Man Steve Austin, Flash Gordon, The Phantom and Red Sonja herself, with each issue revealing new characters along the way. The series reads with the charm of the first season of TV’s Once Upon a Time, reintroducing these pulp classics one by one, and I have to say I am hooked. Vampirella, meanwhile, fills the more basic definition of late of “strong female character” as she lets no one step on her toes as the boss, tearing almost a dozen assassins limb from limb with her bare hands. She’s violent and haughty, and attractive in a way that’s not overly sexualized, and I’m inspired for the first time to learn more about the character.
J. Michael Straczynski tackles issues of financial inequality via an old favorite medium with The Twilight Zone #1 from Dynamite. This series begins with a classic cryptic voice over that would fit perfectly into Ron Serling’s mouth, and tells the story of wealthy embezzler Trevor Richmond, a man who represents the worst of the 1%. He’s stealing from his employer, the dying magnate Jason Black, and is set to ruin hundreds of small investors. He denudes the rain forest for profit and runs sweatshops overseas. He’s cheating on his girlfriend, and likely on his mistress as well, and he’s about to get caught. Knowing the FBI and SEC are on his tail, Trevor turns to a mysterious group offering to completely reinvent him. They’ll change his face, his fingerprints, even his DNA, and no one will know he was ever his villainous self, and all it will cost him is … everything. His mysterious benefactors promise to maintain his financial needs but will take the rest of his vast wealth, every penny, and let Trevor ride off into the sunset. Of course, in the Twilight Zone, “everything” turns out to be more than Trevor understands, or is willing to part with. This tale couldn’t be more of a classic set up in the Twilight Zone oeuvre if Rod Serling had written it himself, and Straczynski shows his formidable talent for both comics and television writing on every page here. It will be interesting to see this villainous wealthy man get his comeuppance, for certain, but to see it in such a classic storytelling framework is really the draw here, and it’s worth the cost of admission and then some.
There are a few more solid new #1’s on shelves this holiday week. Revelations #1 is the tale of lapsed Catholic detective Charlie Northern of Scotland Yard, called in to investigate the death of a high ranking cardinal who was next in line to become the pontiff. Charlie’s issues with the Church run deep, and he suffers not just from a lack of faith but a political bias against an organization that holds so much wealth and privilege while purporting to be charitable. The mystery here almost seems secondary to the story and writer Paul Jenkins isn’t’t shy about Charlie’s anti-religious views.
Jonathan Maberry and Eisner ward winning artist Tyler Crook (B.P.R.D., The Sixth Gun) bring us the tale of a young man dealing with cancer who takes on an ancient and deadly vampire after he realizes his chemo-laden blood is the perfect weapon. Dark Horse’s Bad Blood #1 portrays a hero struggling with life threatening disease, as well as a life and death struggle with the undead, making this an interesting take on the horror genre. It’s one to follow, for now. Meanwhile, fans of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series might enjoy a spin-off from Vertigo as the ghostly boy sleuths from that title get their own book in Dead Boy Detectives #1, and if you just like straight up horror about giant bugs(and who doesn’t’t really?) check out David Lapham’s latest from Dark Horse, Juice Squeezers #1. Just don’t expect a lot of social justice issues, or in this case a coherent story set-up, in a tale about teenagers squishing giant insects who’ve come seemingly from nowhere.
