When CrossGen announced its new creator-owned imprint, Code 6, this was one of the first projects that was announced, and the premise really caught my attention. Writer Robert Rodi was bringing together various facets of genre fiction in a mish-mash of characters, and it promised to be a laugh riot. Well, the laughs aren't to be found in this first issue, as Rodi and company present us with the setup first, appropriately enough. Though this issue didn't tickle my brain as I expected, it seems clear that subsequent chapters can easily achieve that potential for the yuks.
The Crossovers seems like a typical family. Carter, the dad, works hard to provide a nice home for his wife and kids. Calista, the mom, dotes on her family and works part-time. Cris, the older sister, does well in school but thinks she's fat, and Cliff is the youngest, not to mention the moodiest. But each one is hiding a secret life from the others... lives of danger and mystery, but now, it looks as those elements from those secret lives are about to intrude on their everyday lives.
Mauricet is a Belgian artist whose bright style suits the book nicely. He's teamed comics veteran Ernie Colon on inks, and his cartoony style is also right at home with this material. The collaboration reminds of Paul (Chronos) Guinan's style mixed with that of Amanda (The Pro) Connor or perhaps Richard (Soulsearchers and Company) Howell. McNabb's colors are also appropriately bright. The character designs are rather ordinary, though, but Rodi's premise really calls for cookie-cutter heroes, since he's toying with archetype and genre, rather than telling a character-driven tale.
A vampire slayer, a super-hero, a warrior princess and an alien abductee... all under one roof and none of them knows about the others' weird sides -- I loved the concept when I first heard it and I still like it. The opportunities to poke fun at the various genres are plentiful, but Rodi doesn't capitalize on them here. Understandly so, though, as first, he has to introduce us to all of the players. The problem is that as a result, we get all of the corny, cliched elements Rodi plans to mock with none of the clever commentary...
... Yet. That clever commentary hasn't made its way into the first issue, but there's every reason to believe that it's coming with the second issue. Despite a hum-drum debut, I'm still chomping at the bit to see this premise take off and capitalize on its inherent humor.
