THE POWER COMPANY SAPPHIRE #1
"Hatch of the Serpent's Egg"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
|
DC Comics
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Mark Farmer & Keith Champagne
Colors: Carla Feeny & Digital Chameleon
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
There are a number of aspects that really work to this one-shot's favor. Some strong characterization from Busiek and the always fun and kinetic art of Bagley make for a pleasant read, which comes as no surprise. But there are also a lot of stereotypical elements that made me wince as well. Though her origins are cliched, Sapphire's motives and emotions should make for some good team storytelling in the upcoming Power Company series.
The Justice League rushes to San Diego to prevent disaster as two rival factions of the Kobra Cult prepare to go to war. Caught in the middle is Candy Gennaro, a runaway whose primary concern in life was where she'd find her next meal... untl she finds herself trapped in Kobra's high-tech sub, the Sea Serpent. Undetected, she learns what the cult leader was really after in San Diego: an alien gem that bonds with a host, becoming a metamorphosizing suit of armor.
Bagley's lighter style -- as well as Feeny's bright colors -- suits the traditional super-heroics of this story. He captures the title character's youth adeptly, and what could have been a confused and crowded story flows smoothly and clearly. There are a lot of characters jumping around in this script, yet the art never seems cluttered. There's an energy in Bagley's angular art keeps things moving along at a brisk and entertaining pace.
Exactly how this story is going to play out is painfully obvious early on. Sapphire's origin and her powers are far from unique, and it threatens to rob the character of any sense of individuality. Though I found the notion of a war within the Kobra Cult to be quite interesting, Busiek skims over it quickly. Instead, he focuses on the corny, villainous tone normally associates with the character.
While Sapphire's powers are rather run-of-the-mill for super-hero comics, her personality is much more developed and interesting. She is defined by her will to survive and perservere. I can relate to the character's fear, to her sense of being overwhelmed by circumstances beyond her control. Her inexperience will make for a refreshing change of pace among the other members of the Power Company.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
