The premise here isn't an easy one to describe. It's part Incredible Hulk, part Iron Giant, part Frankenstein and part Less Than Zero. It's certainly from a traditional super-hero comic book, and that's what has me the most intrigued. I love that DC is taking chances on unconventional comics such as this one and Hard Time (which also debuts this week). One gets the sense that they're really open to new ideas, even those that are set in the confines of DC's super-hero continuity, which is some ways is synonymous with the notion of static characters. I just hope these new ideas catch on despite the lack of "name" recognition of the main characters among the potential readership.
Brooklyn, 1932. Poverty and corruption are the order of the day, and a tightly-knit immigrant neighborhood finds itself desperate for work and for justice. A rabbi, a seamstress and a Chinese neighbor gather together to try and even the odds, creating a protector and a champion for the masses of the lower class. Brooklyn, 2004. The homeless, drug-addicted granddaughter of that seamstress learns of her inheritance... a house, money and opportunities. But they come with a price, and with a responsibility to guide that long-forgotten protector anew.
Phil Winslade's detailed style and lean figures suits the grounded tone of this first issue quite well. The emphasis here is on real people, survivors from yesteryear and today, not the behemoth of a protagonist referred to in the series title. I was particularly impressed with the panel progressions in the opening sequence as well. Winslade incorporates flashbacks perfectly in an explosive and tragic introduction. The dialogue lets us know that a horrible vision of violence is unfolding, but closeups on characters' hands and the interspersing of flashbacks in an elderly couple's life creates an oddly quiet and slow mood. Tension looms over the scene, but there's an unusual peace and finality at play as well.
Chuckry's colors impress as well. He casts an appropriately dark mood over the story, and I like the blander, earthy tones he uses to convey the setting and lower class elements, especially in the flashbacks.
What impresses me most about this debut issue is how Palmiotti and Gray carry the reader into two dark, urban settings. Speaking as someone who lives in a suburban Canadian city, the overt violence and fear that exist in many poor urban neighborhoods are rather alien to me, but the writers bring the harsh environment that Alice lives in -- one she fears but seems to rely upon at the same time -- to life. The other gritty setting is what really grabbed my attention, though. They convincingly tell the reader of life in Depression-era Brooklyn, realistically portraying the cultural mosaic, sense of community and work ethic that continue to represent the American Dream, even in the 21st century.
Another strength is the seemingly dichotomous personality that the title character seems to possess. We don't see much of him in this first issue, but we get a sense of him as an innocent, but also as a ferocious beast. It's clear that he's not just a run-of-the-mill super-hero. The writers seem prepared to explore different ethical territory with these characters, and that should help distinguish this book from other DC Universe titles.
Note: Some of the comments in this review were reproduced from a previous feature on the website.
