I didn't expect to enjoy this comic book. Though I followed a couple of CrossGen's "sigil" titles faithfully (Meridian and Scion), the shared-continuity qualities of the CrossGen Universe have never appealed to me. This series is all about bringing those shared elements together and explaining how the pieces of the sigil puzzle fit together. It's not wonder my interest in the book was low. To my surprise, though, Bedard offers up not only an accessible crossover book, but an exciting story that also serves as something of a commentary on the dominance of the super-hero genre in the comic-book industry. What really grabs the reader, though, is the intensity and ambition of Pelletier's artwork.
In the newsroom of a daily metropolitan newspaper, a spunky reporter tries to goad her bespectacled colleague into admitting he is a powerful and revered super-hero, but as always, she has no luck. Her luck -- and that of the city's entire populace -- turns much worse when powerful ships and beings appear from out of nowhere to decimate all within their path. Charon, the mad god emperor of the Negation Universe, has begun his conquest of other realities. Meanwhile, Obregon Kaine and his allies meet an unusual entity with a fantastic story... and a shared hatred of Charon.
Pelletier captures an Authority-like quality in the violence in the opening scene. It's meant to shock, to paint Charon and Evinlea in the worst possible light, and the artist succeeds in his task. The lighter leanings in Pelletier's super-hero style are still to be found here, but he demonstrates that he's capable of grisly visuals as well. The design for a sigil super-hero is appropriately iconic, since he's meant to remind the reader of Superman. I love how the color effects bring out Charon and Appolyon's power as well.
I'm honestly stunned by how accessible the plot is here. Bedard draws heavily upon story elements from Negation and The First to serve as the foundation of the plot, but it's remarkably easy to delve into this story, a combination of science-fiction, fantasy and war genres. Even those with no knowledge of CrossGen's titles will be able to follow along and enjoy this over-the-top tale.
What's most interesting about this script is Bedard's incorporation of a super-hero archetype into the story. CrossGen has never been about traditional super-hero stories, but this was a smart move. First of all, incorporating the new character into the opening scene gives new readers something familiar to connect with. Furthermore, Bedard's treatment of that character is a not-too subtle symbol of the need for bigger publishers to look beyond the super-hero genre.
