The fourth and final title in the first (and perhaps only) wave of the DC Focus line hits store shelves this week. Given the inconsistent nature of the quality of the line -- the titles range from Touch's merely competent craft to Hard Time's inventive and riveting storytelling -- the question that arises is where Fraction falls in that spectrum. Well, it's not the strongest DC Focus title, but it's not the weakest either. It's a diverting tale with art that captures both the surreal and gritty qualities of the story. It's not going to set the industry on fire, though, and that might call into question its long-term viability, not to mention that of the entire imprint.
Four friends from the wrong side of the tracks head out to celebrate the return from prison of one of their number. While staggering through the city, they decide to relive one of their youthful indiscretions, and that leads them to a surprising discovery: a suit of high-tech armor. Each grabs a piece, and the power contained within promises to change their lives. But will it be for the better, or will it destroy them?
Green's artwork shows a clear European influence in its detail, though I'm also reminded of the unique style of Malaysian artist Tang Eng (Doom Patrol) Huat. The elongated faces of the main characters adds a dreariness to them, reinforcing the somewhat ugly tone of the unfortunate world in which they exist. The the simplicity of the armor design makes for an interesting contrast with the corruption of the characters and setting. The limited color scheme, a trademark of the DC Focus line, it would seem, and the muted tones employed, bring an appropriately uncomfortable quality into the mix, but I think a broader range of colors could have helped the story by reinforcing the sad reality of the characters' lives.
Another problem with the color scheme is that it doesn't enable enough in the way of differentiation among the characters. Mind you, Tischman's script does, maintaining clarity and accessibility while not being obvious about providing exposition. There's a genuine quality to the dialogue as well. These 20-somethings sound like real people. The script doesn't suffer from Bob Haney-itis, which is, like, totally groovy. (Kidding.)
The essential premise behind this story is what four regular guys of varying degrees of amoral personalities would do if they happened upon Iron Man's armor. It's a solid premise, but the plot here is more than a little transparent. The story's predictability is its greatest liability, but there's plenty of potential in the premise and these characters, once the writer gets a chance to explore them in depth.
