Dave Gibbons's is not a name one expects to see associated with a mainstream DC super-hero project these days, and even then, one would think if he was involved, it would be as an artist. Instead, he provides the script for a title that combines the war genre with space opera quite well. One concern over these "Countdown to Infinite Crisis" titles I've heard several times is accessibility, and Gibbons certainly strives to make this story accessible to those who aren't quite as familiar with DC characters and continuity. Nevertheless, the story is definitely going to resonate more for longtime DC fans, as half of the fun is seeing references to so many established alien races from throughout the DC Universe. Still, Gibbons establishes a surprising, complicated but ultimately effective socio-political structure as the foundation and catalyst for the story.
Adam Strange Zeta-Beams himself to Earth -- to the city of St. Roch in the southern United States, to be exact. He seeks out the city's winged protectors, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and recruits them to avert a war between two worlds. Thanagar, the world to which the Hawks have technological and spiritual connections, has been destroyed, and its populace has relocated on the planet Rann, Strange's adopted home. Extremist factions among the Thanagaranians and the Rannians plot to pit the two peoples against each other, and Strange hopes heroic symbols and legends can avert disaster.
The Action Comics art team of Ivan Reis and Marc Campos move from that Superman title to this limited series. The gritty quality of their collaboration suits the war elements of the book nicely, as well as the raw, primitive side of Hawkman. Unfortunately, their work lacks the sleekness and polish needed to bring the sci-fi elements of the book to life. Their work pales in comparison when held up against what Pascual Ferry did in the recent Adam Strange limited series, and given that Rann/Thanagar flows from that book, comparisons are likely.
Gibbons's explanation of the events of the Adam Strange series and how they sparked this action is clear, and there's even a strong reason in the context of the story for all of the exposition to be included in the dialogue. There's a lot of complicated DC history at play here, but overall, it's fairly accessible. I'm also pleased to see that there's a lot more to the brewing war than a conflict between the peoples of two worlds. Gibbons realizes that one large conflict attracts the attention and involvement of other powers, and that brings credibility to the fantastic tale.
I was kind of disappointed to see the central heroes thrown right into the thick of the conflict in this first issue. Sure, it's nice to see the plot galloping along, but I get the impression the real reason was to offer the audience plenty of action and excitement from the start. I think it would have been more interesting to see the political and social breakdowns that lead to an armed conflict. Furthermore, while many other races are mentioned, none of them turn up here. It's only Rann and Thanagar at this point. Of course, I'm expecting other factions and greater complexity of plot to come in future issues. 7/10
