Based on the initial promotion efforts, some have likened this title to StormWatch: Team Achilles. The similarities are only superficial, though. While StormWatch tends to be more cynical and delves into politics, Templeton's script on Human Defense Corps revolves more around characterization while it establishes its premise. The plot twist here is rather obvious, but the narration, in the voice of the main protagonist, is strong and brings credibility to the fantastic premise.
Welcome to Earth in the DC Universe: the target of too many alien invasions to count. The U.S. government has decided that it can't always count on super-heroes alone to pulls its fat out of the fire of extra-terrestrial warfare, so it is establishing a new branch of the armed forces: the Human Defense Corps. Consisting of top-notch volunteers from other branches of the forces, the poster boy of the HDC is Specialist First Class Montgomery Kelly, but the story of how he achieved that status is a dark and ugly one.
The narration establishes a grave tone on the first page, but unfortunately, the art doesn't match it. Don't get me wrong... Sauve offers up some clear storytelling and delivers some energetic, action-packed scenes. But the tone of the script calls for a moodier look, something that looks more reflective and foreboding, and that's not what we find in the visuals. The design for the issue's antagonists isn't as striking and chilling as one might expect either. Sauve's work does elicit an appropriate tone of realism, though, and it reminds me of the styles of Doug Mahnke and Drew Johnson.
There were a couple of plot elements that didn't sit well with me. For some reason, Lois Lane's appearance in the story struck me as off-putting; it's as though there are no other worthy journalists in the DC Universe. I realize that she's here as an indirect link to the world of super-heroes in which the HDC exists, though, and it's a minor quibble at best. I also found that Templeton telegraphed part of his plot twist far too clearly. Watching these soldiers proceed on a mission under what is clearly a significant assumption as opposed to fact doesn't really jibe with the more cautious approach their superiors advise.
Templeton crafts a strong character in Kelly. His cynicism and his self-loathing are traits to which the reader can relate. His bravado and pride are turned on their ear, and it makes for a powerful, personal story amid the more fantastic elements. Templeton delves into the notion of what it is to be a soldier, but he also explores the seemingly dichotomous idea of human frailty. As long as this strong emphasis on character is to be found in future issues, Human Defense Corps should prove to be a thoroughly readable limited series.
