My feelings about this comic book are as divided as a cell in the middle of mitosis, I'm telling you. There's a lot about the title I like, and there's a lot about it that just doesn't work. I'm pleased to see a writer/artist tackling a monthly series; that's a real rarity these days, especially when it comes to a DC Universe title. Furthermore, Willingham embraces a lighter tone that's in keeping with DC's efforts to return to more traditional super-hero storytelling. Still, there are several plot points that just make no sense, and while Willingham introduces the heroes of the story clearly, he fails to offer the same level of accessibility when it comes to the new villains introduced in this debut issue.
The town of Riverrock, Wyoming, has been taken over by a band of supernatural mercenaries bent on performing a grisly ritual, and the mystical villains have sealed the community off from the rest of the world with an impenetrable magical barrier. Superman can't get through it. Green Lantern can't make a dent in it either. But the Phantom Stranger can open a temporary doorway to allow a select group of champions -- the Shadowpact -- access to the interior to save the day. It's been a year since the magic-based heroes embarked on their mission, and still, there's not been a peep from within.
Bill Willingham has been known primarily as a comics writer in recent years, so it's understandable if newer readers might be unaware he's an artist as well. He hasn't lost his touch, and honestly, it's nice to see a writer/artist tackle a monthly series from a major publisher again. The art here is much brighter than what we saw from Justiniano in Day of Vengeance (the limited series that spawned this ongoing spinoff), but the tone of the storytelling is much more traditional, so it fits. Willingham's work here reminds me a bit of Amanda (JSA Classified) Conner's bright, energetic style.
I like the writer's unusual approach to the One Year Later concept (even though this title isn't billed as an OYL title). It's a tidy plot idea that gives the story greater weight. The key scene in the book comes fairly early on, as the villains reveal their plans to the townsfolk they've taken captive. Strega's explanation of a mass human sacrifice demonstrates a practicality and intelligence in the character that makes her more interesting. But ultimately, her plan just doesn't seem feasible; it makes more sense to deceive the populace rather than to attempt to cow them with blunt brutality.
There are a number of plot points that I found difficult to accept. One of the most glaring was the notion that after months, the super-hero community and the U.S. military would turn their backs on Riverrock and the Shadowpact, simply because there's been no change. I suppose it's quite possible that would come to pass, but Willingham really doesn't convey the passage of time well enough for that idea to work. I also thought portraying Detective Chimp as someone who struggles with a serious alcoholism problem flies in the face of the goofy and entertaining tone of the character. A character named Detective Chimp does not need pathos. 5/10
