On the surface, Gravity seems like a generic new super-hero, the sort of young tyro hero Marvel is known for. In some ways, there's really not much new to be found in these pages, but to view it that way would require one to overlook the strong, genuine voice that writer Sean McKeever instills in young characters. Those who have read his small-press series The Waiting Place won't be surprised, though. Teen/young adult characters are what McKeever does best, and he proves here that he hasn't lost his touch. It's obvious that the synergy he and Waiting Place collaborator hasn't faded either.
Greg Willis is fresh out of high school, and he's travelled from his home in America's heartland to the Big Apple, looking to carve out a new life and new destiny for himself. It's not his enrolment at NYU that has him excited, though... it's that he's finally arrived in the city famous for its super-heroes. Greg is ready to join their number, and when his first meeting with his student adviser is cut short by a superhuman melee on campus, Greg is presented with his opportunity to make his debut -- as Gravity.
Norton captures the wonder of New York and the awe of a small-town kid perfectly here, and their among the most important elements in the story. I'm also quite struck by the new character designs. The Gravity look is bright and sleek. Black Death is a truly visually striking villain. He exudes menace, and I hope he's not just a throwaway character. The colors are appropriately bright, given the innocent nature of the title character and the traditional super-hero approach that's embraced in the script.
Though I made the journey from a small town to New York on the cusp of my 30s (only to return a short time later after the dot-com I was working for went bust), I can totally relate to Greg's elation at being in the City That Never Sleeps. All visitors to the city swear they'll never stare up and gawk at the sights, but we all do. And that's fine. It's an amazing place, and McKeever nails that feeling one gets when one steps out of the Port Authority and discovers it.
McKeever's story is essentially a hero who feels like he belongs in the Silver Age stepping into the modern world. I love the little touches such as Rage's accusation of racism and a victim's intent to sue Gravity for his benevolent actions. The young hero is in over his head, and his learning curve in the world of super-heroes mirrors the coming of age we all experience when we leave the safe confines of home and high school. 8/10
