The super-hero genre dominates the comic-book industry, and it's a safe bet that there are many more Uncanny X-Men readers out there those who enjoy slice-of-life stories. Watson makes a smart move here. By setting his latest romance book in a super-hero universe, he provides those super-hero readers with a gateway into something different... something far more fulfilling than the latest Batman/Joker brawl.
Nora's new to New York City, and while the frequent battles between superhumans worries her mother back in Wisconsin, she's enthralled by it all. She hopes to happen upon a story she can pitch to her editor at a magazine dedicated to super-heroes. Jack, on the other hand, is frustrated by super-heroes. He works for one, indirectly anyway, and he finds it hard as a single guy in a city full of women who crazy for caped crusaders. Life, and transit schedules, bring these two together.
Watson's simple style boasts a remarkable sense of depth, and it's thanks to the grey tones. He captures a sense of real life with a style that could be described as crude. Of course, there's really nothing crude about it. A few lines converge to convey the subtle nuances of motion and emotion.
I'm a choker too; I admit it. I've always found approaching women to be a daunting task. Some guys have no problem with it, but I'm not one of them. That's why I find it so easy to relate to Jack. His awkwardness with the object(s) of his desire is a notion that I expect many readers -- male or female, gay or straight -- will relish. The truly brilliant thing about Jack's social block is that his excuse is completely off the mark. The opportunities are there, but he just can't see them. It's character-based elements such as this one that stand out as the strengths in Andi Watson's work.
Another such element is Nora's frustration with her job. She's new, but her boss condescends rather than attempting to teach her. Again, it's another one of those universal moments that gets the reader on this second protagonist's side. Nora is juggling her ambitions, energy, a metaphorical invisibility at work and her fish-out-of-water newness in the city, but overall, she seems to handle it well, endearing her to the reader even more.
Given the grounded nature of Watson's last few projects, I was surprised to see that this new ongoing series brought with it super-hero elements. Fortunately, his penchant for down-to-earth storytelling is still in full force. The more fantastic elements are really just part of the setting, not the main story. It reminds me a bit of Kurt Busiek's approach in Astro City, but with an even greater emphasis on the everyday bits of life in such a backdrop.
