I thought this series was going to explore the lives of familiar super-hero characters had they not developed the powers that led them to don colorful costumes and set off looking for trouble and adventure. In some respects, the script does do that, but the main point here seems to be a mystery. The narrator here is aware something is amiss, that the seemingly regular people around him are meant to be something more. It's not what I expected from this book at all, but the dark atmosphere that looms over the story and the strength of the narrator's voice won me over. Factor in the return of Michael (Alias) Gaydos's artwork and you get a satisfied reader.
Dr. William Watts is a psychiatrist whose practice is based in Manhattan. Among his patients is a new visitor by the name of Peter Parker, who's picked on by his peers for his nerdy nature and his deformed arm, the result of a spider bite. Also looking to hire Dr. Watts is a lawyer, Matthew Murdock. Murdock is representating Frank Castle, on trial for killing the man accused of killing his family. Watts is uneasy with the case and turns Murdock down. But that's not all Watts is unsure of. He's having visions of seemingly god-like figures in the sky over New York, of climactic battles between heroes and villains who never existed. And he gets the feeling that he's encountered some of these exceptional phantoms.
Gaydos's realistic figures and dark style help to instill an air mystery throughout this issue. His work here reminds me a bit of Tony (Ex Machina) Harris's style, though looser and grittier. He handles more grounded characters better than the gaudier figures of the super-hero genre; there's an unnatural and awkward quality to his depiction of heroes and villains in Watts's visions. But that unsettling quality works with the story, as do the eerie colors Lee Loughridge brings to bear here.
It's interesting to see the alternate takes on familiar characters that the writers offer up here. Dr. Strange is a particularly odd and unfortunate figure, as is the vision of Frank Castle without the thirst for vengeance. Other characters are far more like their super-hero counterparts. Matt Murdock isn't different at all, and Logan is sadly still all attitude and snarl, head to toe. I honestly thought this story was going to forego all the superhuman and fantastic elements, and that doesn't appear to be the case. It's too bad, and I'd prefer the heavier emphasis on character over super-hero plot. The impression I get here is that some force has mucked about with reality in the Marvel Universe, and Watts is the key to uncovering what's happened.
Fortunately, there's plenty of characterization to be found in Watts. His voice, in which most of the narration is presented, really rings true. There's a sadness to the character, an ennui arises from listening to the mundane problems of his patients. He suddenly finds himself connected to something much larger than he's ever experienced before, and his fear, though subtle, is palpable, as is his sense of wonder.
