This is a special promotional comic book Dark Horse put together to help hype the upcoming 2003 launch of www.cityofheroes.com, an online multiplayer game in the super-hero genre. I don't have enough time to delve into such a hobby, but I do have enough time to enjoy a comic book every now and then. Dakan offers up a fairly standard super-hero story in a typical super-hero universe, but he includes hints of cynicism that are intriguing. And Zombo, in addition to having a last name that sounds like it belongs to a super-villain or alien sidekick, delivers some standard but fun artwork.
A new hero who calls himself Thunderclap aims to make a name for himself in the City of Heroes, so as soon as he arrives, he dives headfirst into a hazard zone. He discovers two other fairly unknown heroes doing battle with a cyberpunk street gang, but the trio of costumed characters soon find themselves face-to-face with a far more deadly foe. Fortunately, they also encounter a living legend with power and experience to spare.
Zombo's artwork is energetic, fun and full of detail. He boasts a fairly standard super-hero style. I'm reminded of the work of Ron Garney and Ron Frenz, but there's nothing here that strikes me as particularly unique to Zombo. He's still a developing artist, but he's definitely got the mechanics of comic-book storytelling down nicely. The heroes' designs are rather ordinary, but the giant robot boasts a cool, dark, sleek look.
The setting itself is fairly generic and sometimes vague, but I really don't think Dakan is responsible. He's limited by the premise of the online game this book promotes, and the radically different aspects of the city -- shining beacon of civilization with a post-apocalyptic landscape behind a wall -- seems to clearly point to an environment designed specifically with gaming in mind.
What I did enjoy about the script was that the protagonists aren't stereotypical paragons of heroic virtue. Thunderclap and the others are looking to make a name for themselves. They're after glory. Hell, Thunderclap sounds like he's really just after a job. I like that the heroes aren't selfless, that they're in this for status, for thrills. Furthermore, we're not saddled with a typical hero-versus-hero misunderstanding. Dakan's take on super-heroes in society is grounded, and I'd like to see more of it.
This book doesn't carry a cover price, so I can only assume it's a promotional giveaway. Perhaps they're being made available in comic shops, or will be mailed out to members of the gaming site. I don't know. In any case, the regular shelves of your local comic shop may not be the place to find this title.
