Alan Moore's daughter, Leah Moore, is joined by a co-writer for a new limited series, introducing a new character to the Wildstorm Universe. The question that everyone is likely asking is whether or not Leah Moore can actually write, or if she got the gig because her dad is an industry legend. Good news... she and Reppion turn in a quirky script that fosters a strong sense of mystery and the supernatural. They really don't offer much in the way of answers or even a clear picture of the core premise, but they do get the reader involved with the title character and the bizarre turn her life has taken.
Rosa seems like a typical teenage girl. She lives with her mother, a single parent, and helps to take care of her baby brother. She's a tomboy, and as a child, she loved to play in the park. But despite her average exterior, there's something different about Rosa, and a moment comes when that difference, something she's apparently always been somewhat aware of, threatens the safety of those around her. She feels drawn to a certain place at a certain time, and that feeling guides her into a world of wonder... and into the path of certain danger as well.
McManus's style shines through clearly here, but his work seems a little more exaggerated in tone than usual. The elongated forms of the stranger at the end of the issue and his pack of Doberman's brings an added tone of surrealism to the story. McManus also manages to arrive at a "wild" design for the main character while maintaining a down-to-earth, believable, everyday look at the same time. J.H. Williams III's two-page vignette is just lovely, and it puts me in mind of Charles Vess's painted artwork.
I'm surprised this book is set in the Wildstorm Universe, because the overall tone here is far more reminiscent of Vertigo fare. There's a supernatural atmosphere that dominates this book, and the silent tone brings a greater sense of maturity without resorting to "adult" language or situations. Rosa is immediately likeable. We see that she's determined, fiesty and imaginative, but later on, we see that she's kind and caring as well. Moore and Reppion get us on board with this heroine right away.
The writers tell the reader little about what Rosa experiences in this first issue. The advance promotional material tells us that she can speak with animals, but that really doesn't make its way into the book until the final page. The writers pull off this vague beginning quite well. Instead of confusing and alienating the reader -- which could have easily happened, had the story not unfolded properly -- they suck us with with a mystery. I don't know what the story is about yet, but I'm definitely intrigued. I want to learn more. 7/10
