Review: The Multiversity #1 (Spoilers) Writer: Grant Morrison Pencils: Ivan Reis; Colors: Joe Prado Have you ever read a comic book that spoke to you directly? Did it ever warn you NOT to read any further? That’s exactly what The Multiversity #1, “Cosmic Neighborhood Watch,” released this past Wednesday, does. Like many of his most famous superhero epics (Seven Soldiers, Final Crisis), Grant Morrison’s dimension-spanning story starts off on a very complex meta-note. Some may be turned off, and some can’t wait for what’s sure to be a mind-blowing payoff at the end of the series. The story begins with Nix Uotan, the Monitor and “SuperJudge” who figured prominently in Final Crisis. In his mortal guise he picks up the haunted comic book, attempts to “vivisect” it, and is soon somehow drawn into an encounter on Earth-7. Nix discovers the world’s last surviving superhero, The Thunderer, fighting against a host of horrible Lovecraft-type beings bent on annihilating the multiverse. Nix urges The Thunderer to flee to the House of Heroes beyond all worlds and bring together a team from across the 52 earths in the DC Universe to face this threat. We’re then shown Earth-23 where Superman is the President. He’s recruited into the group of heroes gathered by The Thunderer, who try to travel to back to his world only to end up in a similar world to Earth-7, Earth-8 (perhaps the ULTIMATE dig at a MAJOR rival of DC Comics). “Cosmic Neighborhood Watch” is a very strong first chapter. It might require a re-read or two, with an eye for details, and you still may not fully understand everything that’s going on. But Morrison delights again with his highly imaginative take on time, metaphysics and superheroes. Ivan Reis’s pencils do an adequate job of conveying the bizarre and surreal circumstances occurring in this story. The most fun to be had with this comic is Easter egg hunting. We’re treated to new alternate versions of classic superheroes, and Morrison has made diversity one of his chief goals. Apart from the black Superman of Earth-23 and The Thunderer, an Australian aborigine, we also have Aquawoman, gay versions of The Flash and Green Lantern (Red Racer and Power Torch), and none other than Captain Carrot himself! And then, there’s the visit to Earth-8. Red Racer is the team’s resident comic book geek, and he explains that Earth-8 exists in his own earth (36) as a comic book series published by “Major Comics”. So let’s go Easter egg hunting! Name as many of the Earth-8 characters that correspond to DC’s biggest rival as you can! And tell us what you thought of the first issue of The Multiversity. -Nico Lorentzen
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 01:00:03 +0000
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