Note: PROJECT SUPERPOWERS BLACKCROSS #1 releases in March. This is a spoiler-free review of the first issue.
The Good
Project Superpowers: BLACKCROSS takes place in the small town of Blackcross. A couple of special agents are investigating a crime scene and throughout the issue, the reader is introduced to quite a few new characters through the writing of Warren Ellis. This first issue really just sets up the cast of characters and the world the reader will quickly get to know.
The book can easily be described as a mystery that builds upon itself. Ellis eases the reader into this world but leaves enough open for the reader to want to come back to the book. Right from the opening pages, the reader will be asking "why is this happening and who is responsible?" This is obviously not an answer that is resolved in the first issue, but it is something that will be lingering on reader's minds even after they put the issue down. Those opening pages truly grab the reader's attention though and will hold them until the end of the issue.
Adding to that mysterious element is the artwork from Colton Worley. His gritty style fits in perfectly with the world of pulp magazines and gives this whole first issue a noir feeling. Back to the opening pages again, Worley's style has this real world feel to it that gives the whole issue a very different tone than anything else on the shelves. The mixture of contemporary storytelling through art with the pulp feel makes this issue, on the art side of things, a real stand out.
Without giving anything away, the issue does have a nice bookend, which remind the readers of that great opening scene and as a whole, Ellis paces this book incredibly well. It hits certain beats at just the right point and the overall issue has a great flow to it.
The Bad
The art of Colton Worley doesn't have the same pizzazz, especially when it comes to his color work, that we've seen in previous books he's worked on, especially when comparing it to THE SPIDER. There is also a couple instances where faces look a tad rough and the inking made things look a bit awkward. Aside from that though, Worley is a really cool artist to check out.
For someone who has never read anything from Project Superpowers, there is going to be a bit of a feeling that you're in the dark a bit on this world. Ellis does a good job keeping this relatively new reader friendly, but if this is your first issue of something from Project Superpowers, there will be moments where you're feeling a little in the dark.
The Verdict
The latest installment to the Project Superpowers will have readers hooked right from the beginning. Ellis' take on this world is an intriguing one and teaming up with Worley gives this overall issue a great blend of contemporary comic book story telling with some heavy pulp and noir tones to it. Worley's art doesn't hit as hard as it did in other series and while it may be decently new reader friendly, people picking up a Project Superpowers book may feel a tad left out in the cold. However, BLACKCROSS is intriguing and easily worth the price of admission for the first issue.
Note: PROJECT SUPERPOWERS BLACKCROSS #1 releases in March
Here is a first look at the opening pages of the book from Dynamite.