Who Cowers Before the C.O.W.L.?
Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel, and Rod Reis come together to tell a compelling story about an alternate history Chicago and it's clear there's plenty of potential in the pages of the first issue.
The Good
The art! Rod Reis channels the best aspects of Bill Sienkiewicz's classic art and it is gorgeous. Not only does Chicago look like it did in the 60s (no, I'm not that old), but the characters are moody, complex, and obviously deep with history.
The thought of heroes coming together to form an organized labor union is an intriguing premise. The Chicago Organized Workers League (hence, the title C.O.W.L.) works with the city of Chicago on its own, but the politics and posturing of people in the Midwest's major municipality takes the narrative to a whole new level. There are jokes, dark humor, and a couple moments that make this a mature book. Finally, the narrative weight of the first issue is on display as Alex Siegel and Kyle Higgins bring us in as all the villains are defeated. It's a hook that hints at a much deeper story waiting to be revealed even as they do a fantastic job showing what the new world is like instead of just telling us in superfluous exposition.
For those who neither grew up in Chicago or care to explore it via Google maps, the creators have included a full map of the city, divided into patrol zones with accurate city streets. It's a big investment, but a key to help new readers unlock the various neighborhoods and presumably follow the action in this and more issues to come.
The Bad
Diving straight into the story can be a bit confusing to learn who the characters are. Fortunately, the inside cover has an index if you take the time to read it or come back to relate the dialog with the profiles.
The Verdict
The hype leading up to the release of this issue has been nothing short of a media furor. Fortunately, the heaviness of the story is thicker than the inks in Rod Reis's art. That's not a bad thing. As we learn about the characters in this issue, we are constantly reminded there is a lot left to learn about who they really are, not just what they say about each other. If you've been waiting for a book that reads like a confluence of Watchmen and The Incredibles with a classic noir vibe, then wait no longer and immediately pick up C.O.W.L. today. It draws from modern and classic inspirations without being derivative. While there are types cast, savvy readers will see there's much more to the story.