Project Superpowers # 0 - Last Gleaming

Project Superpowers is an exciting relaunch of beloved characters from the early days of comics. These characters made my heartstrings tingle. It's like watching Superman: The Movie for the first time. You read these pages and especially the thoughts of the Fighting Yank and it really could make your eyes swell. The story is told from Yank's perspective and surprised me that there was discord and confusion in what "patriotism" means to different generations.

The truth is there are different sides of American patriotism. From the most liberal to the most conservatism, chances are everyone thinks that they are most patriotic than the next guy. For the Fighting Yank, he has been haunted by his past actions as a superhero but that's only part of his torment. The Yank is literally haunted by his past Fighting Yank ancestors, one of which is the spirit guide who is basically like a sixth sense. Each war that has passed with American involvement, there has been a Fighting Yank and those spirits have culminated into one American Spirit.

Project Superpowers #0 is a lengthy introduction worth the price for the exceptional storytelling and some of the most brilliant Alex Ross artwork you'll ever see. Of course, the artwork is really a team effort but it's Ross classic style that makes you feel like you can reach out and touch the capes of these intriguing characters.

This spandex tale will hopefully be just the thing to introduce readers to Dynamite Entertainment. They may be a lesser known publisher but because of its wide variety of genres, there's bound to be a DE title for everyone. For the fans of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, Project Superpowers will be the title for you to add to you subscription lists. Plus, if you head over to the DE website, you can download some spiffy wallpapers and such.

A fantastic issue to commence a series that is sure to be just as good. The cover art is breathtaking! The inner art is just as good and the script leaves you satisfied. When reading this comic you feel as if you are a part of their world, right off the bat. It feels as if you've known it's people for as long as you've lived. The Flying Yank is no exception, he is the key character to this story and you feel as though you would have made his same, awful choices. It's wonderful, feeling such sympathy for a character that has unknowingly done wrong.

There is a panel in the book where you see the whole gang of heroes from the flame, to the death-defying devil, to the spooky Mr. Face. I love this scene because it's so nicely drawn and even though there isn't much room to fit the characters, you still see how a gang of once forgotten heroes fits so nicely into a modern comic. I love this issue and I am definitely going to buy the next.

This is more a story recap then a review.

Wow....what else can I say. I picked this up because it was only $1.00. I had the notion these Golden Age heroes would not interest me too much, but it's only a $1. I am man enough to say I was wrong.

Fighting Yank takes it upon himself to trap all the heroes from the WWII era, with the belief they are hope (the notion of hope which escaped from Pandora's box when Hitler opened it). For those who do not know, Fighting Yank communicates with the ghost of his dead ancestor. It is shown that all the evil which escaped Pandora's box thousands of years ago are attracted by the box, which means that over the millennium the evil is slowly trapped back inside. Yank is under the impression, due to his ancestors convincing, that if he traps all the hope that escaped with the evil then said evil will be trapped even quicker.

Decades in the future, Yank is visited by a ghost who shows him that he was mistaken. That he was used by evil to trap those who could make a difference. Fighting Yank, now an old man, takes off to visit the Green Lama; the only one who can help bring his old friends back...but it will cost his life.

The plot/script was done by Jim Krueger. I was really impressed with how he was able to catch my attention with characters who, for all intent and purposes, should be bland and boring in todays comics. These are characters from the 40's I am talking about after all. The story and circumstances make this an enjoyable read. It is a fresh take on bringing back old characters that do not involve suspended animation, whether naturally or man-made ala Captain America (Steve Rodgers) or The Twelve. If you haven't picked up issue zero then I suggest you do...it is only $1 after all.

And yes, this will be on my pull list.

List of Heroes(yes, some names are corny...they are from the 40's ya know)..I think that's all of them.

Green Lama

Fighting Yank

Hydro

Pyroman

Black Terror

The Flame

Death Defying Devil(actually the original Daredevil...probably changed name so not to confuse with Matt Murdock)

Masquerade

Samson