I got an envelope from DC last week and instead of the "Cease And Desist" order I was expecting for my Aquaman erotic art website, I got a nice little note from Stuart Moore along with a black and white preview of his first issue on Firestorm. Seems that he's wanting to make a good old-fashioned publicity push on in the blogosophere and since I said deservedly-kind words about his hilarious Giant Robot Warriors, I was one of the lucky people to get a chance to pimp his work, and you know what? I'm going to, and not just because of the $20 he slipped into the envelope - it's a good superhero comic from a company I'm growing increasingly tired of thanks to the fanboy wank they're pouring out.
What makes Moore's first issue on Firestorm work is the way it updates my favorite DC period (the 80s) for a modern sensibility. This is superhero comics aimed at intelligent 10 year olds (you know, the ones that like Doctor Who) that adults can enjoy without feeling stupid. This reads exactly like what it should be - an easy jumping-on point (god, I am tired of that phrase) for readers who weren't picking up the book earlier as well as an issue that lets current readers of the title find out how Moore's going to be handling the character. A number of key events bring the reader up to speed quickly - we see Firestorm's powers in use while he's saving a lab as well as his alter ego's 18th birthday and decision to move into a new place. Jason Rusch also gets a new job at S.T.A.R. Labs Detroit (a clever decision is made here that I won't spoil, but it fits perfectly,) helping solidify change an issue theme. On top of all this, we get an appropriately menacing moment from a new villain that piqued my interest enough to want to see what happens next.
There's a natural feel to Moore's writing that gives each character their own voice without anybody sliding into caricatures and he picks up a few remaining threads from Dan Jolley's wrongly-maligned run1 without any unnecessary jarring for readers who aren't familiar with what came before. For those of you who like the idea of Firestorm and wish that, on occasion, a mainstream DCU book wouldn't immediately confuse "violence" with "action," here's your invitation to get back on board - I don't think you'll be disappointed. Firestorm #14 goes on sale June 1st and features perfectly competent, if not exactly flashy art, from Jamal Igle and Rob Stull.
1Pacing may be my only real issue with Jolley's Firestorm - the whiners who wanted Ronnie Raymond or a close relation in the costume can go read JSA to have their generational / familial hero fix. A SPOILER FOLLOWS. HIGHLIGHT TO READ IF YOU CARE! I will say that Ronnie's now serving the professor role works just fine for me and should sate the forum-dwelling crybabies effectively, even if they think it came a little late.
What makes Moore's first issue on Firestorm work is the way it updates my favorite DC period (the 80s) for a modern sensibility. This is superhero comics aimed at intelligent 10 year olds (you know, the ones that like Doctor Who) that adults can enjoy without feeling stupid. This reads exactly like what it should be - an easy jumping-on point (god, I am tired of that phrase) for readers who weren't picking up the book earlier as well as an issue that lets current readers of the title find out how Moore's going to be handling the character. A number of key events bring the reader up to speed quickly - we see Firestorm's powers in use while he's saving a lab as well as his alter ego's 18th birthday and decision to move into a new place. Jason Rusch also gets a new job at S.T.A.R. Labs Detroit (a clever decision is made here that I won't spoil, but it fits perfectly,) helping solidify change an issue theme. On top of all this, we get an appropriately menacing moment from a new villain that piqued my interest enough to want to see what happens next.There's a natural feel to Moore's writing that gives each character their own voice without anybody sliding into caricatures and he picks up a few remaining threads from Dan Jolley's wrongly-maligned run1 without any unnecessary jarring for readers who aren't familiar with what came before. For those of you who like the idea of Firestorm and wish that, on occasion, a mainstream DCU book wouldn't immediately confuse "violence" with "action," here's your invitation to get back on board - I don't think you'll be disappointed. Firestorm #14 goes on sale June 1st and features perfectly competent, if not exactly flashy art, from Jamal Igle and Rob Stull.
1Pacing may be my only real issue with Jolley's Firestorm - the whiners who wanted Ronnie Raymond or a close relation in the costume can go read JSA to have their generational / familial hero fix. A SPOILER FOLLOWS. HIGHLIGHT TO READ IF YOU CARE! I will say that Ronnie's now serving the professor role works just fine for me and should sate the forum-dwelling crybabies effectively, even if they think it came a little late.
