Advance Review: Geiger #1 (of 6)

Please note; excerpts of this review were taken directly from Geof Johns and Gary Frank during the recent press conference for retailers held by Image Comics. These comments will be denoted by the use of bold.

April 2021 sees the next big superstar pairing, who are known primarily for their DC work, set up shop for a creator own series for Image Comics. Whilst this mini exodus may not seem as industry splitting as the formation of Image and original Marvel crew who set up the company, it is interesting to see writers getting as much Image-ness as the artists.

Geiger is a bit of a mix of a book, truth be told. One part desolate nuclear fallout, one part part lone wolf, with some Watchmen storytelling tropes thrown in for good measure. In the near future, not too far from our present, a nuclear attack leaves Nevada a wasteland. Tariq Geiger, in an effort to save his family, falls to the most insidious evil. Twenty years later, the area is ripe for scavengers and irradiated creatures, save for one little shelter protected by a person know as Joe Glow or The Meltdown Man. He is of course, Geiger!

Geoff Johns, recently known for The Doomsday Clock and Three Jokers writes a story he describes as “a story about emotion and family connection rather than super-heroics.” Fans of Johns will appreciate this from the ground up universe. For that is what we are getting. It is if Clock was Johns version at Watchmen, Jokers his attempt at the Killing Joke; could this then be his version of a DC universe? Johns has confirmed that there will be other series spawned from this book, across a longer timeline. Of this issue, the writing is tight, expertly crafted in order to set the table enabling the reader to get right into the core of the book without the need for any overt exposition. Johns uses a elements of previous masterpieces including its own little comic within a comic a la Watchmen.

Gary Frank supplies the art for the book that appears more edgy, more scratchy than his polished DC work.; Frank advising “with all the digital art around at the moment, I wanted to show the tools of the trade, more organic.” Other aspects in play is the different environment. Frank carries this breathing art idea through the panel designs. Say what you will about house style, but Frank’s work here is gorgeous having been freed from the need to maintain the look of cross media icons. Amongst the bigger panels are some lovely touches on Geiger’s outfit and batons and his newer fur baby. Great work indeed. Johns and Frank are joined by their regular co-conspirators in colorist Brad Anderson and letterer Rob Leigh. Anderson colors add a level of depth to every panel, an air of vibrancy even in the desolate environs. Leigh’s letter are as polished as ever. Whilst working with your friends adds a certain security blanket for both the creator and the readers expectations, it does mean that the book doers feel like a DC book.

Describing the book in five words or less Frank and Johns stated “Walking x-ray kicks ass!” and “Radioactive family man”; after reading the first issue, I can confirm that both descriptions are more than correct.

Geiger #1, ships with a variety of covers on April 7th. FOC is Monday 15th March

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 4.5 Stars

Written by; Geoff Johns
Art by; Gary Frank
Colors by; Brad Anderson
Letters by; Rob Leigh
Published by; Image Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network