REVIEW: Project Superpowers Blackcross #1

Project Superpowers: Blackcross #1
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Colton Worley
Published by Dynamite

Having never read Project Superpowers which Dynamite published several years ago, I wasn“t sure what to expect out of Blackcross #1, but knowing Warren Ellis was writing gave me hope that this would be a book I would love. What I found was something that didn“t quite meet my expectations.

That“s not to say that Project Superpowers: Blackcross #1 isn“t good. In fact, the story is both intriguing and enjoyable. The story opens up with a man setting himself on fire and walking off into a lake, setting up the first part of the mystery as a group of detectives try to find out just what happened. The pacing is a bit slow, though that may be something we have come to expect out of Ellis“ as he always seems to take his time setting up a story for a larger more grandiose payoff. Still, I couldn“t help but feel somewhat empty when I reached the end of the story, regardless of what may come down the line. There wasn“t much in terms of character development, but the introduction of Black Terror, American Spirit, and particularly, Lady Satan should serve as a sign that there is much more coming down the line in this story.

Cotton Worley“s art, on the other hand, is terrific. He manages to give this book the dark and brooding atmosphere which it deserves and I couldn“t help but stare intently at every panel and absorb the grittiness of his pencils. This is particularly important in a book where the first half contains almost no word balloons and is a testament to Worley“s superb artistic talent.

Overall, I wasn“t very impressed with Project Superpowers: Blackcross #1, but I can definitely see the potential of story exploding after a couple of more issues as Ellis continues to build upon the mythology of the series. If you“re a fan of Elli“s work and prefer the darker stories which have become so popular as of late though, and don“t mind the slow buildup, this may be a book well worth checking out.

[yasr_overall_rating]

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Martin Ferretti

Martin Ferretti is an avid comic book reader, Hearthstone player, IT professional, father, and all around geek. His fascination with Valiant Comics may be bordering on the insane, but hey, it keeps him happy. Follow him @Valiant_Central on Twitter or his Valiant news and reviews site ValiantCentral.com