Jupiter’s Legacy #1 Review

*SPOILER-FREE REVIEW*

Writer:  Mark Millar
Artist:  Frank Quitely
Colours/Letters/Design:  Peter Doherty

Jupiter’s Legacy, co-created by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, has garnered a lot of attention over the last few days.  That is understandable, considering the creators attached to it.  Jupiter’s Legacy appears to go the Watchmen route of breaking down the superhero archetype.  Showing our heroes as flawed individuals and leaving the reader to question their actions.

Does all of this make for a compelling first issue?  So far I’m leaning in the “yes” category.

What I Liked

The few times I’ve seen Frank Quitely’s art it never did anything for me.  Here, however, I was pleased with Quitely’s work.  Maybe it has to do with the characters being subdued and not so over-the-top where they come across as caricatures.  The art really worked here.

We get to see our heroes before and after receiving their powers.  We don’t see how they gained these powers, but clues are laid before us.  The story jumps back and forth between the first and second generation of heroes.  I’m more interested in seeing how did the first generation obtained their powers.

What I Didn’t Like

This story reminds me of another comic book I recently read from Boom! Studios called Supurbia.  It invokes a similar superhero legacy.  I ultimately gave up Supurbia when it became obvious the book was more character-driven and would not focus on their lives as heroes.  Jupiter’s Legacy holds this same potential, though we are shown scenes of a battle already in progress.

With a story involving so many characters, I always appreciate it when books contain an introductory page listing everyone.  It is easier for new readers to reference this so we can keep the names and faces from getting mixed up.  In some instances I couldn’t tell which brother was whom from Quitely’s art.

Summary

Despite the early buzz, Millar and Quitely must show us what makes this book unique from the many others that have traveled this same storytelling route.  As far as first issues go, this was enough to bring me back for issue number two.  I need action in my comic books, so I hope there will be enough to keep me around.

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE