Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Duty in Heaven
Written by: Ty Templeton
Penciled by: Clement Sauve Jr.
Inked by: Juan Vlasco
Colored by: Moose Baumann
Lettered by: Jack Morelli
Editor: Dan Raspler
Publisher: DC Comics
The first issue of HUMAN DEFENSE CORPS far exceeded any expectations that I had. I liked the very human approach the series took, and that this wasn’t just a big battle scene throwaway series. Instead Templeton told a very compelling story from the point of view of a single man, involved in the formation of the Earth’s new fighting force. This certainly wasn’t the approach that I expected, but as I said it was far more than I hoped. Of course setting the bar so high with the first issue, Templeton gave himself a tough act to follow.
Once again Templeton is telling the story of one man and the larger than life events that erupt around him. This time we see one of the final steps a trainee must take to become a part of the Corps. Instead of making this just any other story about a military exercise that goes wrong, Templeton again places character over situation to wonderful effect. The story follows Cadet Taylor and unfolds through his narration. It’s not the same thing as last issue, and is actually a bit of a departure from the first book.
The issue opens with Taylor floating in space writing a letter to his wife. He’s distraught about the recent events that led to the completion of his training, and the fact that he betrayed the code he told her he never would, “Thou shalt not kill.†The writing is superb, the emotion that Taylor’s feeling makes you want to understand the circumstances he went through. When well executed like this, the contrivance of starting at the end of a story is one of my favorite techniques in the industry.
The star of the first issue, Montgomery Kelly makes an appearance in this tale that takes place two years later. He was the hero last time, and is now the Sgt. leading Taylor’s squad in the exercise. It’s good to see a little continuity between the two issues, but much like Warren Ellis is doing with GLOBAL FREQUENCY, Templeton is essentially telling an all-inclusive story which can be enjoyed on it’s own, or that works on a larger level as well.
The characterization has been the key to both issues. He first got us into Kelly’s head, now we know where Taylor’s coming from. Each man has great success with the Corps, but at perhaps to great a price to their inner well-being. These aren’t neat little stories with no consequence to the characters. Templeton is putting these characters through the ringer both mentally and physically, and I respect that a great deal.
Equally impressive with Templeton’s writing in the first issue was the work of Clement Sauve Jr. and Juan Vlasco. Once again they don’t disappoint. They are equally adept at capturing the inner turmoil that Cadet Taylor is feeling as well as the fast paced action.
As surprising as it is, Templeton stories are amazing so far, and he’s throwing in enough recognizable elements of the DCU to keep that part of me satiated as well. This issue alone, we see the appearance of Starro’s as well as a denizen of Gorilla City. The usage of the greater DCU, as well as hard nosed stories have made this one of my favorite recent limited series.
