Reviewed by: Mathan “I Live in Vegas Too†Erhardt
Story Title: Intangibles
Written by: John Frances Moore
Penciled by: Wes Craig
Inked by: Prentis Rollins
Lettered by: Rob Leigh
Colored by: Avalon Studios
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Focus/DC Comics
In the first issue of the series we were introduced to Rory Goodman, a man with super strength who worked for the Las Vegas based Supernova Solutions, and Cooper Santiago, his boss. At the end of the issue it was revealed that Rory had received his powers from Cooper. Apparently Cooper has the power to give random powers to anyone just by touching them. He touched Rory and took the powers back.
This issue begins with the current recipient of the Cooper’s touch, Dex, battling an out of control military drone. Thing end badly, and the powers automatically return to Cooper. Later at the funeral Cooper says that since Dex was so attached to his motorcycle it will be buried with him, only to a few minutes take an offer for the bike.
Two people also stalk Cooper; one delusional guy who thinks he has superpowers, and another delusional guy who actually does has superpowers. But things start to get better when his old college roommate Brian, turns up. Cooper then “auditions†new heroes (which involves giving them powers and determining if they are a good fit with the company.)
But Cooper soon realizes that he has two problems. First the delusional guy with superpowers believes Cooper is a traitor to the cause. Second a woman claiming to be Dex’s widow and to be carrying Dex’s child shows up expecting to fleece Supernova Solutions. Cooper takes care of the first one with a little help from Brian, but the second problem may make his powers obsolete.
Moore’s premise with this book is just a great one. And the characters are equally great. Cooper is a sleaze, but you kind of feel sorry for him when he is being stalked and when the “widow†attempts to blackmail him. It’s also nice having him get sick whenever the powers return. The addition of Brian and the notion that each person only gets one power were both pretty cool.
Craig and Rollins work is pretty detailed and really matches the script very well. They manage to convey the sleaziness of Cooper and still show him as vulnerable. And Levon looks like someone who escaped from a government project and has been living on the streets. The scenes that portray Cooper receiving and giving the powers really capture the power of the event. Basically the art is great.
