Reviewer: Tim Stevens
Story Title: 21st Century Schizoid Supermen
Written by: Grant Morrison
Pencilled by: Yanick Paquette
Inked by: Serge Lapointe
Colored by: Alex Sinclair
Lettered by: Jared K. Fletcher
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Publisher: DC Comics
This book is so weird. Not weird in the typical Grant Morrison “Wow, that’s a crazy and quickly discarded idea” sort of way. Weird in a “how the heck do I feel about this book” kind of thing. I loved the idea of the superhero convention and totally agree that Booster Gold would have attended. I dug Aquaman winning “Comeback of the Year” for “just having a shave.” All the personalities of the has beens, the almosts, and the maybe some days were fun too.
But…the book feels flat to me (no pun intended). You’ll notice that nowhere on the list of good things about this issue will you find a mention of the lead character. Alix is a bit of a cipher who, despite the death of her husband, lacks an emotional hook to draw me in. She articulates that she is a bit overwhelmed, this being her first time acting as a bodyguard or attending a superhero convention but all we have as evidence in this is her words. It never feels like she’s overwhelmed and she never actually acts like she is. If it was all spun as “she’s a natural” I think I could deal, but that does not seem to be the intent here and, if it is, that intent is never made manifest. The peripheral characters are way more interesting, but they cannot carry the book, especially when it is named for her.
And what was the deal with the mermaid (or whatever I’m supposed to call her)? The sort of Mommie Dearest relationship she had with her son could have been interesting but it goes undeveloped.
Paquette’s art is pretty straightforward superhero. You could do a lot worse, but with all the other books having unique and distinctive art choices, this one feels a bit lacking somehow. I do like his take on I, Spyder though. I think he’s probably nailed the “outlaw in bowling shirt” the best out of any of the SS books. Don’t know why, just the “vibe” the character exudes, I think.
I know that all sounds like I don’t like the book, but it is not that, not quite. I’m just very frustrated by it. With the majority of Seven Soldiers being so good and this particular title having several interesting bits, it feels so close to being a strong enjoyable title. That it never reaches that brass ring and I cannot quite pinpoint why (beyond Alix not connecting with the audience) can be a bit aggravating.
