Publisher: S&T Comics
Story: Trevor Talbot & Scott Meier
Pencils & Inks: Peter Raymond
Colours & Letters: Jessica Jimerson

I’ll fully admit to being more than a little wary when I picked up Eclipse #1, the latest release from the folks at S&T Comics. In a classic example of disobeying my mother’s advice, I was most definitely judging this particular book by its cover. Not that there’s anything wrong with the cover, it should be pointed out. In fact, Peter Raymond’s artwork does a more than admirable job of conveying the inherent drama of a masked, costumed vigilante brooding on a rooftop.

No, the real issue I had with this one was the creeping sense of dread that I was going to find myself forced to sit through another generic, cookie-cutter superhero book. Perhaps a ‘regular everyman’ who gets bitten by a radioactive something-or-other, or who finds himself forced to avenge some grave injustice, or blah blah blah. Well thankfully, it turns out that my mother was right all along as Eclipse turned out to be absolutely nothing like I was expecting, and instead served as a surprisingly emotional character study of the young boy who would eventually grow into the lycra-clad hero on the cover.

Writers Trevot Talbor and Scott Meier force us to care almost instantly about our main protagonist Keith Bruce by placing him into the delicate situation of having to look after his autistic father. And while this kind of subject matter could easily turn the comic into an ‘after-school special’, Scott and Trevor treat things delicately, and instead do a great job of illustrating the powerful bond between the focused, driven son and his comic-book fan father.   Keith’s growing frustration with his father’s condition rapidly turns into guilt directed at himself for feeling that way, which comes to the surface in a fiercely powerful scene near the end of the book. Like I said, this is most definitely not the disposable superhero fluff I was bracing myself for.

While the specific chain of events that led Keith to don the mask of Eclipse aren’t touched upon at all here, there are a few vague hints dropped here and there that definitely get the mind racing. The issue is bookended by two scenes of Eclipse in the present day, with the bulk of the story taking place in the past and focusing on the relationship between Keith and his father.   A wise choice in my opinion, and one that helps forge a strong bond between the reader and the hero – a key component of any superhero tale. My only minor criticism would be of the decision to end the issue with a prolonged monologue by the villain which, while interesting in its own right, drew me away from what I had found myself eager to see – i.e. Keith doing his thing as Eclipse. I’m sure this will be remedied in future issues though, so as I say, it’s only a minor niggle.

Raymond’s artwork is solid throughout, and he displays a polished style with a great flair for the dramatic. Plus, he seems equally comfortable drawing scenes of costumed vigilantes leaping from rooftops as he is with quiet, contemplative conversations – something that definitely helps on a title like this. His work is also enhanced significantly by the confident colours of Jessica Jimerson who provides depth and character to the pages with her palette of dark blues and greys.

Overall, I’m fully prepared to admit that I underestimated this title based on my kneejerk reaction to its cover. The team at S&T comics have taken what could easily have been a throwaway superhero yarn and crafted something with an intriguing hook and some real emotional depth. Eclipse is well worth a look if you fancy a superhero story with a little something extra, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this series as it moves forwards.

You can pick up the first issue of Eclipse for just $0.99 (about 70p in real money), from Drive Thru Comics.

The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson (aka Ceej)
Article Archive: Ceej Says