Review – Project Superpowers: Black Cross #1 (Dynamite)

Blackcross01-Cov-A-Lee Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Colton Worley
Release: 4th March, 2015

Now I know that Warren Ellis is unquestionably a legend in the field, and that he has penned some of the most critically acclaimed stories people know and love, but for some reason his first issues have a tendency of throwing me off. This is the second first issue to a series I have reviewed for Ellis and, unfortunately, my thoughts are going to end up being similar to the first. To be completely honest, I was left with more questions than answers at the end of the issue which sometimes is a good thing but in this case it didn’t leave me wanting to immediately read the next issue, instead leaving me feeling that this series is something I could pass on altogether.

In this issue we are introduced to a number of characters. Now, with the sheer volume of characters introduced, it was hard to discern who was an important character and who was just present in this first issue. It opens with a man who it seems is being mind controlled into lighting himself on fire and walking into a lake. Then we are introduced to a couple of detectives investigating a bizarre crime scene, and not the first of its kind that they’ve seen. They are on the trail of what appears to be a serial killer they have dubbed “The American Spirit.” Next we meet “Lady Satan”, a would-be medium who can channel spirits and seems to be attacked by them that very night in her own home. Next we meet Rob or Bob Stewart, now Rob Benton thanks to WITSEC following his ratting on a mafia member. It appears that Bob has nightmares of things that are happening and receives cryptic messages from someone named Black Terror (bl@ckt3rr0r). Then… well… then, the story just kind of abruptly cuts off. No climax to the first issue, no “to be continued” ending, it just… stops.

I believe that Ellis is as good a writer everyone claims him to be and that his body of work would suggest, but this is the second of his new series’ that I’ve taken a look at and unfortunately neither has proven it to me. It seems that this may be a series similar series to Trees in that it will read better in one single sitting than in the single issue format. No disrespect to a writer such as Ellis but that’s just this “honest” reviewers opinion, and I’m not going to talk up a legend just because he’s a legend. The story has interesting aspects and I’m a slight bit curious to see what is actually going on in Blackcross WA, but at the same time this issue just didn’t leave me sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation for the next but rather confused and – overall – less than interested.

As far as the artwork of Colton Worley, I would say that it fits the story well. It has a very dark and gritty feel to it, which the story does its best to enhance, and yet it has its confusing qualities as well. It could be the color work, but I didn’t find all the characters always distinguishable in every panel, some were muddled together and tough to make out. Niggles aside, I do think that the artwork fits the story well and that’s why it was chosen.

Overall, I’m sad to say that this is just not a story I’m likely to pick up again. Maybe when the next issue comes out and I’m curious to see if it leaves me with yet again more questions than answers and plot lines I’ll just give it a read, but as of right now I would say if you are a die-hard Ellis fan then pick it up and support him, if you are just a comic fan looking for a new series maybe hold off and wait for “volume 1” and read it in one sitting.

Rating: 2/5.

PREVIEW ARTWORK
[Click to Enlarge]