Dynamo 5, Vol. 1, “Post-Nuclear Family” (Image) [collects #1-7]
Dynamo 5, Vol. 2, “Moments of Truth” (Image) [collects #8-14]
w. Jay Faerber; a. Mahmud Asrar
| Writing |  | New reader? | |
| Art | | Non-comics reader? |  |
When A-class hero Captain Dynamo dies, his ex-wife gathers together his various adulterous by-blows — none of whom knew the secret of their parentage, but each of whom has inherited one of his myriad power. Now they protect his city, even as they fight with each other, deal with their own issues, and try to stay out of the way of the government.
A great concept, executed pretty well. There are a lot of standard super-hero tropes here, and nothing terrifically innovative (except to make the jock the psychic). Solid, if not brilliant, fun.
Echo, Vol. 1, “Moon Lake” (Abstract) [collects #1-5]
Echo, Vol. 2, “Atomic Dreams” (Abstract) [collects #6-10]
w/a. Terry Moore
| Writing |  | New reader? | |
| Art | | Non-comics reader? | |
Having completed his epic Strangers in Paradise, Moore has turned to a new tale. A young woman photographer is taking photos when a strange explosion in the sky pelts her with shiny pellets of metal. When she awakens, she finds it’s formed a partial sheathe over her torso — a covering that can unleash tremendous force against anyone who threatens her. Now she’s being pursued by the Army, by an agent of the laboratory, and by a mysterious stranger with similar power but a tenuous grip on reality …
(Ever notice how a lot of comics these days deal with government conspiracies and flight/fight against same?)
Moore does his usual masterful job of dealing with personalities first. Most of the characters here are layered and nuanced — a few cartoonish standers-by, but anyone with more than a few moments in-panel tends to show unexpected depths. People have backgrounds and pasts and families and interests in Moore’s works, beyond stereotypes and simple present actions.
Good stuff. An ongoing series, highly recommended.
Listening to: McCreary, Bear, “Battlestar Operatica” (Battlestar Galactica: Season 1))