Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Dean Ormston and Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse
Whenever a new Jeff Lemire book comes out, I find myself brimming with nothing but excitement. He’s crafted numerous stories across multiple genres that are among my favorite in comics – so when I heard that he would be writing a book about retired Golden Age superheroes, I was over the moon with anticipation. Lemire has tackled superhero characters before, in books like Animal Man, Moon Knight, and Justice League Dark. Each of these has been a different take on the traditional superhero formula, and Black Hammer is unlike anything he’s ever touched before.
In some ways, it feels reminiscent of Kingdom Come, with superheroes retired and living kind of off the grid. So it’s not exactly a new concept, but it’s been a while since I’ve read a story like this. And honestly, it’s always refreshing when a writer comes along and shakes up superhero comics in a way that feels natural. Black Hammer gets a lot of props from me for doing something just a little bit off the beaten path, and experimenting a bit.
This also extends to the characters introduced in this issue. Initially, the characters all seem archetypal – it’s easy to assign them equivalents in the big two. But as the issue rolls on, every character gets at least one little moment that gives them nuance. Sure, we’re still at the beginning of the story, so there’s not that much in the way of character progression yet. Then again, there really shouldn’t be – establishing who these characters are is more than enough. The fact that Lemire manages to make this issue flow as well as it does while introducing a really cool ensemble cast is a feat.
Dean Ormston’s art is rock solid throughout the issue. The character models are incredibly important here, as they tie directly to who the characters are. It’s a trope of superhero comics, sure, but Ormston does it well here, and it’s a trope that works. And while all the work he does here is good, where Ormston really shines is the flashback panels. There aren’t a ton of them, but they each showcase the characters we’re introduced to at the height of their powers. Not only are they gorgeous to look at, but Ormston channels the Golden Age aesthetic incredibly well.
As impressed as I am by what Ormston’s doing, the standout in terms of the art is the coloring, courtesy of Dave Stewart. His use of the entire color pallet is really what makes a lot of panels click. There’s an impressive resonance about this book that is only made possible by his color work. As with Ormston’s pencils, this is especially true of the flashback scenes. This is where Stewart shines as well, and the art is especially beautiful in those panels.
Black Hammer is a book that’s shrouded in mystery. It’s unclear where these characters came from, why they’re where they are, and where the book is going from here. But every mystery presented in this issue is one that I find intriguing – especially since they concern a cast of characters I already love. Based on this issue alone, I’m ready to say I’m along for the ride.
