Written by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, & Nei Ruffino
Publisher: DC
Since the end of the mega-hit weekly series “52” there has been talk of “the Multiversity” happening again and again. It’s been a long few years, but finally the universe traveling tale from Grant Morrison debuts. This series is a bit different than most. Instead of a straightforward miniseries, it will consist of six one-shots and two bookended installments. This first issue has art done by Ivan Reis and colors by Nei Ruffino.
The basic premise, as told by Morrison, shows Nix Uotan, the last Monitor, and his new mission to save a threat to the multiverse. He recruits Thunderer from Earth-7 to get heroes from across the multiverse to fight “the Gentry,” the villain of the story. One such hero is Calvin Ellis, the Superman from Earth-23 who was last seen Action Comics #9. There are also heroes such as Captain Carrot and Dinocop (who looks a lot like the lead character of Savage Dragon over at Image). However, the deeper story Morrison is telling in this first issue is what makes the book worth reading. It all seems to be about life having or finding the right to exist and live. The first page of the comic reintroduces the concept also seen in Jurassic Park that “life finds a way.” Even when we’re introduced to Nix Uotan’s more human alter ego he’s “hiding away” from his landlord who is threatening to kick him for failure to pay rent. Then there’s the Gentry, which is a name for a social class of wealthy landholders. Hopefully as the series goes on we will see more of this concept play out.
Ivan Reis was the right artist for this first bookend. He’s proven time and time again that destruction and epic set pieces are his thing and it’s a thing he does very well. From the destruction of various earths in this issue, and even the interior of the Ultima Thule, Nix Uotan’s ship, Reis really shows the scope of the threat we’ll see unfold over eight issues. Joe Prado’s inks, and Nei Ruffino’s colors really add to the bleakness of the situation. Prado’s inks on the destroyed set pieces really sell things with the way they themselves look broken, especially with the crosshatching in the distance that doesn’t quite give you a clear sky.
This is only the beginning of the Multiversity, but already it’s proven itself the superhero book to read this year.
