Multiversity #2

   I'm back in the saddle after a long hospital stay, so let's deal with a couple of gems I missed in the last week or so. Great to be back!

   It's astonishing that DC managed to get behind Multiversity, an amazing, brain-bending, creative and madly inspiring series by writer Grant Morrison - and then follow it with the (largely) shallow and impenetrable Convergence.

   This final issue really pulls out the stops, squeezing multiple Crisis-level events into a single issue, as the heroic elements of the Multiverse gather an army to stop the seemingly-inevitble destruction of... well, everything.

   The whole issue is a trivia lover's delight (though that's not necessary to enjoy it - you just kind of have to hang on for dear life).

   And penciller Ivan Reis rises to the challenge, turning in an inspired, Perez-worthy, packed-to-the-gills romp with characters and stories and fights and all kinds of over-the-top events.

   This series has been a delight from start to finish - I really hate to see it end!

   It's dense and loaded with Easter Eggs, so this series will bear re-reading many times. Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Multiversity Ultra Comics #1

   Despite its serious tone, this issue of Multiversity had me smiling a lot.

   That's because this issue is trying to get into your head - and it succeeds!

   It's something comics have been trying to do for a long time. In the late 1980s I interviewed DC editor Julius Schwartz (what a character!), and he talked about the importance of a strong cover to generate sales.

   He said one of the comics that had strong sales was an issue of The Flash in the '60s that featured a closeup of that hero, holding up his hand and saying (in huge letters) "STOP! Don't pass up this issue! My life depends on it!"

   So here we have writer Grant Morrison, who has (with this series) been playing the comics medium like a maestro, going totally meta.

   So we meet the hero Ultra (or is he called Ultra Comics?), who talks to you, the reader.

   I know, it sounds silly - but it's so artfully done that you have to admire the way the story gets in your head, playing with your concept of how comics work and how you react to them.

   It doesn't hurt that the finely-crafted art is by Doug Mahnke (with three inkers), one of the best in DC's stable.

   This issue will keep you guessing throughout. You might even be tempted to put it down without finishing it - but it would take a stronger person that me to manage that.

   Just wonderful!

Grade: A+

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Multiversity: Mastermen #1

   One of the things I like about Multiversity is that you never know what to expect.

   Which is the point, of course.

   This issue takes us to Earth-10 (or, as it was originally tagged, Earth-X), where the Nazis won World War II, but were opposed by a group of Freedom Fighters made up of the heroes from Quality Comics, including Uncle Sam, Phantom Lady, Doll Man, Doll Woman, Black Condor, The Ray and the Human Bomb.

   But you might be surprised at who their super-powered opponents are.

   It's a grim tale, but not without hope, as one character tries to overcome an evil upbringing.

   The story by Grant Morrison takes an interesting approach to the World War II setting - and the art by Jim Lee takes an iconic approach to the larger-than-life events.

   It's a tough issue to review, because to talk about it would spoil some of the key moments.

   It's not the best of the Multiversity comics - it's covering some grim territory, and starts with a truly disgusting image on the first page - but as always, it's a powerful story.

Grade: B+

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Multiversity Guidebook #1

   I was a fan of the Marvel Handbook and DC's Who's Who series - both of which served as reference books, listing the heroes, villains, supporting characters and important objects in each universe.

   Any series like that is a vast undertaking (which is one reason why they're pretty rare) - and now writer Grant Morrison enters the ring with this indispensable tome - the Multiversity Guidebook.

   It combines adventures on several different worlds with a guide to (almost) all 52 alternates Earths that now make up the DC Universe.

   (I say "almost" because they have to save some mystery for future stories, so a handful of Earths are left as mysteries.)

   It's like an Elseworlds tour of the DC universe, with an odd Batman story alongside a Kamandi adventure, with some key moments relived and many more mysteries and villainous plots hinted at.

   This issue should generate some debate among fans - for example, I don't see an Earth that represents the DC universe before the "New 52." Perhaps it doesn't exist.

   The issue is a bit pricey at $7.99, but it's worth it. Loaded with all kinds of facts, trivia and even a map of the entire universe (though you may need a magnifying glass to read it).

   Just an amazing piece of work and a good indication of the rich potential in DC's alternate worlds. Very impressive and highly recommended!

Grade: A

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The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1

   We're rapidly approaching the end of the year when I pick my favorite comics for 2014 - but don't be surprised when you see this issue in the top 10 (heck, it may be #1)!

   In The Multiversity, writer Grant Morrison has been exploring the potential in DC's 52 (count 'em, 52) alternate universes, and the adventures so far have been mostly serious, deep and dark affairs.

   But with Thunderworld Adventures, he rips off the pretension of modern comics and offers up an adventure that is imaginative, exciting and just plain fun.

   Here we find the classic Captain Marvel (that's right, he goes by his proper name, not "Shazam"). It's the hero as he should be - updated into a modern superhero, tackling an overpowering menace with intelligence and humor.

   The issue begins with the wizard Shazam under attack by the evil scientist Sivana, who has joined forces with an army of familiar-looking villains. Toss in a super-powered Sivana family, the Marvel family, lots of villains and a threat to reality (plus some fun with time travel) and you get a fresh, fantastic story.

   Add in the powerful and fresh art by Cameron Stewart, and you have a captivating, not-to-be-missed comic.

   Stacked on the shelf alongside the usual tomes of grim and gruesome antics, it's like a blast of fresh air - a fun, hope-filled adventure starring honest-to-goodness heroes.

   Why can't this be a monthly title? The comics industry - and each fan - needs this in the worst way.

Grade: A

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Multiversity: Pax Americana #1

   Wow.

   The history of comics includes a few events that truly rocked the industry. One of those was the Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons creation known as Watchmen.

    It's no secret that the series began as a proposal for a revamp of the Charlton Action Heroes - but instead, they served as the template for the characters who filled that series.

   So now we arrive at Grant Morrison's Multiversity, and the latest issue, Pax American, where we visit Earth-4, the home for Charlton's heroes.

   Here we find the Question, the Blue Beetle, Nightshade, the Peacemaker, Captain Atom and others (some not clearly identified) - but appearance aside, these are not the same heroes.

   Instead, they're a mash-up of the original characters and the characteristics of the Watchmen (without ever coming out and saying so). So we have a Question who is brutal with villains, a Captain Atom who lives across time and space, a Peacemaker who seems to be unhinged.

   The story is made more compelling by the amazing art of Frank Quitely, who has crafted an amazing storytelling feat here - one that could easily stand alongside the style and design of the Watchmen.

   This is not a story you can read just once - it's complex, sometimes confusing and deliberately challenging. You might also object to the violence, to the way the story pushes the characters into different forms, altered moralities - and you won't get much argument from me - it bothers me, too.

   But despite that, this is quite an accomplishment in comic art - mature, unique (and yet an homage with multiple levels at work) - just stunning.

   But not for kids.

Grade: A

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Multiversity: The Just #1

   I think this issue can be summed up with the phrase, "Today's kids are slackers."

   Multiversity has been created by Grant Morrison to explore the alternate universes (there's 52 now!) that make up the DC universe.

   This issue - The Just - focuses on the children of the original Justice League (or their successors) on an alternate Earth (Earth-11, to be exact).

   They're mostly spoiled and idle - but there's a good reason for that. Their parents have seen to it that all danger has been eliminated from the Earth, so there's no crime to stop, no criminals to pursue.

   So this issue focuses on the ways they keep themselves entertained - though an odd mix of parties, love affairs, art pursuits and role playing.

   Ben Oliver provides some striking artwork for the story, and it's a clever twist on today's culture (the story is aptly titled "#earthme") and a sharp commentary on our iPhone culture.

    Either that or Morrison's just having a laugh. But just to be sure, I'd advise staying off his lawn.

Grade: B+

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Multiversity: Society of Super-Heroes #1

   I absolutely loved this issue.

   Titled Multiversity: Society of Super-Heroes, it seems to be a pulp hero version of the Justice Society, and you get the sense that (like me), writer Grant Morrison has great fondness for that team.

   It drops us into an alternate Earth as it faces an invasion from an alternate universe, and it's a battle of equals as the heroes try to stem the inexorable tide of evil.

   It's difficult to talk about, because each character intro (including the team's opponents) is a delight, and I don't want to ruin that.

   Of course, you can see Dr. Fate on the cover (in the issue he goes by "Doc" Fate), and there's a Blackhawk symbol there, too - but I'll say no more.

   The art by Chris Sprouse is wonderful - vibrant, powerful, with amazing layouts and great character designs.

   This is a series driven by imagination and a love of the vast mythology that the DC Universe rests on. It's wonderful to see it being mined to full effect!

Grade: A

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Multiversity #1

   Someone (sorry, can't remember who) commented recently, "Thank goodness DC got rid of that confusing Earth-1 and Earth-2  business - and replaced it with 52 alternate Earths."

   But that abundance has created fertile ground for the unique mind of writer Grant Morrison, who has (apparently) been given free rein to craft a free-wheeling mythology in the pages of Multiversity.

   As you'd expect, it's very... different. It begins with the last of the Monitors visiting an Earth on the verge of destruction. Its only hope is a gathering of some of the greatest heroes from across the multiverse, including Superman (but not the one from Earth-1), Captain Carrot and several others.

   They journey to alternate Earths, meet some very familiar (if different) heroes, including certain Marvel alternates (which is only fair, given recent events in the New Avengers).

   It's all fast, furious and sharp as can be. This is a series that will bear re-reading - it's dense with ideas, concepts and gags.

   The art is by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, and it's exceptional - from mammoth cosmic beings to superhero battles to alternate realities, it's all crafted with a strong sense of layout and heroic design.

   This certainly isn't for everyone - it will take multiple readings to catch a lot of the bits carefully built into the story - but especially for longtime or dedicated fans, it's well worth the effort.

Grade: A

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