Catalyst Prime/Lion Forge 2017
Written by Joe Casey
Penciled by Damion Scott
Inked by Robert Campanella with Mosh Studios
Coloured by Sigmund Torre with Mosh Studios
Lettered by AW’s DC Hopkins
Daniel Dos Santos is Accell, the first speedster superhero in a brave new world, but just how fast is he? Accell's quest to test the limits of his powers throw him into a sideways dimension where horrors exist, and death comes at him faster than the speed of sound.
2017 is proving to be one hell of a year for new names in the industry and a resurgence of some well established ones all contributing to some excellent storytelling. New companies and imprints are making me realise just how much i’ve missed some genre’s of comics. Finally someone is doing a story about a speedster who actually wants to explore the reality of what has happened to him. I like that we are finally seeing that actions have consequences and that using speed to fight criminals and do amazing feats means that the body goes through some traumatic experiences.
I like what Joe is doing with this character and how he’s bringing us not only his origin but how he’s going about exploring his powers. That we see a bit of how he acquired the speed and that there are aspects of it that still elude him. That perhaps there are forces present in the universe that we cannot explain of that there are beings from the starts who actually do influence man. I like that Daniel meets this older Native American who tells stories of the gods of his people and how we can interpret that as we see fit but also fit in alien species into it. Could what Daniel experiences be the result of those who continue to visit Earth of of remnants that have fallen to the planets surface?
This isn’t a case where an accident gave Daniel his powers he gained them through a specific reason. He’s exploring this in ways that are different from what we’ve seen in the past and honestly not only engage the mind but also try to make sense of the reality of having a superpower. it’s not what you’d expect out of a traditional superhero comic book but it’s what we should have wanted all this time.
The interiors here are magnificently done. From when Daniel is saying later to his girlfriend, to experiencing the effects of the run to the old man’s god it’s all got it’s seemingly own sense of style to it. Then there’s the ending and the way that takes on a whole new look. The way it all comes across on the page is beautifully done and is a real treat for the senses. The way page layouts are utilised through their angles and perspective, including the use of backgrounds, just make this superb. As fast as Daniel is the flow of what we see is perfectly suited to him.
Unique and interesting in ways that matter for a new breed of comic book fans this is exactly what we want to see. Nothing is face value there’s layers and more to it then we ever been exposed to before and it’s high time this was the new normal in storytelling.