Dynamite Entertainment 2015
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Eman Casallos
Coloured by Adriano Augusto
There are few people who can assemble a cast and a story with characters throughout time and bring them together in such a way that makes it seem like all time travel is nothing more than an ordinary experience and it’s perfectly natural to have all these incarnations of the characters together like at a meeting of the Super Friends. It’s crazy how good this is and how Cullen has just created a story where I want to this to keep going and not end. Though how many events can there be that require all of them to be involved?
Eman and Adriano do some game changing work on the interiors as well. It’s creative, innovative and the attention to detail is impeccable on so many levels. From the Masquerade Ball participants to seeing the fun house mirror effect of the time displaced heroes it’s just seemingly all over place but looks so darn good together. Then there’s the added bonus of the way the colouring changes depending on what point in the story it is and it’s truly incredible stuff. I’m really blown away but the subtle changes in costumes, facial expressions and page dynamics here that just grab you before you realize it.
The dialogue between characters is flawless and beckons for further exploration. I’m in awe of what Cullen has put before us here. Plus what he showed with the Spider and what he’s been capable of now that I hadn’t seen in his previous run really expands upon the character making him so much more than he’s ever been. Having him be this unofficial leader and instigator of this jaunt for these heroes adds something to the mysterious mix that’s happening here which can only be experienced for oneself. To hear him tell of the Red Death’s origin and her rise to power was a game changing moment and with only having each of them alluded to having have faced her and minions drawing them all together solidifying their bond in ways that can’t be readily grasped make for fascinating reading.
The complexity and scope of what’s happening here is just incredible I can’t stress enough how large and accessible this story really is it ranks up there with some of the biggest i’ve ever read be it from the X-Men, the New Teen Titans or the Legion’s Great Darkness Saga and in my opinion will one day takes it rightful place alongside them.
When the story goes from background story to full on action sequences without missing a beat and being able to show how powerful they are and the beginnings of working together in groups or a team is only making them stronger and unified against the Red Death. After proving their worth to thwarting her and then seeing her reaction to that really explodes into the excitement that’s coming.
This is a must not be missed limited series.