DC Black Label 2020
Written by Tom King
Illustrated by Mitch Gerards & Evan “Doc” Shaner
Lettered by Clayton Cowles
What is the truth about Adam Strange? When an activist who publicly accused him of war crimes ends up dead, the public begins to doubt Strange’s stories about his adventures on the planet Rann-and he’s even starting to doubt himself. It’s going to take a special investigator to get the truth, and he’s going to have to tear apart Adam Strange’s life and reputation to do it.
This is another fine example of storytelling. After the Mister Miracle story I wasn’t surprised to see another one coming from them and god I was thrilled with the choice. Adam Strange has had a raw deal over the last decade at least, small wonder. Still this is what comics were made for, to tell a story, take us to places far away and unknown to thrill readers with adventures and even some darker grittier stuff that no one expects. It really does encompass a real now viewpoint on how we see people and their actions and it’s at times extremely brutal but ya know what this Black Label line is the best thing DC has going right now.
The way that this is being told is completely and utterly brilliant. Leave it to Bruce Wayne not to trust someone and send someone else to do his dirty work. What I do find interesting here is the fact that it feels as if Bruce doesn't know Adam personally which is definitely an interesting new take. The story and plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented in a way that you often cannot take at face value. This is partly because we know how Mister Miracle went and partly because everyone’s view is their own and completely unique to that individual. Which leads me to the character development which is amazing to see. From Adam, Bruce and Michael what we see is this superb tangle of emotions and feelings and it just makes for this truly glorious read. The pacing here is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we get this amazing tale unveiling before us. How all this works together to create the books ebb & flow as well as how solidly the book is structured exceptionally well done.
The interiors here are truly inspired. The work we see is mesmerising and hypnotic in that I as a reader cannot stand to look away from the pages. The people we see have this unique look and quality to the way they are presented. The linework we see with its varying weights and techniques is utterly gorgeous. The utilisation of the backgrounds bring us this nice depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story. They also beautifully enhance the imagery we see while it keeps setting the stage for the main focus. The way that we see the page layouts and the angles and perspective in the panels show off this utterly amazingly talented eye for storytelling. The colour work is beyond spectacular and how the various hues and tones are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work enhance everything we see. The skill in how the colour is applied and utilised throughout is stunning.
There really is something magical about this series already and you can feel in each and every page. How we see the story being layered with depth and how the characters respond to that which is being asked of them as well as the situations and circumstances that arise. For me I couldn’t be any happier that DC is finally utilising some of these classic characters and showcasing why they were so vital to the company's rise in popularity. Adam strange is just a man thrust into a life he had to adapt to and through that became a hero, saviour and father, his iconic status in the universe is well deserved. Now though it’s the focus on Michael which I find more interesting as i know very little about this legacy (replacement) character. This is a fun ride and it has only just begun!