Twilight Experiment #2
Originally Presented at Comixtreme.com on February 27, 2005
Quick Rating: Good
Title: The Boy Who Fell to Earth
Eight years after his mother’s death, Michael comes to Earth.
Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Pencils: Juan Santacruz
Colors: Jose Luiz Roger
Letters: Phil Balsman
Editor: Bob Harras & Kristy Quinn
Cover Art: Juan Santacruz
Publisher: DC Comics/Wildstorm Signature Series
Review: Last issue, one of the most powerful superheroes in the world died in battle, leaving her 10-year-old son to be raised by her space station’s computer. This issue takes up the story eight years later as the boy, Michael, is finally preparing to leave the station and come down to Earth for the first time in his life. In many ways, this issue is a character study of Michael and Abe, the computer. We see their relationship and how it has grown. It’s not exactly a parent-child, but it is a nurturing relationship, a rather unique one at that.
We bounce around quite a bit in this book as well, following the young woman whose sister was killed in the same battle that claimed Michael’s mother, and who was inspired to become a paramedic as a result. We learn that the battle may not have left her unscathed either. And we see that there may have been more to that fateful battle than meets the eye.
This is kind of a unique look at superheroes - not the child following in the mother’s footsteps, but the way it is handled. I’m liking this story, but it’s not really a must-read, not yet. I feel like it’s just missing a little something that could tip it over the edge from being just good to being great. I’m not sure what it would take to push it over that edge, but I’m hoping the writers find it in the next four issues.
Juan Santacruz handles the artwork on this issue, and he does a fantastic job of it. He knows exactly how to draw superheroes, how to draw battles, how to draw normal people. He and Jose Luiz Roger (on color) have to handle several different styles in the course of this issue, but they handle it with aplomb.
This is a good series. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve read anything yet by the Gray/Palmiotti writing team that I haven’t liked. I think that says something, don’t you?
Rating: 7/10