DC Universe Legacies #1
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Len Wein
Art: Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert, J.G. Jones, Scott Kolins
Colors: Mike Atiyeh, Brad Anderson
Cover: Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert
Warning: Minor Spoilers!
What happens when you assemble a legendary team of super star creators to tell the story of legendary super heroes? You get DC Universe Legacies. During DC Comics’ 75th anniversary, DC is telling the story of their origins through the eyes of young fans of costumed super heroes like us all.
Beginning near the dawn of the Golden Age of super heroes, Legacies starts in the late 1930s on the streets of a mob ridden city. Young Paulie and his best friend Jimmy are two pre-teens trying to make a living in a suicide slum. As naive children, they’re unaware of the evil nature of the men they work for until Paulie lays eyes on the Crimson Avenger bursting through a door delivering a new brand of justice. Paulie becomes fascinated by the new wave of costumed heroes, even saving the Atom’s life during a job for illegal liquor racketing. Paulie, like most of us, becomes inspired by the example set by these masked crime fighters’ bravery, and thrilled by their character and mysticism.
I originally went into this title expecting some glorified “Secret Files and Origins” series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the deep human story that took place in these 30 pages. Even in 2010, Silver and Bronze Age comics legend, Len Wein, can still pull off a classic like almost nothing I’ve read before. Seeing that the story takes place from the perspective of a kid on the street may turn off some readers (myself included), but the tale was full of heart and stayed consistently interesting. When masked heroes appear on the page, they’re featured in a main event light like the icons that they are, making their appearance as impactful and meaningful as the first time we as fans saw our favorite heroes.
But that’s just the first part of Legacies. The second part of the story, also by Wein, is set in the same early 20th century America, and tells the story of a reporter trying to solve the mystery of the masked men. When reports of magic and science fiction come in involving Dr. Fate and the Specter, newspaper reporter Scott Scanlon tries to find the truth behind their tricks.
Though the lesser of the two stories, a classic noir theme surrounds these eight pages, and that translates brilliantly through J.G. Jone’s art. The artwork as a whole on this title is a comics fan’s dream, with super stars like the Kuberts taking over the first story. Andy Kubert’s style combines the grit of the early American setting and the classic comic book style.
I was not expecting to be as blown away by Legacies as I was. This is DC at its finest. Legacies is a book made not just for DC fans, but for anyone who ever took interest in the mysterious masked crime fighters. This is a title about super heroes and why we love them, and a title that shouldn’t be skipped over by anyone who is a fan of the genre.
Andrew Hurst
andrewhurst@comicattack.net
I was going to skip it, but you’ve sold me.
I had planned on passing this one up as well…might have to go back and check it out.
Sounds like a great read to brush up on some origins.
I, too, was expecting a Secret Files and Origins style book. I picked it up because I thought it would be the best way to know more about the DCU, because 80% of the time I Make Mine Marvel.
I was blown away. I thought it was going to be good because I think Len Wein and the Kuberts are more than qualified to be telling the history of the DCU, but this was way better than I expected!