NO HERO #0

Writers: Warren Ellis

Artwork: Juan Jose Ryp

Publisher: Avatar Press

Greg's Review:

            Warren Ellis strikes again! Where the hell does this man get time to write even half the stuff he brings out? This Zero issue is an introduction to what the cover describes as a SERIALISED GRAPHIC NOVEL, which would seem to me to be a mini- or maxi-series of some sort, but I’m prepared to suspend scepticism for Warren Ellis, one of the most innovative and consistently good writers out there.

            The writer of TEAM 14 (reviewed earlier: 4 August ‘08) could take lessons from Warren Ellis. He has dropped us straight into an 8-page story with a minimum of concept, information on which is fed in only as required. We are left, at the end, wondering what will happen to the protagonist: will he simply be the victim of a non-arc storyline that has been used merely to introduce the concept of the story or will he prevail and go on to better – or worse – things? The read was interesting enough for me to care that he does.

            The concept is that a group of superheroes, the only ones in this world created by Ellis, are the product of the administration of an experimental drug. Unfortunately it appears there are potentially adverse side effects for some if not all of the participants. Thus the question is raised: “HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO BE A SUPERHUMAN?”

            The art is by Juan José Ryp, one of Mr Ellis’ many excellent collaborators, with whom he has done two colour series, Wolfskin and Black Summer, as well as the earlier black & white one-off, Angel Stomp Future. This issue, like those, is done with Ryp’s exquisitely detailed draftsmanship. The colour, by Greg Waller, is muted generally (as befits the sombre nature of the story) with splashes of bright colour to accentuate the dramatic moments within the plot.

            I await, with much anticipation, the first issue of this series …(oops, sorry!) … the first instalment of this (seven-part – as I’ve subsequently discovered from Comic Shop News # 1105) “serialised graphic novel” that is promoted as commencing in September ‘08.

Story: **** (out of 5)

Artwork: **** (out of 5)

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