It’s not every day I’m asked to review a completely new comic by one of the big publishers, but, this time, I must have gotten lucky.  Today, we talk about the new storyline, EGOs, written by Stuart Moore and with art by Gus Storms.  It’s a sci-fi flick focused on the far future, and a bad guy (or two) is doing some very bad things.  So, the aging superhero puts a new team together to tackle the villain and save the world . . . except we know it’s never that easy.

First off – Stuart Moore.  The guy’s a legend.  He’s worked on some of the biggest and best names in comics.  He’s also worked for both the big guys (DC, Marvel, Image) and the indies.  He’s kind of a big deal, and he has many pulp-bound comic books that smell of rich . . . pulp.  Whatever.  Anyway, STUART MOORE did this comic.  So, pay attention.

Gus Storms is the guy behind the art.  Not nearly as pedigreed as Stuart, but Gus brings significant talent to the field, and if he has something to prove with this comic . . . well, so far so good. 

Okay, so the comic.  This comic is hard to explain. It’s not intuitive, and it’s not gussied up and pretty.  You have to pay attention and work a bit to figure out what’s going on.  All the while the narrator of the tale is clarifying what you’re watching (90% of the time) or being cryptic (10% of the time).  The story is already outlined, but a la Watchmen, the aging superhero(s) has a secret or two and definitely may not be as squeaky clean as one would hope.  When I say a la Watchmen, I mean it; this story (to me) feels like Watchmen in the far distant, sci-fi future.  From humanity’s wasteful and cruel ways to a long-term couple whose relationship has dissolved to resentment (and love?), this does not paint humanity with the kindest brush.

The bad guys are genuinely (I think?) a threat to the entire universe.  Although #1 just implies and sketches the basis of the storyline, I expect more grit, more death, and more compelling reading.

Many comics start with a promising #1.  EGOs starts with an incredible teaser, great art, and the backing of a major publisher.  EGOs could turn into that graphic novel that mutants give to the normals to see what a real comic (graphic novel) can actually become.  I’m hopeful. We’ll need to wait and see.