2 out of 5

This is not a very good comic.  But it’s not a bad 90s-era Wildstorm comic, so take that how thou willst.

For anyone doing their exploratory time in the comic book trenches, choosing to rut along the Alan Moore path, it likely comes as a surprise to see his name pop up on some dark ages Image books.  Perhaps it stirs excitement – after all, his touches within the greater DC universe have produced some big wins – but when faced with the reality of the writing, perhaps Supreme aside, it can be mighty disappointing.  Nary a shred of Moore seems to actually exist in his Wildstorm books.

For all the Morrison vs. Moore animosity out there, this makes for another interesting comparison, as Grant graduated to JLA and beyond, changing comic worlds in his wake, whereas Moore perhaps took a paycheck from Image and then retreated back to Tom Strong and the like.  Which isn’t to suggest this is a hack job, more that capes and crusaders fit into Grant’s writing themes, but Moore’s focuses are elsewhere.  And thus my original statement: he delivered something that’s not Watchmen, but he did deliver something that’s a totally convincing Wildstorm comic.

The first few pages, with some cosmic entities deciding to alter reality, show some promise, but its only moments before we devolve into widescreen theatrics, as Spawn comes raging in to Wildcats HQ demanding to know what’s up with his being attacked by Grifter and Zealot in his homely homeless homestead.  The ‘cats are befuddled until another Grifter and Zealot show up – from the future! – to explain that Spawn goes crazy and destroys the world (as one does) and so they traveled back into the past to return the favor and off pre-megalomaniac Spawn.  But dang, they grew a.conscience when faced with Spawn’s cute, un-evil mug.

Now the only option is to go back… to… yeah..  The future.  Cue the cute present self / future self meetups and surprises (I’m a bad guy now!  I’m dead now!), and Moore doesn’t completely skirt the illogic of time travel conundrums (it actually sounds like it may be a plot point in the final, fourth issue of this series, which I didn’t find in the dollar bin with 1-3), but rest assured, this is still plenty dumb: Ridiculous EXTREME art, dumm tuff guy humor, continual dire consequences, etc. etc.

But it’s committed with a straight face, and dedication to its “genre,” and so for that I say: Fine.  Two stars.  Fine.  Two stars.