2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Paradigm Shift on God's Coffee Break, August 16, 2008
This review is from: newuniversal, Vol. 1: Everything Went White (v. 1) (Paperback)
The good news is that there is an intelligent design to the universe. The bad news is that, like Homer Simpson leaving a drinking bird to man his work station, no one's watching at the helm. The White Event, a re-imagining of the central premise from Jim Shooter's classic New Universe franchise, has come in contact with the Earth, or at least one version of the Earth. Immediately upon contact, it has transformed four humans into its agents -- designates given specific tools in order to help humanity transition into a new age. Unfortunately, this "paradigm shift" is automated, and it tends to result in the destruction of the entire planet nearly as often as it succeeds in transforming humanity. As a result, the four designates of the White Event must adapt to their new roles and abilities with expediency and great care in the absence of an overseeing god. Along the way, they'll receive insight from an alien space station on another plane of existence, alternate and future versions of themselves, and a paranoid NSA director who has had to kill their kind before.
This may easily prove to be Ellis' masterpiece, thematically borrowing from the amoral and distant gods of Jack Kirby's "
The Eternals," as well as the inter-linking design of the universe that played such a prominent role in Ellis' own "
Planetary" series. Newuniversal surpasses both works, featuring a central concept that is far more complex and dramatically rich than anything similar that came before it. In addition, Ellis provides a fascinating and expansive ensemble cast in which the "bad guy" of the series (Phil Voight) is potentially its most enduring character. His, and all of the central characters' stories, are weaved into a grand tapestry that provides a vivid portrayal of the human condition on the brink of its destruction (and/or transition). For these reasons, Newuniversal proves to be just as dramatically rich as it is thought provoking, as surprisingly spiritual as it is science-fiction.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"This is a paradigm shift. Everything you know has changed. Please remain calm.", August 25, 2008
This review is from: newuniversal, Vol. 1: Everything Went White (v. 1) (Paperback)
- "The universe sends a Justice to maintain order. A Cipher, for the technological leap. A Nightmask, for the consciousness shift. And a Starbrand, for defense."
WARNING: Various SPOILERS scattered about.
Back in 1986 Marvel Comics, to celebrate its then 25th anniversary, created the New Universe brand, a short-lived line consisting of 8 titles which shared its own universe and was linked by the White Event, a singular phenomenon which gave rise to several superhuman beings. Separate from the Marvel universe, this New Universe espoused a more "realistic" approach to superheroes and their settings and situations. For whatever reason, it didn't really catch on and lasted only three years. But, now (or, rather, in 2006) superstar comic book writer Warren Ellis takes his crack at it. He re-imagines the core characters from four of the original New Universe titles (
Starbrand Classic Volume 1 TPB, NIGHTMASK, JUSTICE, and SPITFIRE AND THE TROUBLESHOOTERS) and sets about his widescreen rebooting and world building. The result, 6 issues in all, is collected in NEWUNIVERSAL: EVERYTHING WENT WHITE.
This is an alternative Earth, and doesn't quite mirror our own world. In this universe, John Lennon is alive and Paul McCartney was shot to death 19 years ago. The World Trade Center still stands. And Soviet Russia crumbled early. And then the cosmic White Event happens, triggering a shift in reality. The effects are immediately felt by four strangers. A young Midwesterner wakes up in a field to find his girlfriend horribly charred to death. He then discovers a strange brand on his right palm. A hospitalized NYPD detective, shot with a bullet to the head, abruptly wakes up and is now able to visualize other people's past sins. A government technician, toiling away on something called Project Spitfire, finds machinery directly communicating with her. And a sassy Japanese-American Goth girl from Frisco ventures into a weird place called the Superflow, where "sentients go when they dream...where ideas come from...the space through which telepathy operates." These are four strangers ascending to superhumanity, but they are closely connected. And then, in the latter stages of this collection, Warren Ellis's representative from the old PSI-FORCE title surfaces.
A fifth story arc centers around an archaelogical dig in Latvia, wherein a lost city is unearthed, this find believed to pre-date the earliest human city. Factor in the fact that a government watch dog agency gets its hands grimy, so paranoid that it has certain protocols put aside in the event of a superhuman manifestation. Because, you see, this emergence of superbeings, it's happened before.
Warren Ellis can always be counted on to produce big and ambitious storytelling. His usage of jawdropping, very cool sci-fi concepts here hearkens back to his time with THE AUTHORITY and PLANETARY series. Yet he keeps the mind-boggling goings-on grounded with his relatable characters (with the exception of NYPD cop John Tensen, who's very extreme; think Punisher with super powers). Now I'll admit that it all makes better reading when compiled in one trade paperback. It killed me, having to wait for the individual issues to come out. I'd always had to re-read the stories to catch up all over again. If you're expecting typical superhero fare, this is the wrong place. No diabolical supervillains here, plotting to take over the world. Ellis takes his time and does a good job exploring each story arc. Let's call the pace "leisurely." But I really got into the story. Six issues definitely aren't enough, but, apparently, we'll have to wait in '08 for the series to continue.
So what does happen in these issues? I don't want to spoil it too much, so I'll just say that the most action-oriented arcs revolve around the Starbrand (perhaps the most powerful weapon in the universe) and around the implacable, grotesque-scalped John Tensen. Tensen's activities as he metes out his own brand of justice, in particular, are rife with graphic viciousness. On the other hand, technician/engineer Jenny Swann, seeking to perfect her father's armored suit, sees the least action. The most altered character may be Nightmask, now rendered a Goth girl instead of the original teenage boy version. I must say, though, that Izanimi Randall promises to be an intriguing character. And the new playground which Ellis chooses for her to play in, the Superflow, is utterly fascinating. And I just cannot wait for all the core characters to start interacting (two of 'em have already begun to do just that) and to see where Ellis is taking this story. The way the last issue ended has really whetted my appetite for more.
But it's not all about Warren Ellis's intelligent and enthralling storytelling. Salvador Larroca (FANTASTIC FOUR, X-TREME X-MEN), whose art continues to evolve, comes thru yet again with his dynamic visuals. The vivid colors are courtesy of Jason Keith, who does marvelous work depicting the Superflow. Hopefully, when NEWUNIVERSAL picks up again, it'll keep this same creative team. Speaking of when this series returns, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ellis re-introduces the folks from the three remaining titles not as yet featured. I wouldn't mind a reincarnation of D.P.7 (
D.P. 7 Classic Volume 1 TPB). However, I'm a bit dubious about reincarnating MARK HAZZARD: MERC or KICKERS, INC. But, probably, Ellis and Larroca'll be able to sway me.
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