Saturday, September 26, 2009

Underground #1

Written by Jeff Parker
Art by Steve Lieber

This is shaping up to be one of the best new series of the year. This is everything a first issue should be - strong character development, a good sense of place, and a suspenseful and interesting hook.

Wesley Fischer is a park ranger opposed to a local business man's plans to 'renovate' a cave system to make it suitable for tourism. The town of Marion has been depressed for years (apparently suffering from a "long economic draught" - you have to love Image's lack of editors), and the people are behind the businessman, Winston Barefoot (played, apparently, by Lincoln Red Crow, on lone from Scalped).

Wesley, and her fellow ranger Seth, having just spent the night together, run into Barefoot at the local diner, before heading off to work. Seth discovers a pair of locals dynamiting the same cave that is at the centre of so much controversy, and this book is off to the races.

Parker has been commanding a lot of acclaim for his work at Marvel on titles like 'Agents of Atlas', but it is here that he really shows that he is an amazing writer. Lieber's work here is excellent as usual. This is a title that deserves a lot of attention.

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