THE MULTIVERSITY: THE SOCIETY OF SUPER-HEROES #1 Review

Can The Multiversity continue to be a must read for comic fans? Or was it just a one hit wonder? Read on to find out.

The official description from DC Comics:

The biggest adventure in DC Comics history continues!

Grant Morrison joins modern legend Chris Sprouse (TOM STRONG, BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, ACTION COMICS) for a trip to Earth-20 starring a Society of Super Heroes unlike anything you’ve seen before! It’s pulp Super Hero action with a post-modern twist — you can’t afford to miss it!

Who is the demon-like Green Lantern protecting Earth-20? What secret does Doc Fate hold that could save the world? Who are the hand-to-hand and air-to-air combat queens known as the Blackhawks? And what happens when these heroes come face to face with their diabolical Earth-40 counterparts – led by Vandal Savage – for an epic war between parallel worlds? Find out all that and more in this exciting stand-alone issue which also acts as chapter two of the overall MULTIVERSITY storyline. Join us, if you dare, for THE MULTIVERSITY!

Have you ever had a series that has taken that long to come out, and been that overhyped that you’ve lost interest in it by the time it actually is out? Well that was the case with me and The Multiversity, as between the wait, the one-shot aspect, and the $4.99 price I was very alienated. I did however crack and try The Multiversity #1, and boy am I glad I did, as it was one of the best single issues I’ve read from DC in quite some time.

Grant Morrison continues to prove that The Multiversity is a winning formula, as though this issue didn’t captivate me nearly as much as the first, it was still thoroughly enjoyable. Keeping true to what a one-shot should be, Morrison gives us a tale that fits nicely into prior events, whilst at the same time being standalone. This along with the fabulous narration, and exciting action made this journey into The Multiverse utterly entertaining, with the addition of Secret Society members being well received.

The artwork on this one-shot is handled by Chris Sprouse with the Tom Strong artist being the perfect fit for this tale. Despite the slightly jarring facial expressions of Immortal Man being an unsavory first impression, Sprouse quickly shows his talent, with the detailed scenery, and cinematic layouts being extremely enticing. It was however his artwork on Doc Fate that impressed me most, as alongside the crisp inks of Karl Story and Walden Wong, and toned colours of Dave McCaig it really allowed the character to show his imposing presence.

It may take you a while to finish reciting the title of The Multiversity: The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World #1 to your local comic book shop, but it’s well worth it, with The Multiversity as a whole looking to be the event of 2014. Highly recommended.