Since setting up shot across the pond almost 10 years ago, the energetic, London-based Com.X group have been producing fine quality comics in a mostly traditional format. But Andi Ewington’s FORTY-FIVE breaks new ground for this young publishing house, and it has all the makings of a watershed work.
Journalist James Stanley is about to become a father. He and his wife have decided not to take the test that would determine if their baby is carrying the “Super-S” gene that would give their offspring one or more superpowers. So to prepare for parenthood, Stanley conducts interviews in England, America and other parts of the world with a variety of genetically born superheroes; the 2nd Degree heroes, who came upon their powers by other means; and various family members, friends and associates.
The resulting 45 interviews cover a broad spectrum of ages, activities and outcomes. Some of his superhero subjects are the extroverted costume-wearing types. Others, by virtue of their powers or reputation, operate under cover of night or in secret. A few interviewed (and several others mentioned in the discussions) have “gone Vader” — that is, become evil. Stanley also devotes time to various parents of newborn or young superheroes, as well as other “Normans” (regular, non-super-powered humans) whose lives have been affected by a hero one way or another.
Lurking among many of their stories is the organization known as XoDOS, a shadowy agency that provides funds and private educational opportunities for those born with the Super-S gene or those who become 2nd Degree heroes. As Stanley learns, there are those who believe that XoDOS’s real mission is to recruit super-powered individuals into a clandestine, government-sponsored army whose mission has yet to be revealed.
Following a brief introduction, the entire narrative is presented in a Q&A interview format, with each accompanied by a full-page, color illustration by numerous artists whose names cover about five-and-a-half inches of space on the inside-cover credits.
Ewington obviously loves and knows a lot about his subject matter. The themes of how superheroes are defined and integrated in the society of regular humans places him in the company of Alan Moore, of course. But there are also echoes of the early X-MEN series, Frank Miller of the classic DARK KNIGHT days, and even George R.R. Martin’s WILD CARDS series. Yet the author’s inventiveness, along with the emotional insight and content of his stories, make this work uniquely his own.
Special acknowledgement is also due to the dozens of illustrators. Their works range from single-subject portraits to multi-image narratives and wildly impressionistic renderings of the interviews and their subjects. While these pieces differ greatly in style and technique, they are all stunning and contribute richly to the book’s enjoyment.
FORTY-FIVE is destined to be one of those graphic novels that historians and fans will talk about and fondly look back upon for years to come. Don’t pass up the opportunity to be among those who knew about it when it first appeared. —Alan Cranis
Related posts:
- Forty Signs of Rain
- Gene Simmons House of Horrors
- The Rolling Stone Interviews
- Nancy, Volume 1: The John Stanley Library
