Written by Alex Ross & Jim Krueger
Art by Alex Ross; Carlos Paul; Simon Bowland; & Debora Carita
Cover Art by Alex Ross
SUMMARY:
Released by Dynamite Entertainment in 2008, “… The Whites of Their Eyes” leads off with the Death-Defying Devil emerging from the Paris sewers to battle violent insurgents. In New York, Black Terror fights back against Dynamic Man’s superior robotic forces until he is forced to retreat with his allies. Above all, Black Terror wants to find his long-missing sidekick, Tim. Fighting Yank blames his ghostly ancestor as much as himself for their dire predicament. In the war-ravaged Middle East, the blind Samson emerges to aid the blue-armored Scarab. A despondent Flame finds the famed Hollywood sign has erupted in a blaze. Dynamic Man’s ruthlessness is further revealed.
Note: On the inside front cover, there’s a thumbnail of the variant incentive cover, which is “negative art” of the same cover below.
REVIEW:
Like the first issue, Project Superpowers # 2 demonstrates that Dynamite Entertainment can compete in the same league as Marvel, DC, and Image. Not only are the glossy visuals high-caliber, but this Alex Ross-Jim Krueger storyline is imbued with unpredictability. Who knows where the urn’s now-released and likely bewildered heroes will turn up in this world facing modern evil, let alone pursue personal vendettas against Fighting Yank? In this instance, the first issue’s cliffhanger follows a logical twist, as Death-Defying Devil, Samson, the Flame, and the Scarab are phased into the mayhem.
More so, Project Superpowers is something truly special beyond the star presence of Alex Ross and talented writer Jim Krueger. It’s the Ross team’s ingenuity repackaging obscure Golden Age characters in the public domain that makes this issue seem like magic. Case in point: the mysterious Death-Defying Devil was inspired by the Golden Age Daredevil. It’s why Ross & Krueger’s instant universe comes with a fresh shine where seemingly anything may happen.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a single-page “Dynamite Dispatches” news-and-notes column, which includes thumbnail cover images for issues # 1 (Black Terror and Green Lama) and # 3 (Masquerade and Samson). “Fighting Yank’s War Journal” assesses Death-Defying Devil. A two-page spread of character sketches consists of: The Green Mask & sidekick Domino; Black Terror & sidekick Tim; U.S. Jones; Amazing Man (who resembles He-Man); Blue Bolt; the Arrow; Sub-Zero Man; Vulcan; Pyroman; Captain Battle (who resembles classic Nick Fury + Captain America + Buck Rogers) and sidekick Captain Battle Jr.; Death-Defying Devil; and the Liberator. The back cover offers another reveal of the next issue.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 10 Stars
