Written by Alex Ross; Jim Krueger; Joe Casey; & Phil Hester
Art by Alex Ross; Mike Lilly; Vinicius Andrade; Simon Bowland; Joe Casey; Edgar Salazar; Romulo Fajardo, Jr.; & Carlos Paul
Cover Art by (Uncredited – presumably Alex Ross)
SUMMARY:
Published by Dynamite Entertainment in 2008, this 32-page promo offers both black-and-white sketches and color sequences to hype the next installment of Project Superpowers. The sketchbook segment has co-creators Alex Ross & Jim Krueger tease The Inheritors (the super-sidekicks); The Patriots; The Supremacy; Captain Future (utilizing Ross’ Shazam! re-design that DC Comics had rejected); Man-Cat; Burning Eagle; Black Owl; The Scarlet Sisters (including Masquerade); Silver Streak; the Ghost; The Big Shots; The Super Mystery-Men; and Truth & Dare.
The next segment provides artistic scripting, first issue cover reveals, and imagery re: the openers for three mini-series/spin-offs: Black Terror (by Ross, Krueger, Lilly, Andrade, & Bowland); Death-Defying Devil (by Ross, Casey, Salazar, Fajardo, Jr.; & Bowland); and Masquerade (by Ross, Hester, & Paul). The last page is a full-blown ad for Black Terror # 1.
REVIEW:
For a glorified ad, this promo is well-played. Alex Ross earns his repetitive mentions in the credits, as his visual work is phenomenal. The minimal text, as displayed in the sketchbook, smartly hints at what is coming up for these various characters without revealing the pertinent why’s. Without question, Ross & Krueger make the use of ultra-slick artwork over text an effective sales technique. For both Project Superpowers fans and series newcomers alike, this issue is a real treat to peruse, particularly as it emphasizes the saga’s classy imagery.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The inside front cover specifies each segment’s creative team underneath a brief saga synopsis.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
