Welcome to Megalopolis, Gail Simone and Jim Caliafore

"When the caped heroes of the world's safest city inexplicably all turn into homicidal lunatics, no one is safe.

The only rational thing to do is get the hell out of town. If only it were that easy..."














I kickstarted this (and it seems like a long time since I did) on the strangth of the fact that I like Gail Simone a lot (even if I've not especially enjoyed her Birds of Prey or recent Batgirl titles for DC) and Secret Six, which she did with Jim Caliafore

This isn't up to that standard, but as an example of world building it's an enjoyable read in its own right. The problem for all creator owned content is that, sooner or later, they have to explain their USP in a market crowded with too many characters, where even big name heroes can struggle to maintain their own series (just take a look at the list of cancelled book from the DC New 52 so far).

Kickstarter provides a medium for creators to release material without the worry that it won't sell. In reality, that's probably not an issue for Simone. She's a big enough name in the industry that her own creator owned stuff is going to sell. If Millar, Vaughan, Deconnick and Wood can do it, then Simone shouldn't have a problem, but clearly the vehicle of Kickstarter is a nice way to release new material.

The problem is that, shorn of the regular release schedule of mainstream comics the book can come across as ephemeral. Simone does an excellent job of creating a city that feels lived in, and Caliafore's art certainly helps. It's Hitchian in its scope and depth, and if his figure work isn't always as strong they certainly seem solid and real. The scenes of wholesale destruction have an appropriate sense of devastation. But without time to spend getting to know characters the death and sadness that permeates the book have little time to take route. Unlike The Walking Dead or Crossed, where a regular release or set of miniseries could bed in the core concept, we are introduced to characters and not given any time to appreciate them before they die.

It's not a bad thing to say, that I would rather there was more of it, but it does feel like a missed opportunity to set up a brand new universe that stands on its own.

Also Try:
Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead
Brain Wood, DMZ
Simone and Caliafore, Secret Six