Zenith Book Four

Zenith Book Four (1990, Titan Books) ****1/2

W: Grant Morrison A: Steve Yeowell.

The Zenith saga sprawls across multiple worlds as the lloiger attack the multiverse.

Morrison and Yeowell’s superhero satire is at its peak here, while remaining an affecting and effective story in its own right.  Fans of British comics will delight in supporting cast of classic heroes, both from IPC and other companies.  Yeowell’s black and white art is superlative, bringing a solid reality to proceedings without ever giving up his distinctive line.

Originally serialised in 2000AD.

Young Death: Boyhood of a Superfiend

Young Death: Boyhood of a Superfiend (2003, Rebellion Books) ***

W: John Wagner A: Peter Docherty.

In Mega-City one, Judge Death recounts his origin to a terrified journalist.

Funny squib of a story strips some of the mystery away from popular Judge Dredd villain, and adds unnecessary comedic elements to what had been a horror character.  None the less, succeeds in what it sets out to do.  Docherty’s art is grisly in places, but pleasing.  Bit player Mrs Gunderson has since become regular supporting player in the series.

Originally serialised in the Judge Dredd Megazine.  Wagner wrote this under the pen-name of Brian Skuter, the journalist in the comic.

WildC.A.T.S: Homecoming

WildC.A.T.S: Homecoming (1999, Wildstorm/Image Comics) ***

W: Alan Moore A: Various.

While the original WildC.A.T.s team learn their true place in the Deamonite war, a new team of CATs form to take the fight to the criminals on Earth.

Collection of first half of Moore’s run sees the writer deftly undetmine the previous stories and shift the focus from action to interaction.  New characters introduced in this volume seem far more interesting than those carried over from previous volumes.  Nominal regular penciller Travis Charest’s art, when it appears, is superlative, but rotation of inferior fill-ins undermine cohesion of story.