Mild Mannered Reviews – Infinite Frontier #1

Infinite Frontier #1

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Infinite Frontier #1

 

Scheduled to arrive in stores: June 22, 2021
Cover date: August 2021

“Infinite Frontier”

Writer: Joshua Williams
Penciller: Xermanico
Inker: Xermanico
Cover: Mitch Gerards
Variant Cover: Bryan Hitch

Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer


Trying very hard to avoid any serious spoilers, here is the summary: Flashpoint Batman lands on Earth-23 in a rocket. Calvin Ellis’ parents, who have recently moved to the countryside, find him and contact Calvin. We then get a brief glimpse into how people are reacting to the public news of a multiverse while the JSA with Alan Scott defeat a villain. Alan and his son Obsidian travel to Gotham to meet his daughter. Obsidian recounts how crazy life has been, acknowledging the times they were erased from reality. They arrive at the old JSA headquarters when a green explosion erupts from within the building. In Paris, director Bones is convincing a character to rejoin his team the D.E.O. She at first refuses, but then is shown a mysterious image and leaves while threatening her if she does not join.

 

Meanwhile Flashpoint Batman awakens to see Justice Incarnate. After an initial violent outburst President Superman calms him down, and he asks to see Barry Allen. The Flash is shown figuring out how to phase between earths, he discovers a way to reach Earth Omega. While on Earth Omega he finds the remains of the Quintessence. In his shock he is incapacitated. Back on what I believed was Earth-0 a couple of people are discussing the existence of the Multiverse in a small diner. The conversation becomes heated as to whether the superheroes can be trusted. With the threat of violence, Roy Harper steps in. As he intervenes an explosion rocks the small diner, and a team of villains attempts to kidnap him. During the kidnapping attempt a small group of black figures defeats the villains, ending the issue.

5Story – 5: I am about to admit to something that is slightly sacriligeous among DC circles… I am not a huge fan of Crisis on Infinite Earths. I’ve read it numerous times, but I have never gotten why people love it. I attribute this to my overall dislike of most multiverse stories. A lot of characters appear in this story that I either do not know, or do not care for, Alan Scott and his family are some of those characters. That being said. I really liked this story and am very excited to see the mysteries unfold. Williams does a great job of establishing the worlds that these characters are existing in, while also setting up intriguing mysteries plaguing the multiverse. I am interested to see how he links people’s reactions to the multiverse to the overall story. There are a lot of great throwbacks to past crises in this issue that make me even more curious as to how things will develop.

5Art – 5: Xermanico delivers a well illustrated issue. His layouts are engaging and propel the story along at a good pace, both speeding up at appropriate times, and slowing them down. He also uses a few different styles to illustrate different eras when Flash is being incapacitated.

4Cover Art – 4: This is a great cover, mostly because of the look of Calvin Ellis. I also like seeing the multiple earths in space and Darkseid seizing one in his palm. A great image. I don’t like how Alan Scott looks in this image. In the comic he looks significantly younger, like late 40s early 50s, but on this image he looks like late 90s and it bugs me.

3Variant Cover Art – 3: This cover is stylistically great. Alan Scott in mid flight with the green energy seeping from his ring looks cool. I only dock marks because, as I said before, I don’t care for Alan Scott or Obisidian. Because of my apathy, this cover does nothing for me.

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MattComics
MattComics
June 21, 2021 11:02 am

If you’re not a Multiverse fan then I can see why COIE wouldn’t appeal to you. Looking back on it now, I’d have to say my own feelings are mixed. As for why it is appealing well the first factor is the art of George Perez. A guy who was not only a master but could draw 1,000 superheroes in a scene and you’d be able to make out who ALL of them were and they looked great even if they were in way in the back and micro sized. Also COIE and Marvel’s Secret Wars were the first time… Read more »