Metadawn

    (Powerful, 2004)
™ and © 2004 Powerful Press, Inc.

Yes, it’s another pair of small–press guys trying their luck at super–heroes. Before anyone groans too loudly, it’s only fair to say that Metadawn is one of the better attempts, thanks to capable layouts and linework by Mariano De La Torre and similarly promising storytelling by Lance Stahlberg.

Not that it’s going to replace JSA or X-Men as a fan favorite, but both creators avoid at least some of the rookie mistakes that typically plague such efforts. Stahlberg’s dialogue, for instance, is a lot fresher than one might expect from a freshman super–hero title, although he does succumb to the occasional cliché. And, after establishing that this is a world populated with countless super-heroes, he resists the temptation to throw in a dozen unknown characters on Page One.

De La Torre shows strong skills with such basics as facial expressions and anatomy, but most of his character designs are derivative of existing Big Two characters. And, in many panels, busy backgrounds frequently swallow up what he’s trying to convey.

But it’s an OK start; super–hero buffs looking for something new should take a look.

— Jim Johnson
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