The Twelve #1

This was a very pleasant surprise. Not to say that I wasn't looking forward to it - I was. But I'm not always a fan of JMS's writing. However, having really liked his Bullet Points series, I was optomistic about this book. And it didn't disappoint.

A twelve part storyline about a group of heroes from the past feeling out of place in the present was always inevitably going to lead to comparisons with Watchmen. It would be unfortunate, though, if that held readers back from picking this up. It's very clear early on that this is a different animal entirely.

The Twelve in question are 11 supposedly super-powered individuals (although it quickly transpires that some are only mimicking powers) and one robot, who are trapped by Nazis in an underground chamber and then frozen. Once Nazi Germany falls, the heroes end up trapped and forgotten about until the modern day when they are recovered when building work uncovers their frozen bodies in a cellar.

The group are a motley crew, to say the least. The story is told by the Phantom Reporter, one of the 'passengers' amongst the heroes and he is an engaging narrator. Others include ultra-heroic Dynamic Man, who sees himself as the man of the future, the showy Blue Blade and the enigmatic Mastermind Excello. The only female is the Black Widow, who, I must report, is the first superheroine I have seen to have her boobs groped by a nasty Nazi in a Marvel comic book (and with a T+ rating as well)!

I won't spoil the book for potential readers but the last page does contain a big reveal that nicely sets up the series. An excellent opener and well worth picking up.