Review: Original Sin #0
Writer: Mark Waid. Pencilers: Jim Cheung with Paco Medina. Inkers: Mark Morales with Guillermo Ortego, Dave Meikis, Juan Vlasco and Jim Cheung. Colors: Justin Ponsor.
Published by Marvel Comics.
[pulledquote] As well as a compelling and over all interesting read it’s an absolutely gorgeous book too. Cheung’s pages are incredibly energetic and draw you right into the story.[/pulledquote]
Zero issue to Marvel’s next big event book “Original Sin”, ordinarily I wouldn’t have picked up a zero issue I’ll be honest. Often they do nothing more than just barely set the stage for the #1 and offer nothing more than tipping a few characters into place so that when the event itself kicks off we don’t need to know the how or why of what’s going on in some degree. But, it’s payday, I was curious and the creative team are proven winners for me, so why not?
I’m happy to report this zero issue was well worth the read even if you don’t fancy checking out the rest of the Original Sin event. It’s a fresh look into the Marvel Universe with fresher characters and the already established ones too. An excellent gate-way into the Marvel Universe and still bringing something new for long time fans like myself.
“Who is the Watcher?” the cover asks us. I’d have said I knew or at least that I knew enough about the character to feel secure. However, this issue actually does fill me in the backstory/origin of Marvel’s biggest, baldest stalker. The Watcher or Uatu as some of you may know is a long-standing and classic Marvel character from back in the day who resides on the Moon and yes, watches us. Part of an alien race sworn to observe, record and study the cosmos for as far back as most can remember without ever interfering. This we all already knew. Original Sin #0 actually asks the question nobody in the history of Marvel comics has ever thought to ask, why? I’ll admit I was totally stumped when I read it too, it’s how he was introduced to us by Stan Lee so long ago I’ve never thought more on it. This issue shows us why.
Ok, the issue kicks off introducing us to Sam Alexander aka Nova, I really wanted to hate Nova when his book launched during the earlier wave of the Marvel Now! initiative. He wasn’t Richard Rider, just some new kid I really wanted to go away so Marvel could bring back my Nova. But you what? You can’t hate this kid, he’s the most successfully launched title in recent times with a totally fresh start into the Marvel Universe and one foot already in the past for long time readers. What began as a guilty pleasure quickly became my new favourite book. So Sam was an excellent choice to lead the story in Original Sin #0, As he learns about this world so to do we, and if you weren’t reading Nova you’ve now got enough of his backstory and a feel for the character to join in. A very clever move on Marvels part. Nova’s already come into contact with Uatu briefly in his own title so again the choice makes sense here.
As well as a compelling and over all interesting read it’s an absolutely gorgeous book too. Cheung’s pages are incredibly energetic and draw you right into the story. I didn’t want to turn the pages because is was still pouring over his art and soaking it all in. Ponsor’s color again work in unison with the art highlighting and giving the whole book a bold and energetic feel you can’t help but love. The contrast in Earth scenes to the Watchers is a great touch that only serves to hint at the character’s mysterious persona. A stoic and solitary character bound by duty to observe and never interfere, and all of that is visual here. There’s also some fantastic splash pages with vibrant and consuming colors you can’t help but stare at. Well worth the cover price all by themselves.
After a charged up Nova takes down “Tomazoom” (don’t worry I didn’t care either) a chance meeting with the Avengers brings up the question of just why the Watcher watches us. What’s he recording it all for? Why does he study us and for what reason? Naturally Nova pursues this and heads to meet the watcher, and that’s where things really expand. The Watcher watches not just earth but all of its timelines, and what if realities too, all at once I might add. Here Nova is treated to flashback of Uatu’s that answers the questions raised. I of course will not be answering these questions as it’d ruin the issue for you. Your welcome. But for the first time we now have an origin on The Watcher and why he does what he does with Nova also coming away from this encounter with a revelation of his own. Which all seems to make Original Sin a bit more interesting now that I’m invested. So hats off the the creative team on a zero issue that’s actually hooked me into the event and brought something completely new and original to the table, enriching a character I thought I knew all there was to know about and feeding my guilty Nova pleasure at the same time.
[easyreview cat1title=”The Arcade Verdict” cat1detail=”A fresh approach to the Marvel Universe showcasing characters new and old elements.” cat1rating=”9″]
