Lazarus Planet Alpha #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Mark Waid, art by Riccardo Federici, colours by Brad Anderson, and letters by Steve Wands. With a magical storm unleashed on the entire planet, a small band of heroes attempts to stop those responsible. This is the start of a crossover.
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This is a plot that may initially be difficult to grasp due to it relying on the plots of previous stories. Both of Waid’s current DC series, Batman vs Robin and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, are the setup for the crossover and the villain. The recap is pretty good but it still might be unsettling for those jumping on. The sense of peril and danger is high from the start, with an end-of-the-world tone. Immediately. It’s a great ragtag group of characters that are then split onto different missions, with a fantastical element to the threat. The whole comic is rough and dark, but there are moments of hope and sweetness stuck within.
The characters included offering a glimpse at the expansive nature of this crossover. Those selected in Lazarus Planet Alpha #1 are brilliant personalities and surprising inclusions. The teams include Zatanna, Blue Devil, Blue Beetle, and Mary Marvel, among many others. It’s a large cast but all of their voices are clear. The variety in their abilities and reputations leads to countless possibilities and some excellent interactions. Batman is weakened due to events occurring before the beginning of this issue. He’s quiet, vulnerable, and unpredictable. At the fore of this team is Robin, having to be the leader in the absence of his father. Waid’s dialogue that depicts his tactical mind is exceptional, highlighting how much Robin has grown and developed as a character.
The art is fantastic. There is an intense realism to Federici’s art, with intricate details given to the hair and costumes. The designs of the heroes involved are impeccable, but it is the creatures that draw the most attention. Their size and monstrous appearances are superbly created, bringing high fantasy into a land of heroes and making it mesh. There are some great panels that make this comic seem like a dark fairy tale.
The colours left me conflicted. On one hand, they are beautifully atmospheric. The green haze that covers the planet is gloomy and unrelenting, with the intensely bright light and energy of superpowers cutting through the darkness with a gorgeous luminescence. The obscure shades over the pages are purposely unsettling and smothering, But there are moments when the page is too dark, obscuring the subject and burying them in the shadows. The lettering is very clear and distinctive within a parge of murky colours.
Lazarus Planet Alpha #1 is a beautiful and moody start to a crossover that stretches over the entire world. While some previous reading of the earlier series may be beneficial, the excitement and storytelling of this first issue are enough of a springboard for the rest of Lazarus Planet. But it is also a great escalation of an idea that was started long ago. Waid and his collaborators are bringing some cult favourite characters and putting them at the forefront of the whole series, creating allegiances we may never have seen before.
Lazarus Planet Alpha #1 is available where comics are sold.
Lazarus Planet Alpha #1
TL;DR
Lazarus Planet Alpha #1 is a beautiful and moody start to a crossover that stretches over the entire world. While some previous reading of the earlier series may be beneficial, the excitement and storytelling of this first issue are enough of a springboard for the rest of Lazarus Planet. But it is also a great escalation of an idea that was started long ago. Waid and his collaborators are bringing some cult favourite characters and putting them at the forefront of the whole series, creating allegiances we may never have seen before.
