Image Comics
(w) Steve Orlando (a) Davide Tinto (c) Francesca Carotenuto (l) Fabio Amelia
When Commanders in Crisis was announced it had a lot already going for it already; namely being created by Orlando and Tinto. If you don’t know either of those names, then you should take the time to read their backlog, especially Orlando’s Martian Manhunter. Nonetheless, the premise behind Commanders in Crisis helps push the intrigue to overdrive. Take the “crisis” concept that DC comics love to push with the multiverse and make it into its own series. Not only that, but the cast is one of the most diverse we’ve seen as late and don’t feel like carbon copies of other characters. During this first issue, Orlando is able to introduce a deep plot that can easily be related to the real world, while establishing each character. Not only is the plot interesting enough to make you want to read more, but each character, their power, and their background drive the story forward.
The concept of the story is fascinating, with Commanders in Crisis #1 hitting it out of the park with an amazing cliffhanger. Yet, just as fascinating is Tinto’s art, which brings the characters and world to life. The design for each of the heroes works extremely well and tends to lean into their power base. Not only that, but Tinto weaves magic into each character’s emotions making how they feel truly stand out. Helping Tinto’s art is Carotenuto’s colors, which bring the visual pop. Each character seems to have their own color scheme, which is brought up in a few different instances. One such instance that really stands out is when Originator uses her powers and the panel/area she’s in turns purple. Keeping with Originator, her powers are based on words, which is where Amelia comes in with lettering. There are a few lettering moments that stand out, especially the Crisis Command’s logo pops up, but with Originator’s power as well. It seems her power is using words to change reality, that in mind, Amelia shows her using her powers in a purple word bubble with the words mashed. For a first issue to be this rich in character and plot you’d think it’d feel packed to the brim. Luckily, Commanders in Crisis #1 isn’t and is a damn great introduction issue.