The Multiversity #2 “Superjudge”
Written by Grant Morrison
Pencils by Ivan Reiss
For just shy of a year now, Morrison has been taking us on a trip throughout the multiverse, and it’s been quite a ride. Overall, technically speaking, he’s had an amazingly solid run with this title, and the numerous artists that have contributed to each issue should be as equally proud of their work as well. That doesn’t mean that the series hasn’t been without its ups and downs though. I had high expectations going into it, and was pretty nervous after reading the first issue – which I thought was less than stellar. I even upset quite people with my review. Thankfully, after that we were treated to issues that focused on a specific world within the multiverse, and received some the best work I’ve ever had the privilege of reading in a long time – namely Multiversity: Pax Americana. Each month served as a glance into another world while providing a commentary on comics as a whole, as Morrison pieced together a puzzle of connections leading us to this: Multiversity #2.
So how does the final issue turn out? It’s one hell of a fun ride! If this were a film, it would be THE summer blockbuster of the year! There’s so much going on in this issue, and I found every page of it to be absolutely enjoyable. Does that mean it was the best issue? No. But it was highly entertaining, and Morrison did an amazing job of connecting all of the previous issues to bring this book full circle to a satisfying close. If I have one complaint, it’s that I was left wanting more… And if I’m being completely honest, that’s not necessarily a bad thing… But we’ll get into that later.
The Multiverse is under attack by an evil entity that has been sending the Gentry or other creatures to destroy worlds. In Multiversity #1, the last remaining Monitor, Nix Uotan, becomes corrupted and possessed by the evil entity. From there, the entity forces Nix to open multiple worlds up so that it can bring about destruction, annihilating universes one planet at a time. This is where all of the one-off issues come in, introducing us to these other worlds, how these universes are becoming connected, and the codex that could resolve all of their issues – comic books.
There’s so much epic-ness (Yes, that’s a real word. I said it’s a real word, therefore it must be!) in this issue! The action is insane! There has to be hundreds of characters represented here. I’m not exaggerating… hundreds! The book is fast paced, high energy fun, with Morrison throwing everything he can into this story. But it’s not overwhelming. Although there’s a lot going on, he keeps the narrative focused, without letting his excitement or intelligence get the best of him. Every plot point feels purposeful. Every character feels like they’re there for a reason. And there are no shortcomings of badass moments! There’s a panel involving Captain Carrot that literally made me say, “Oh $#*!” out loud. And on top of the crazy – sometimes intense – action, we’re reminded of the wicked sense of humor Morrison has. I challenge you to read this and not find it entertaining.
Aside from the popcorn worthy action, Morrison takes advantage of his platform to create a commentary on comics yet again: the correlation between real life and comics – a theme that is recurrent through nearly every issue of The Multiversity. There are so many life lessons that can be found in comics, and I think that as a society, we tend to forget that. We forget how powerful such a small thing can be. As a whole, the general public looks at comic books as hokey storytelling that’s meant for children or nerds. Now, before anyone gets offended, I’m a proud nerd and I think nerds are sexy and cool. We know this. We see this. What the greater population doesn’t understand, is that there’s so much more to comics than just flashy costumes and adventures of people with powers. The answers in this story, are found in the comics! Answers to real world problems, can be found in comics!
Another commentary that Morrison slips in, is that there never is an end to comics. Stories in comics never really wrap up. One story just leads into another… and it’s completely true. He even supports that notion in how he ends this book. There is a distinct close of this chapter, this story, but there’s set-up for more stories in the future. Something I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing! Our foundation has been laid, there characters are there, we just need the opportunity to explore them more! And I hope to God that we get the opportunity to!
The Art: The art was fantastic! I can’t even begin describe the positive impact that Reiss had on this issue… There is sooo much to take in! On top of Morrison’s narrative, Reiss magnificently tells his own stories without the need of dialogue. Panel after panel, he provides endless information, endless nods to previous comics, stories, history, and even other publishing companies, each and every inch of the page utilized for sheer greatness. It’s like a visual orgasm that warrants a second read, perhaps a third, just to take in the art. I give Mr. Reiss a 10 out of 10! To see some of his fantastic work, check the spoiler tag below.
Recommended if:
- You’ve been wanting to read a story of epic proportion.
- You’ve been following the Multiversity.
- You need a little high-brow comic reading in your life.
- You want to see Captain Carrot (and many others) kick ass!
Overall: What The Multiversity #2 lacked in depth and weight compared to some of it’s previous issues, it easily made up for in engaging action, fast paced plots, thought provoking commentaries, and a desire to read more. This is definitely required reading for any seasoned comic book fan!
SCORE: 9/10
