Anghus Houvouras reviews the second issue of Jupiter’s Legacy…
“The comic book event of 2013 continues as the schism between the superheroes widens and a plot to unseat the greatest hero of them all emerges. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of Superman this month by buying this frankly much-more interesting book by superstar creators Mark Millar and Frank Quitely.”
With Jupiter’s Legacy, Mark Millar and Frank Quitely have set up a superhero universe on the precipice of chaos. The jam packed first issue gave us a mysterious origin story and a quick flash forward to modern times where the first generation of heroes are now dealing with the sad uncertainty of a world that no longer resembles the one they first vowed to protect so many years ago.
The all powerful Utopian still believes in the values of the capitalist society that seems mere inches from plunging into anarchy. Utopian represents the Superman of this fictionalized universe who still stands for truth, justice, and the American way. Even if the American Way ain’t what it used to be. His super powered brother Walter has decided to step in and try to avert catastrophe by using his powers and advanced intellect to try and avoid disaster. Words are exchanged, and like the first issue we have a very clear existential divide between the two oldest and presumably most powerful beings on the planet:
Is the heroes job to act as as an arm of the establishment or should they use their abilities to better shape the world in their own image?
Utopian is fine with his Government. Sort of a super powered Neo-Con. He’s fine letting the people of the world sort out their own mess while he rescues cats from trees. Walter is now at the breaking point and begins arranging pieces on the board for a potential coup.
Utopian is also having a hell of a time coralling his super powered children who are partying themselves into oblivion. His daughter Chloe barely survived an overdose and his son Brandon is trying to act heroic while blind drunk nearly ends up killing a few hundred innocent people. Clearly Utopian’s house is not in order.
The second issue of Jupiter’s Legacy continues to impress. Like many of Millar’s previous works, he takes a pre-established comic book sensibility and shuffles things around to create his own take on familiar tropes. This issue started making me think of the classic DC series Kingdom Come, where questions about the role of a hero and the responsibilities of those who don the cape and tights are asked using some familiar icons. There’s also hints of Millar’s Wanted in the mix. Where super powered individuals begin to make moves on one another looking to renegotiate the social contract they have set up with humanity. Even though you can see tethers to Millar’s previous works, it doesnt’ feel redundant. The world of Jupiter’s Legacy feels remarkably fresh.
We are introduced to a new character, a power rod wielding miscreant named Hutch who is the son of the world’s most famous super villain. The best scene in the book involves a confrontation between Hutch and some suited goons making threats. His response:
Shark infested waters.
The aftermath of that sentence is easily my favorite page in any comic this year. Frank Quitely is my favorite comic book artist, and his unique style works so well for the world of Jupiter’s Legacy which is looking like a contender for my favorite title of the year. There’s a lot of ground still left to cover, but I’m liking where Millar and Quitely are taking this series. The characters are interesting. The pacing is remarkably brisk. My only point of contention is hoping at some point they stop to cover some of the glossed over history of this universe.
Jupiter’s Legacy #2 is another solid issue from Quitely and Millar. The stage has been set. Confrontation is coming. I’m looking forward to see where this goes next.
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker. His latest work, the novel My Career Suicide Note, is available from Amazon.
Originally published June 25, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
