Villordsutch reviews Zenith: Phase Two…
The all-time classic is back – and available in North American AND UK editions! Zenith is the only superhuman popstar. He’s saved the world, had a number one record – but his only interests are women, drugs, alchohol and fame. But Peter St. John and the unexpected reappearance of Ruby forces the superbrat to take off and tackle a nuclear threat to London – from his own creator! The second hardback volume of Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s breakthrough superhero story is one of the all-time classics of 2000 AD.
Comics of your childhood can either fall flat on re-read or if you’re lucky survive and still read fresh and rather fantastic. The fog of nostalgia is a cruel device and you can often remember comics being truly brilliant, that is until you see them being reissued in a trade paperback or a collected hardback and you rush out, spend a small fortune and an hour later you memories are tainted. Even with great names like Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell this can happen and with this gathering of Zenith: Phase Two the wonder is, will this be best left as a good memory or is it worth reliving it?
Zenith: Phase Two from both Grant Morrison (writer) and Steve Yeowell (art) is a much lighter read than what was delivered in Phase One, with most of the story concentrating on the threat to London from the evil twin of Sir Richard Branson – here called Scott Wallace – who has taken control of a British Nuclear Submarine and currently has two warheads pointed at the Capital. Zenith along with a CIA agent Phaedra Cale are currently investigating Wallace which leads to information on Zenith’s parents, the evolution of his powers and much more of a background on the Superhumans. Along with this we have a minor B-Story touched upon where alternative dimension Superhumans appear to be coming together in Australia.
As this is a much lighter read it is instantly easier to pick up for a newcomer to Zenith, however it being Phase Two most newcomers possibly wouldn’t start here unfortunately. The story as a whole is a good one, but compared to Phase One it’s just not a great one. Though there are some great moments like Wallace’s clown nose which is explained later, the look of disgust Zenith gives his own hands after he discovers who Blaze is cloned from; also the Superhuman dimension coming together was rather interesting.
A mention too for the artwork for Steve Yeowell which I truly love, a style of comic book artwork I look forward to in all comic books and thankfully it still exists today in the pages of 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine.
So to finish, you can safely buy this book knowing that your memories won’t be trampled upon and if anything the foundations will be strengthened.
Villordsutch likes his sci-fi and looks like a tubby Viking according to his children. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
Originally published December 4, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
