About three years ago, I brought my sketchbook to the Stumptown Comic Fest in Portland (where I currently dwell). Now, this isn’t my sketchbook that I draw in (frankly, stick figures give me trouble), but rather my collection of convention sketches that I politely and patiently ask artists to add to every year. At this particular festival, I saw artist Steve Lieber (Gotham Central, Whiteout, Civil War: Frontline) and since years prior he’d done a really great Batman sketch for me, I approached him for another. ”What would you like?” he asked. I replied like I usually do, “Anything you’d want to do.” He went right to sketching. Now, I never hover if I can avoid it, so I wandered for a few minutes and came back to discover him putting the finishing touches on a drawing of a woman in cave exploring gear, expertly navigating an underground cave. ”What’s this from?” I asked. ”Something I’m hoping to do soon,” he replied. Years later, I’ve had the pleasure to read the first issue of that book. Underground #1, coming this September published through Image Comics, seems to be the culmination of what strikes me as a very personal comic from Lieber. To have seen the main character of Wesley Fischer evolve from the con sketch done for me and now presented in a full color comic is truly an amazing sight. Along for the ride and handling the writing side of the book is Marvel rising star Jeff Parker (Agents of Atlas, Marvel Adventures Avengers, Exiles) who deftly shows off why he’s such a find. Parker handles dialogue and pacing with a deft hand that shows he writes with an ear for characters that’s sometimes missing in most mainstream books.
The first issue sets the stage with what appears to be some of Lieber’s cleanest work to date. Not to say I haven’t enjoyed his previous work, but the art here is so strong and clear that it reminds me of Paul Smith (Uncanny X-Men, Leave it to Chance), one of the all-time greats in comics. The colors used are also first rate making each image “pop” and adds to an interesting opening sequence narrative that highlights how the interior cave scenes will be drastically different then the “outside world.” The embedded artwork should show you what I’m referring to.
Parker and Lieber offer up an extremely well-done (and in some scenes educational and informative) comic with a strong female protagonist and story ripe with realistic characters and situations. Underground does well in showing why these two are formidable forces in the current comics climate and I’ll not only be picking up these comics monthly as they come out, but I’ll be passing off what will hopefully be a handsome collection off to friends who should know that exciting comics can exist without sci-fi or spandex.
{Underground #1 is currently being solicited from Image Comics for release on September 23rd, 2009. If you’re interested, let your local retailer know to order the book and it’s subsequent issues. Diamond order code – JUL090341 D UNDERGROUND #1 (OF 5)}
