Review - Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #1 (@DarkHorseComics)

"Well, Peachers. Here we are."

It's hard enough surviving a town ravaged by destruction to not have to contend with superheroes turned villains. Those superheroes still have their own agendas, some of which likely involve nefarious plots and schemes. All of the above are the impetus behind Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #1 from Dark Horse Comics. The issue is written by Gail Simone, illustrated by J. Calafiore, colored by Jason Wright and lettered by Dave Sharpe

The survivors of Megalopolis reluctantly go back to the city—still under the control of formerly beloved superheroes turned brutal killers—on a rescue mission straight into the heart of madness. Get in on the ground floor of this critically acclaimed series and see what happens when the good guys go very, very bad.

There are a lot of intricacies on display in Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #1 that are explored in a back-and-forth fashion by Simone. Megalopolis is anything but a good place to be in and it's where a series of superheroes have lost it and hold the city in a grip of fear. Simone does a great job in relaying this fear and the generally decrepit state of Megalopolis, with superheroes who rely on coarse language and jagged interactions with one another. The story jumps around a little bit and there seems to be a disconnect between the events that are happening--it almost feels like the issue is flashing back and forth, but it isn't. Despite this, Simone lays out the premise of the series pretty well, offering a plot that promises to be full of conflict and strife.

There's a heavy superhero influence in the artwork, courtesy of Calafiore's approach which emphasizes an abundance of capes and tights. There are some panels that are full of the aforementioned heroes battling one another and Calafiore captures the action very well. Each blow exchanged is delivered with force, as Calafiore infuses each character with kineticism. These scenes are rendered as a great contrast the more "mundane" scenes, where the citizens of Megalopolis try to live their lives as best they can amidst the superheroes. Wright's colors skew extremely dark in most scenes that further reinforces the rundown aesthetic that the creative team is going for.

Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #1 is a pretty interesting first issue that clearly has a lot of ambitions as a series. The citizens of Megalopolis are struggling to live their lives as best they can while people with grander power than them have other thoughts. Simone's script is tight and offers great exchanges between characters. Calafiore's artwork gives the book a requisite superhero feel in a city torn asunder. Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #1 is a first issue that will likely give readers enough to sink their teeth into and whet their appetite for the rest of the series.

Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #1 is in stores January 13.