Title: The Center Holds # 1
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Larry Hama
Illustrated by: M.D. “Doc” Bright
Colored by: Josh Burcham
Lettered by: Janice Chiang
Cover by: M.D. “Doc” Bright and Joe Quinones
Variant Covers by: Khary Randolph with Colors by Joshua Jensen, Chuck Patton with Colors by Joshua Jensen, M.D. “Doc” Bright. Jamal Igle, M.D. “Doc” Bright and Joe Quinones, Mike Hawthorne
Price: $ 5.99 US
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Website: www.boom-studios.com
Comments: Scyber is a beautiful superheroine who looks amazing in her armoured costume. Her small hover disc is a nice touch. She is in the process of upgrading her suit. Meanwhile, Mr. Right is robbing a casino. Scyber confronts him, and a few other heroes soon join the fight. For a guy wearing an elephant mask, he’s surprisingly difficult to stop. At first, he seems like a bit of a joke.
Apex is the apex superhero. He arrives to save the day, and you know he can. He acts confident, almost arrogant.
The Union of Super-Heroes gathers for a meeting, with six members present. We see that they are all human at their core. They have concerns and responsibilities. They are a team, yet they come across less like a traditional superhero squad and more like people who genuinely know each other, even friends, in some cases.
Scyber is revealed to be a true cyborg. She seems somewhat distant in the way she views humans. From how she speaks, it’s almost as if she doesn’t see herself as one of them. Scyber has more depth than you might expect, and we do see a few surprises from her.
Payback is a dedicated prison guard at a facility for super-powered criminals. He’s an aging hero who still contributes where he can. He remains a hero, though his current role feels somewhat like being put out to pasture.
The story could have offered more depth. It needed to tell us more about who these characters are and what their abilities entail. One hero, The Symbol, is introduced but then seemingly forgotten. At times, the pacing feels slow.
That said, this world clearly has its superheroes and criminals, along with its own unique perspective on them. These characters feel fresh and new. The battles are exciting, action-packed, and fully illustrated to showcase the intensity of the conflicts.
About Author
