Masquerade Volume 1 - Comic Book Review
The initial Black Terror and Death Defying 'Devil story arcs dealt with the aftermath of the heroes' decades-long imprisonment within Pandora's Urn. In contrast, Masqueradeis very much devoted to the origins of Miss Masque. Phil Hester and Alex Ross' story reveals how a desire for adventure & excitement, coupled with family tragedy, motivated Diana to become a costumed crimefighter.
At first, I was disappointed that so much of the Masquerade miniseries was set in the past. But then, as everything fell into place within the last ten pages of the story, I realized what Hester had been doing. He effectively weaves a rich tapestry of events and relationships that intimately tied the past to the present.
Hester also gave Miss Masque something that has really not been seen in the other Project Superpowers books. Namely, Diana has a supporting cast, family and friends that are apart from her life as a time-displaced superhero. As fellow crimefighter Pyroman asks her in the book's final chapter, "You're going to stay in costume forever?" Indeed, Diana cannot, as her past compels her to return to her roots and solve one final, very personal mystery. And, coming through all the trials and tribulations of her life, both those related to her costumed identity and her tangled family web, Diana eventually finds a sense of closure and connection, roots in the modern world.
I would like to see Alex Ross and the other Project Superpowers writers touch on this type of personal backstory with some of the other characters. Who are these people once the masks and capes come off?
Writer Phil Hester originally started out as an artist, illustrating such titles as Swamp Thing, The Nameless, The Crow, and Green Arrow. I always enjoyed his art. Over the last several years Hester has drifted over to the writing side of the comic biz. While I miss his drawing, I must say he is a very solid writer. He has done some of his best scripting on Masquerade. This is definitely one of those stories that will benefit from a second reading, to see how everything fits together. In a way, Hester's Masquerade miniseries reminds me somewhat of the writing of Gilbert Hernandez on Love and Rockets.
The artwork on Masquerade is courtesy of Carlos Paul. It appears the book was shot directly from Paul's pencils, and then digitally colored by Debora Carita. While this generally looks good, I cannot help thinking that an inker to do finishes on the art might have been a good idea. In several places the linework seems too light and becomes somewhat obscured by Carita's coloring.
That said, in other places the art and coloring both work very well. One sequence in particular from chapter two stood out in my mind. Miss Masque watches the invulnerably Black terror stride forth unscathed from a flaming plane crash. Paul renders the scene very dramatically, and Carita's coloring is incredibly striking.
On the whole, Paul's artwork for Masquerade is very good. He is equally adept at illustrating fantastical action sequences as he is rendering quiet character moments.
A word on the Alex Ross redesign of Miss Masque's costume in the modern-day sequences. It works really well. Masque's original costume was a miniskirt, a low-cut short sleeve top showing off her midriff, high-heeled shoes, a mini-cape, and a cap with a fin. It is a very 1940s design, since that is when the character was created. Ross gives the modern Masque a trenchcoat, fedora, and boots. It is simultaneously retro noir and fashionably modern.
On the whole, after some consideration, I think Masquerade is actually the strongest of the three initial story arcs that were spun out of Project Superpowers. While still brimming with dynamic, exciting action, Masquerade is also a very introspective, character-driven piece.
If Dynamite decides to publish further solo adventures of Miss Masque, I would like to see Phil Hester return to the helm as writer. He has an interesting and compelling take on the character of Diana Adams.
Masquerade vol 1, $14.99 US, published by Dynamite Entertainment
Writers: Phil Hester and Alex Ross; Artwork: Carlos Paul, Jean Diaz and Manny Clark; Cover: Alex Ross
Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
Published by Benjamin Herman