Jim Albright, the legendary Captain Midnight “” costumed hero of World War II “” has emerged in present time via a storm at the Bermuda Triangle. Almost crashing into a military plane on a routine run, the Captain bursts forth from his own plane, leaps onto the stranger’s plane, and forces the United States pilot to land on a Navy ship. Taken into custody but quickly escaping, Captain Midnight is now on the loose, apparently trying to complete his final mission from almost seventy years before. Hot on his trail are two U.S. Agents “” one a supporter who seems to have a familial tie to Albright and the other a clear skeptic “” trying to uncover the missing pieces to his last assignment, his disappearance, and who else may have been transported to 2013 as well.
X #0 Written by Duane Swierczynski
Illustrated by Eric Nguyen
Colored by Michelle Madsen
Lettered by Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Cover by Raymond Swanland Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 10, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99
I love a character that doesn’t necessarily follow the typical path of the superhero; one that might be more inclined to cause a bit of pain before getting any answers; or someone with a dark past who may not have any powers, but believes in and fights for the notion of justice. This, I believe, is what Dark Horse is aiming to offer with its re-launch of the 1990’s comic vigilante, X. The problem, however, is that this particular anti-hero seems highly un-relatable in the initial issue, X #0.
Written by Duane Swierczynski with art from Eric Nguyen, we are immediately immersed into a dark, seedy criminal underworld within the city of Arcadia. While packaging up sausage links made from the meat of a previous associate, crime boss Duroc receives an envelope with a very disturbing image: his mug-shot crossed out by a large red “˜X’. Duroc meets in private with two other men, Pietrain and Hereford, both of whom have been given the same frightful letter. We learn through their conversation that other men have received letters and were murdered shortly thereafter by someone they’ve dubbed the “X-Killer.” The three men come up with their own schemes of how to either avoid or take down the X-Killer.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
