Far Sector #1
Written by: N.K. Jemisin
Art by: Jamal Campbell
DC Comics
2019
N.K. Jemisin, the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Broken Earth and Inheritance science fiction trilogies, makes her comic book debut with bestselling Naomi artist Jamal Campbell as they thrust you into a stunning sci-fi murder mystery on the other side of the universe!
For the past six months, newly chosen Green Lantern Sojourner “Jo” Mullein has been protecting the City Enduring, a massive metropolis of 20 billion people. The city has maintained peace for over 500 years by stripping its citizens of their ability to feel. As a result, violent crime is virtually unheard of, and murder is nonexistent.
But that’s all about to change in this new maxi-series that gives a DC Young Animal spin to the legacy of the Green Lanterns!
Part super hero comic, part sci-fi story, and part detective thriller, Far Sector may be the most excited I’ve been for a DC title all year long. There’s a little something for everyone to love as Lantern Mullein investigates an alien planet’s first murder in 500 years. From the beautiful backgrounds of this sprawling city-planet, to the themes touched on by it’s varied alien inhabitants, there’s very little not to like in this series debut.
Mullein feels like more than just “another” Green Lantern, too, which thrills me. She’s not a new person assuming an old role, like we’ve seen far too often lately. She is making this role her own, and perhaps due to the alien setting, and the detective aspect of her story, this feels like a completely new book. It’s a good mix of reliable property and new ideas, and it doesn’t feel like the same old same old to me at all. I’m much more excited to expand our knowledge about Lanterns on other worlds, than I am to see another reboot of something we’ve seen and done before. It may be a fine line, but Far Sector handles it deftly.
While the story may lose a few points for occasional triteness, it’s still an excellent read. The three very different alien races are interesting to develop, and the new hero promises to be fun to watch – smart and capable, of course, but also a little cynical, with a promise of being a trouble maker. And I like the themes the first issue hints at, exploring a divided society with different needs and motivations and little in common. Even the secret to their success is a bit of a shock, and worthy of exploring. It all leaves you looking forward to more, which is about as exciting as a first issue can get.
Best of all, though, is the spectacular art. This book is a thing of beauty, and the artificial backgrounds of the alien city hold infinite opportunities to show that off. As nice as the characters look, and as slick as their design may be, nothing piqued my interest as much as the idea that the world reshapes it’s vistas each day, based on the imaginations of the inhabitants. As much as I’m looking forward to unwinding the murder mystery, I’m looking forward to seeing the changes in the comic’s backdrop even more.
New Hero, New Setting, New Story - Fantastic New Beginning!
While clearly part of the Green Lantern mythos, there's little else familiar about this title. A completely new hero, an unexplored setting, fantastic art, and even some philosophical questions!? Comics like these give me hope for the industry.
Brian Reed
Brian has been reading comics since January, 1987, when the death of Optimus Prime rocked his young world. Once a regular presenter on The Nerdstravaganza Podcast, Brian now writes for Florida Geek Scene.
