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Comics legend Marv Wolfman delivers a fresh take on the tried-and-true superteam book with the new series Defex from Devil's Due Publishing. The premise: a group of college students are profoundly changed when they are made unwitting subjects of a DNA experiment. Some have new abilities, some are no longer human. Add to the mix that they are fugitives from Homeland Security forces and the story becomes even more interesting.
It's difficult to put a finger on the strongest aspect of this book. The art and dialogue work extremely well together, providing great depth to the characters and the story. The story itself is strong and unpredictable and perfectly paced. Wolfman did a good job of capturing current college-speak colloquialisms and gave only just enough to provide flavor so the reading moved along smoothly. The art managed to capture the vulnerability, fear, and determination on the characters' faces so dialogue often wasn't even necessary. The coloring was outstanding, displaying deep, rich tones that made it easy for me to get absorbed in that world.
Above all, Defex #2 is entertaining. I found myself not only interested in the plot and direction of the story, but also in the relationships between the characters. I'm left wondering if the aloof guy is going to soften up at some point, and if the Homeland Security commander will turn out to be a friend to the team in the end or an emissary of the true bad guy. These are the marks of a good story in any medium, and also reveal that the creators are truly invested in this book and these characters.
It's interesting to note that Defex is one of four titles published under DDP's Aftermath imprint. Devil's Due Publishing recently created this imprint with an ambitious vision. A quote from the website explains: “What if you were there when your favorite comic book heroes were born? What if there was no past continuity to bog down your stories? Devil's Due Publishing gives you the chance... to get in on the ground floor of a universe of characters crafted by the best writers in comics.” (Josh Blaylock, President, Devil's Due Publishing) Blaylock's vision is as bold as that of a comic hero, and he's clearly attracting the talent to make his hopes for Aftermath a reality.
—CCdC— Cover image used with permission of the publisher.
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