REVIEW: Dark Ages #1 Is Sort of Exhausting
In Dark Ages #1 by Tom Taylor, Iban Coello, Brain Reber, and Joe Sabino, with a main cover by Coello and Frank D’Armata, the superheroes of the Marvel Universe face off against a world-shattering problem that is just too big to conquer.
Dark Ages #1. Photo: Marvel
Seriously! This is one of those stories where the heroes kind of lose, and we get a sort of “What If…?” about a world where the “Age of Technology” has passed. If you want a dark and dire story that pits heroes against impossible odds, this story may be for you… but I’m not so sure that’s what I want out of a Marvel Comic, myself! Especially not right now, we basically live in the dark ages again already, but some people might find seeing their heroes in a similar situation cathartic.
Dark Ages #1
First of all, it’s important to note that this story does not seem to take place in the main Marvel Comics continuity – we must be in some kind of parallel universe or something. However, that the miniseries will take place out of main continuity is pretty obvious from the fact that Peter and Mary Jane are together, and they have their super-powered daughter, May, who becomes Spider-Girl in some corners of the multiverse.
Spider-Girl! Photo: Marvel Comics
The story opens with familiar heroes trying to deal with the arrival of the Unmaker. This big (like, really big) bad is electrically powered and lives at the center of the Earth (I wonder if he is roommates with Harvey Elder, the Mole Man).
Over the course of the first issue, the Unmaker successfully messes up the Marvel Universe, and while the heroes are ultimately able to rescue the planet, a lot of them die in the process (including my favorite, the Scarlet Witch… I’m pretty sick of that happening lately TBH, there are other ways to deal with a powerful woman IMO).
Photo: Marvel Comics
Granted, it’s possible that many of the heroes who appear to die in this issue will be resurrected (if they are actually dead to begin with). And anyway, since there is a seven year time-jump between the events of this issue and whatever comes next, it’s possible we may be following the next generation of heroes (like Spider-Kid May)… and I will be picking up the next issue to see what’s next for the future generation (and how they can save us old-farts from turning out the lights).
Will Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur save the day? Photo: Marvel Comics
But couldn’t we have told this story in a way that didn’t make us sit through a whole issue of everything falling apart? They could have at least cut in a subplot that took place in the “brave new world” to show that there’s a non-electrical light at the end of the tunnel!
What is grief but lover persevering? Photo: Marvel Comics
No More Electricity
Did you get a chance to pick up Dark Ages #1? What did you think? Personally, I am hoping for more Dani Cage. Let us know what you think in the comment section, Marvel Blog True Believers!
Dark Ages #1. Photo: Marvel Comics
