Jupiter's Legacy #1

When this book was announced, it was a real mixed bag of emotions for me. I was excited to see Frank Quitely on a book again but at the same time, the book was written by Mark Millar: one of the most hit and miss writers for me.

Would Jupiter's Legacy be on the level of Superman: Red Son? Or would it be another The Unfunnies? As I opened the book, all I could do was hope that it was at least somewhere in between. I was not disappointed.

Millar is at his best when he's trying to actually make a point, not when he's trying to be outright shocking (or in some cases just plain offensive.) Jupiter's Legacy isn't exactly subtle about it's point, but anyone who has read any Millar knows that subtlety isn't his strong suit.

Surprisingly, it looks like Millar and I actually agree on something: people that are famous purely for being famous really just shouldn't be. The main characters of Jupiter's Legacy are exactly this kind of celebrity.

When your parents are the first superheroes in the world, it certainly goes to your head and it apparently makes you pretty unlikable. After one issue, there is a lack of any really likable protagonist. I certainly hope that's the point or Millar makes one of the kids a protagonist I can get behind real soon.

Quitely's art is as wonderful as usual. It's definitely great to see him on interiors for the first time in about two years (unless you count the Playboy article on Grant Morrison, which you shouldn't) but something is missing from his art this book.

Usually Quitely has a pretty wonderful page layout, but his design on Jupiter's Legacy is kind of boring. Like Watchmen, each page is set up in a grid. Some panels might take up more than one spot on the grid, but it never breaks the grid.

I'm not sure if it was Millar or Quitely who wanted it that way, but I feel it detracts from the art. With Quitely's unique style, seeing it constrained that way feels a bit hollow. The line work doesn't feel any different than his work on WE3 or All-Star Superman, but the layout to me makes it feel a bit flat.

With the exception of one panel where a hero creates a “psychic painting,” where you get to take what is possibly a sneak peek at Quitely's process, there isn't anything in this book that gives me the same feelings when I see other art by him.

Don't get me wrong, the art is still what I'd prefer over a lot of other artists working in the industry, it's just a shame that I know the art isn't living up to its full potential.

I get the feeling that Jupiter's Legacy is the kind of book where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each issue might not be the best thing on the shelves when it releases, but I'm sure the collection will find itself on a lot of best-of lists at the end of the year. Unless this book takes a turn for the Unfunnies side of Millar.