“Gen 13” is a comic book series with a long and complicated history. The series had one run, which lasted for almost eight years. Altogether, the series has 77 issues, as well as two special books and a magazine.
There was also a revival series in 2002, which only lasted a year and a half. It has been almost four years now since the “Gen 13” characters have graced the pages of comic books.
But now, with the re-launch of many of the previously cancelled Wildstorm series, this group of genetically mutated teenagers makes their return to comics in “Gen 13” #1, written by Gail Simone and penciled by Talent Caldwell.
For those unsure of what a re-launch is, it is simply when a series is ended and then started over again from scratch. Although the characters may stay the same, the plot or angle on the storyline may be changed slightly.
In the case of “Gen 13,” author Gail Simone does not seem to be taking too much advantage of the first series, essentially maintaining the plot of the original series, although she has changed it just enough to call it her own.
The things I can tell you about this book are that in this first issue we are introduced to our main five characters: Caitlin, Roxanne, Bobby Lane, Edmund, and Sarah. They are all outcasts and all have trouble dealing with their day-to-day lives. Things could not seem to get any worse when suddenly their lives are all turned upside down when a secret organization known as IO decides to “activate” them.
Overall I liked this first issue, although if you are expecting a nice neat little package of a story, you will be disappointed. This is only the first part of a possible five to seven part story arc. If you want the whole story all at once you will probably have to wait about a year or so before you can pick up the entire storyline in trade paperback.
As a dedicated “Gen 13” fan, I will be picking this book up monthly, so you will probably hear me mention this book again in the future. I think that Gail Simone is doing a good job writing thus far, but I must say that Talent Caldwell needs some help on the art.
My only gripe is that it seems to be a little too much in the manga style, which I enjoy, however I am not keen on its use in American comics. American comics have no set style; illustration is individual to the artist, which is what makes comics more interesting than manga. We can see so many different visions of the character and yet never lose their essence. This is not to say manga is not a beautiful form of art, it just often seems too stylized and can take away from the characters instead of adding to them.
Well I think I that about wraps up this article. Until next week true believers, take care!
And remember what Stan “the man” Lee says: “You keep reading them, I’ll keep writing them.”
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