April 15, 2006

  • Graphic Novel I've read recently...


    Identity Crisis - written by Brad Meltzer

    Identity Crisis came off as a very huge surprise read for me. Although I knew the outcome of the story prior to actually reading the book, I was still engrossed by the whole thing. Brad Meltzer wrote a well crafted mystery story surrounding a murder that affects the lives of Superheroes a great deal. This is a story about the secret identities of these superheroes, the actions in how far they would protect it, and how the non-super powered friends or family are affected when a secret identity is known. Identiy Crisis may be a story about super powered beings, but Brad Meltzer succesfully reminds you that they are still very much human, living in a very real world.

    The illustrations are done by Rags Morales who does one of the best works in graphic novels I've ever seen in a long time. Rags knows how to draw people first and foremost, and it really shows. The emotions depicted by the super hero characters helps put gravity in the fact that these are real people under the masks and costumes. Some scenes even heighten the story to a very emotional level, that would even lend itself well to live-action dramatic films or TV series. His action sequences are also well done, with a clean and precise method showing the events of the fights that makes you appreciate the "science" of the battle even more.

    Identity Crisis is one of those rare works that show how sophisticated and underrated "comic-books" can be. This is a story that I definitely do not recommend for kids, as the subject matter is very much targeted for a mature adult to read. Just like trailblazing books that have come before it, like Watchmen, Sandman, or the Dark Knight Returns; Identity Crisis will be another one that people will respectfully remember for years to come.