The other week marked a triumphant return of the website as we switched servers. Unfortunately I bit off more than I could chew and while I managed to do an interview with writer/creator Rob Williams about Ordinary, I wasn’t able to find the time to review the issue. Which was a shame because I really enjoyed it as I pointed out on a recent episode of the podcast; so let’s dive in shall we. The story opens with a very convincing dream sequence in which we meet our main character Michael. This is the perfect opening for the character as it shows the audience how much of a down and out loser this character is. He wakes up from his disappointing dream to catch a call from his partner telling him that he’s late for a job. He makes it sound like a life or death situation and Michael begins busting ass getting ready for work.
He’s out the door quick enough, but he runs into two twin goons doing the Tweedle D and Tweedle Dumb routine… but getting it wrong. They are there for money of course because Michael is the type to borrow money from people who charge interest by the second. As they’re talking a loud bang happens over the city and they look up to see a plane with an engine on fire. Some blue crap is falling out of the Jet’s engine and as Michael rides the bus to his job we see that the world is changing around him. He doesn’t notice it because he’s too busy running to his job, but it’s happening.
So what’s happened? Everyone in the city has changed and now they all have a power or a mutation that reflects their inner personality. Everyone except for Michael that is. His partner is turned into a black bear and after a talk in a bar he tells him he should go to his kid. This becomes Michael’s journey, to fight his way across a city full of super powered people to make sure his son is alright.
This is a great first issue because it hits all the right beats. I didn’t personally feel sympathy for Michael, but I do want to see where his journey goes. I’m sure that eventually I’ll sympathize with him, but he’s kind of a crummy guy in this first issue. I do like crummy characters though as they have the most room for improvement.
Otherwise Rob Williams manages to craft an interesting story with a different take on super powers. This is not a tights and cape book by any means. As I said, the transformation is based on their inner being so some people getting shitting transformations.
As good as the writing is, it’s the art that brings everything to life and that’s where D’Israeli comes in. His art style has equal parts animation and superhero. As strange as it sounds the artwork reminded me a lot of Dan Piraro. There’s a ton of fine detail to every panel and the character expressions are very impressive and realistic. I’m not sure if D’Israeli does his own coloring, but the coloring shines in this issue. That’s really where the animated look comes in as the world looks alive and moving.
We’ll have to wait and see how this mini-series finishes, but for now it’s starting strong and that’s always a good sign. To use a very obvious statement, Ordinary is anything but.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Rob Williams Artist: D’Israeli Publisher: Titan Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 5/21/14