C.O.W.L. #2 – Review

By: Kyle Higgins & Alex Siegel (story), Rod Reis (art)

The Story: I gotta agree with Karl: kid’s kind of an asshole…

The Review: C.O.W.L. #2 is something of a leisurely read. There’s a light film of ‘things are ok’ even when they’re not on every page and panel and action of the book. In many ways the sensation of reading the issue feels like a representation of the book’s content.

With Skylancer dead, C.O.W.L.’s mission is technically over. Though Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel keep the plot moving, it doesn’t feel like we’re embarking on a new adventure yet. That nostalgic feeling of conformist, post-war celebration is present and the story is alluringly comfortable. You can almost feel the characters’ desire to let go and trust that everything is going right.

While it’s an impressively atmospheric issue, that easy flow makes the issue a little light on plot. Though two of the three major plotlines in this issue seem to connect, we’re still getting to know the members of C.O.W.L. This could be a problem if it weren’t for the excellent character work in this issue. Admittedly, we don’t see anything revolutionary in this issue but the details, minute as they might be, convey a lot of character.

Geoffrey Warner remains an enigma, one you can hate to love or vice versa, but we get to know two of the unpowered C.O.W.L. operatives, Grant Marlow and John Pierce, quite a bit better this month. Pierce is definitely looking to be the star of this series, if one can say it has one. There’s something about the pragmatic way that he goes about being an idealist that makes him instantly endearing, perhaps especially to readers of superhero comics, who inherently want to believe in the value of heroism.

C.O.W.L. #1 – Review

By: Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel (story), Rod Reis (art)

The Story: We’re witnessing the end of an era, the only question is: which one?

The Review: I first encountered C.O.W.L. at last year’s New York Comic Con and right away I was kind of hooked. I’ve been waiting all year to get a look at Kyle Higgins’ first creator-owned project but, if you’re like me, the results may still surprise you.

Beautifully illustrated superhero union story is a great elevator pitch but, while C.O.W.L.’s status as a recognized labor union plays a large part in the story, fans of traditional superheroics will not be disappointed. We hear mentions of impending contract negotiations and see the writing on the wall when Grey Raven brags that C.O.W.L. has essentially eliminated supercrime from Chicago, but C.O.W.L. is less an image of a liberal dream or a humorous look at the bureaucracy of unionization than moody superhero period piece.

There’s not one primary character in this story, though some obviously stand out; the union itself is our protagonist. Admittedly, we meet the Tactical Division, the A-Listers to all appearances, the desk jockeys, and the patrolmen on the west side, but as a map at the issue’s start implies, this may be merely a small fraction of the organization. Truly it’s an ensemble cast. Standouts include Geoffrey Warner, the Grey Raven, the manipulative head of C.O.W.L., Kathryn Mitchell, codename Radia, a powerful heroine who’s accomplishments are overshadowed by rumors of her affair with Warner; and John Pierce, a member of the union’s investigations division who resents the political turn heroism has taken. Of course, it’s worth noting that many of the characters don’t get enough time to truly endear themselves to the audience, but at this rate they all could be complex and fascinating characters.