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.