First the bad news. The series promises the adventures of Doc Savage, The Spirit, and The Bat-Man, but the latter only appears on one page in the first two issues. Batman fans might get a sense of bait and switch at this point.
Now the good news, Brian Azzarello delivers a fast paced second installment of FIRST WAVE that successfully brings several threads together in a fun manner. The Blackhawks, Doc Savage, and The Spirit collide over the mystery of the missing body of Clark Savage Sr. The master of disguise, The Avenger is introduced and given a mission by Doc Savage’s associates and he almost literally crosses paths with The Bat-Man by the end of the episode. And something is brewing in the South American country of Hidalgo which apparently ties everything together. You have hair’s breadth escapes, tough women, mysteries, fight scenes, and world building in action.
And, the breakout star of the series looks to be The Spirit. Among a group of characters that take themselves very seriously, The Spirit’s wise cracking and self deprecation kind of makes him the Philip Marlowe of the ensemble. Or the Han Solo for those that don’t get the reference. He breathes life into the most mundane bit of exposition. It’s really good character work by Brian Azzarello in finding what works in a character and using him for the betterment of the story as a whole.
Rags Morales is really on top of his game here. The book changes setting frequently but Morales manages to capture the essence of each new setting while pulling it together in a way that’s not jarring. The images flow from panel to panel and the whole thing looks gorgeous. Some panels, particularly a reimagined Ebony White in a shower, look like Morales is channeling the late Dave (THE ROCKETEER) Stevens, in composition anyways. It’s expressive, exciting art.
Other than the fact that Batman has barely appeared, there’s really not much to complain about FIRST WAVE at this point. Lots of the overall plot clicks into place without sacrificing character. And it looks great. It might not be precisely what we were promised, but on its own terms it’s quite good.
