45 (Forty-five)
By Andi Ewington
How Do I Rate it?
N/A
Author : |
Andi Ewington |
Publisher : |
Com.X Ltd |
Released : |
February 2010 |
Page Number : |
132 Pages |
Collects : |
complete story |
R.R.P : |
£14.99 (Tpb) |
Artist : |
Liam Sharp, John Higgins, Sean Phillips, Charlie Adlard, Jock, Lee Garbett, Admira Wijaya, Carlo Pagulayan, Rodin Esquejo, Matt Timson, Neil Edwards, Trevor Hairsine, Andie Tong, Rufus Dayglo, Dom Reardon, Sally Hurst, Andrew Wildman, Stephen Thompson, Jeff Anderson, Frazer Irving, Ben Oliver, Eduardo Francisco, Dan Brereton, Barry Spiers, Robert Atkins, Fiona Staples, Bob Wiacek, Boo Cook, Gary Erksine, Ross Dearsley, Lee Carter, Sean O'Connor, Kevin Kobasic, Dave Ryan, Randy Green, Tim Vigil, Simon Coleby, Calum Alexander Watt, Steve Sampson, Kit Wallis, Anthony Castrillo, Seb Antoniou, Dan Boultwood, Dan Fraga, Kenneth Rocafort |
Description : |
Journalist, James Stanley, is faced with the imminent birth of his child. Having decided to forego the test that would determine whether his child is carrying the all-important Super-S gene, which differentiates the genetic makeup of a superhero from that of a normal person, James sets out on a quest to interview forty-five super-powered individuals in the hope that their experiences may better prepare him for the birth of a child that is potentially gifted with extraordinary abilities. |
45 (Forty-five)
Innovation is a tough concept to get right. Trying too hard to move away from an established framework is often a thankless task that can leave those who are attempting something different open for ridicule. So trying something new in the world of comics, with the added pressure of an already rabid fan base, must be akin to convincing the music industry that what the Beatles really lacked was an accordion player. But with superhero tale 45, author Andi Ewington not only offers us something new, but does so incredibly well.
Presented as a series of one page interviews, 45 sees journalist James Stanley interviewing a variety of super powered individuals in a world where becoming the next Superman is potentially as simple as being born with an extra gene. While there are hints of an overlying conspiracy within the book (and the world Ewington has created certainly lends itself to a more traditional story) the real heart of the book comes from the differing feelings the characters have towards super powers. Pushy parents, reluctant heroes and unintentional villains are just some of the characters we meet, and the book will leave you re-evaluating your own thoughts as to what you would do if you woke up tomorrow with the ability to fly.
Each story is illustrated and a variety of artists have contributed to the work. The sheer weight of styles on show means picking just one as an example is nigh on impossible, but each character is well rounded and the way they are presented often matches perfectly the characteristics that shine through in their interview.
45 probably won’t be for everyone, and many are likely to be scared off by the format of the book. But anyone who is brave enough to pick up a copy will find an entertaining, endearing, and sometimes even touching, story that moves beyond the usual superhero tale.
