Written by J.M. DeMatteis (2004 Eisner award winner for Formerly Known as the Justice League).
Art by Mike Cavallaro (Loviathan, Parade).
Life and Times of Savior 28 is a five issue mini series written by J.M. DeMatteis and art by Mike Cavallaro. The story is the memoirs of an American Superhero by the name of Savior 28. It is being written after his assassination by his former sidekick who refers to himself as the Daring Disciple. The story opens by explaining the man behind the mask James “Jimmy” Smith a 39 year old WWI veteran who inherits superpowers from a power stone from outer space (issue one reveals a funny story according to Jimmy Smith on how he got the stone implanted in his chest).
The book not only unveils Savior 28’s career as a superhero, but the emotional turmoil he faces as the hero which includes his encounter with “Death Coming in Three.” There’s an interesting sequence in the first issue where after the first two traumatic deaths occur he decides to check into a hotel and drink himself to oblivion. He awakens days after his binging on September 12, 2001 and see’s the horror that he possibly could have stopped. It’s unimaginative for someone to bear the magnitude of the death toll that occurred in these attacks, but to have the power to stop it and be unable to due to a black out is a great concept by J.M. DeMatteis that starts the launching point to the rest of the story.
The “Death Coming in Three” moment in Jimmy’s life completely changes his outlook on the world around him. He begins to realize that throughout his life as a superhero he has battled super villains, but nothing ever seems to change. Throughout the rest of the memoirs we look into his attempts for world peace by meeting with world leaders and befriending villains he has battled with in the past. Fellow superheros feel betrayed by Savior 28 and the public feels that Savior 28 is menace who wants to criticize the American Government and spread propaganda. I enjoyed this aspect of the story because underneath the costume and superpowers Jimmy Smith was just trying to save the world throughout his life. He was attempting to follow his former lover Samanth’s wishes by spreading love to make a difference he only caught the message after her death, which lead to his own mortality. In issue one we are shown the last time Jimmy visited Samantha. In the scene she is in a retirement community as an old fragile woman. It’s gutrenching to read the panels and look at the art because we are witnessing a man lose the last tie he had to the world who didn’t know him just as Savior 28.
Overall I really enjoyed this series it’s a great character study and show’s a different aspect of a superhero than we normally see. It is produced by IDW publishing I wasn’t able to get this book at my local comic shop, but I did find it on tfaw.com. I will post a link to where you can find the issues under the replies.
Thanks for reading and let me know what you think,
Matt
Art by Mike Cavallaro (Loviathan, Parade).
Life and Times of Savior 28 is a five issue mini series written by J.M. DeMatteis and art by Mike Cavallaro. The story is the memoirs of an American Superhero by the name of Savior 28. It is being written after his assassination by his former sidekick who refers to himself as the Daring Disciple. The story opens by explaining the man behind the mask James “Jimmy” Smith a 39 year old WWI veteran who inherits superpowers from a power stone from outer space (issue one reveals a funny story according to Jimmy Smith on how he got the stone implanted in his chest).
The book not only unveils Savior 28’s career as a superhero, but the emotional turmoil he faces as the hero which includes his encounter with “Death Coming in Three.” There’s an interesting sequence in the first issue where after the first two traumatic deaths occur he decides to check into a hotel and drink himself to oblivion. He awakens days after his binging on September 12, 2001 and see’s the horror that he possibly could have stopped. It’s unimaginative for someone to bear the magnitude of the death toll that occurred in these attacks, but to have the power to stop it and be unable to due to a black out is a great concept by J.M. DeMatteis that starts the launching point to the rest of the story.
The “Death Coming in Three” moment in Jimmy’s life completely changes his outlook on the world around him. He begins to realize that throughout his life as a superhero he has battled super villains, but nothing ever seems to change. Throughout the rest of the memoirs we look into his attempts for world peace by meeting with world leaders and befriending villains he has battled with in the past. Fellow superheros feel betrayed by Savior 28 and the public feels that Savior 28 is menace who wants to criticize the American Government and spread propaganda. I enjoyed this aspect of the story because underneath the costume and superpowers Jimmy Smith was just trying to save the world throughout his life. He was attempting to follow his former lover Samanth’s wishes by spreading love to make a difference he only caught the message after her death, which lead to his own mortality. In issue one we are shown the last time Jimmy visited Samantha. In the scene she is in a retirement community as an old fragile woman. It’s gutrenching to read the panels and look at the art because we are witnessing a man lose the last tie he had to the world who didn’t know him just as Savior 28.
Overall I really enjoyed this series it’s a great character study and show’s a different aspect of a superhero than we normally see. It is produced by IDW publishing I wasn’t able to get this book at my local comic shop, but I did find it on tfaw.com. I will post a link to where you can find the issues under the replies.
Thanks for reading and let me know what you think,
Matt
