Broken Frontier

Adam Archer betrayed by the government! The Infinity Tower sealed, Crashman has been sent in to make sure Adam is powerless... Adam hates this guy...

With Joe Casey’s writing each issue of Gødland has proven to be an unexpected trip. Each story is unique – sometimes dramatic, sometimes action packed, sometimes both but always funny, quirky, and wild. This issue keeps up that grand tradition by exploring a little Freudian psychology, unleashing some new super-villain action, and providing a good, old fashioned, superhero vs. superhero slug-fest.

Outside Adam Archer’s headquarters, the Infinity Tower, the youngest of the Archer family tries to take matters into her own hands and break on through to the other side. Blocked by military might, it seems that Adam’s only hope for release is inside the tower with him. With Adam and Maxim seemingly powerless, Stella’s clever mind is already working overtime. Little do any of them know that they have an unwanted visitor – one who is assigned to make sure Adam is powered down and stays powered down. Meanwhile, Neela’s story gets a new update, the Triad prepares for ultimate destruction and other villainy comes afoot by the Tormentor, his new friend the Savage Sting, and Basil Discordia. When Adam Archer has a bad day, he really has a bad day!

One of the more enjoyable aspects of this title is watching the ease with which Casey juggles the multiple plots and stories. Each of the subplots is touched on in this issue without a single one seeming forced or squeezed. In addition to the multiple plots, Casey layers the story so well that the reader can choose which level they want to read it on. Reading just the surface story gives you a tense, siege story with a fun superhero rivalry beat-down. Delving below that surface, however, gives readers meditations upon the mind and psyche, the nature of depression, and a satire of superhero archetypes.

Penciler Tom Scioli continues to give this title its unique look – a Jack Kirby line and figure style combined with the psychedelia and off-kilter camera angles of artists like Jim Steranko. Credit must also go to colorist Nick Filardi, who gives Archer his cosmic glow but also chooses the perfect shades to either make the story pop off the page or leave readers in a claustrophobic darkness.

With the first two story arcs available in trade and the third arc soon to be released, getting caught up to this title could not be easier. If you do not think that comic books can still be innovative, think again. Gødland will take you to places you could hardly imagine and yet, that are as familiar as your backyard. It will introduce you to characters that you recognize but who are more different than you might have expected. Throw away any preconceived notions and enter Adam Archer’s world.