Broken Frontier

‘Like The Beatles with superpowers’, that would be the obvious comparison for Greatest Hits. Writer David Tischman (Bite Club ) doesn’t shy away from it by setting the story in 1960s London, having the team experience Mates mania and just being four likely lads, with all the crass jokes and bickering that go with it.

This six issue mini-series from DC’s Vertigo line is off to a good start. A mature start, as you’d expect, with references to sex, racism and doing whatever it takes to get to the top. But it all works. Take heed of the “Suggested For Mature Readers” warning on the cover however. This won’t be for everybody. Who it will be for would be those who like Warren Ellis’ usual anti-establishment take on superheroes, as this book is similar to his new No Hero series, with all the violence, profanity and chaos set against the backdrop of social upheaval.

The book looks great, thanks to Glen Fabry, mostly known for his grotesquely painted covers for Preacher. Here his pencils will appeal to fans of Steve Dillon, and with dynamic colours by The Hories (Tanya and Richard) it’s all presented as a mass of splendid chaos.

Made up of the invulnerable Crusader, Celtic priest Vizier, the brain of the operation, Solicitor and the last addition Zipper, the team is certainly noticeable. Tischman chooses to flit between the 1960s and the present day throughout this issue, for reasons that are yet to be made apparent. Other than the flashbacks of the Mates’ early days, what else we know about them is seen through the eyes of once successful director, Nick Mansfield, who is also the son of one of the members.

Nick is approached by his producer to make a documentary about the Mates to resuscitate his limp career. Initially skeptical of the whole idea, he eventually comes around after not wanting to lose another chance at success. The fruits of the doco are shown in panels where various old friends and wives of the Mates discuss the glory days.

Weaving these “to camera” moments along with the Mates' 60s adventures, as well as Nick’s journey of discovery was a bold choice, but it works. It could quite easily have been awkward and self-indulgent, but Tischman paces the story well enough, and wisely centres the tale on a loose origin of the unconventional super team.

This may prove to be an interesting gateway book for readers looking to bridge the gap between the superheroes and mystery of the DCU and Vertigo’s usual adult antics. Here, you have both.