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nichole1988's review
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
dantastic's review
4.0
Twenty five years after the Quantum League disbanded, it's up to what's left of the League to set things right...
I'm a big fan of Black Hammer and the bronze age Legion of Super-Heroes so this was like Reese's Peanut Butter cups for me.
The Quantum Age is told in two threads: one in the past, during the final days of the Quantum League, and one 25 years later, when a Martian boy looks to what's left of the League for help in setting things right. Aspects of the Legion of Superheroes are woven into the Black Hammer's already impressive universe, making for an interesting final product.
Honestly, a part of the fun is matching the analog characters to their originals, like Furnace Lad: Sun Boy, and Archive: Braniac 5, for instance. It was also interesting learning the origin of Hammer Lass and seeing what happened to some Black Hammer characters after two centuries.
Learning the truth behind this universe's Time Trapper was a fantastic revelation.
The story itself is dark without being too dark. The Earth has been wiping out alien races with a former Leaguer at the helm. Barbali-teen rounds up what's left of the League to do what must be done.
It was a fun time seeing the Legion of Super Heroes through the Black Hammer lens. My only gripe with the Quantum Age is that this is only the first installment. Four out of five stars.
I'm a big fan of Black Hammer and the bronze age Legion of Super-Heroes so this was like Reese's Peanut Butter cups for me.
The Quantum Age is told in two threads: one in the past, during the final days of the Quantum League, and one 25 years later, when a Martian boy looks to what's left of the League for help in setting things right. Aspects of the Legion of Superheroes are woven into the Black Hammer's already impressive universe, making for an interesting final product.
Honestly, a part of the fun is matching the analog characters to their originals, like Furnace Lad: Sun Boy, and Archive: Braniac 5, for instance. It was also interesting learning the origin of Hammer Lass and seeing what happened to some Black Hammer characters after two centuries.
Learning the truth behind this universe's Time Trapper was a fantastic revelation.
The story itself is dark without being too dark. The Earth has been wiping out alien races with a former Leaguer at the helm. Barbali-teen rounds up what's left of the League to do what must be done.
It was a fun time seeing the Legion of Super Heroes through the Black Hammer lens. My only gripe with the Quantum Age is that this is only the first installment. Four out of five stars.
dogfood's review against another edition
4.0
„The Quantum Age“ ist der nächste Ableger des Black Hammer-Universums und 100 Jahre in der Zukunft angesiedelt. Die Vibes sind folgerichtig weniger „Golden Age“ der Superhelden, sondern mehr bei DCs „Legions of Super-Heroes“ aus den 70er/80er Jahren.
DCs „Legion“ ist im Black Hammer-Universum die „Quantum League“. Die Superhelden-Gruppierung wurde vor 25 Jahren nach einem katastrophalen Einsatz aufgelöst. Die Erde wird nun einer Diktatur kontrolliert, die Außerirdischen (a.k.a. den Marsianern) rassistisch gegenüber steht.
Das Schicksal bringt nach und nach versprengte Überreste der Quantum League wieder zusammen – diesmal im Kampf gegen die Diktatur.
Faustregel bei den Black Hammer-Comics von Autor Jeff Lemire: die großen Plots kannste vergessen, weil auf den Schlussseiten aus ihnen die heiße Luft entweicht, wie aus einem Souflé. Aber wenn Lemire sich um Zwischenmenschlichkeiten seiner Protagonisten kümmert, wird es gut. So auch hier. Und dass es hier so klappt, ist auch den Zeichnungen von Wilfredo Torres zu verdanken, dessen cleaner Linienstil kongenial zum Ambiente passt. Mit dem Originalzeichner von Black Hammer hat Torres zudem gemein, dass er sehr, sehr gut im Zeichnen von Gestik und Mimik ist und damit eine Intimität zwischen den Figuren und Leser|in schafft.
Was man Lemire auch anlasten muss, und deswegen nur drei statt vier Sterne, ist die eher karge Ausstaffierung seiner Vision von Zukunft. Da hat Lemire nur das Allernötigste investiert.
DCs „Legion“ ist im Black Hammer-Universum die „Quantum League“. Die Superhelden-Gruppierung wurde vor 25 Jahren nach einem katastrophalen Einsatz aufgelöst. Die Erde wird nun einer Diktatur kontrolliert, die Außerirdischen (a.k.a. den Marsianern) rassistisch gegenüber steht.
Das Schicksal bringt nach und nach versprengte Überreste der Quantum League wieder zusammen – diesmal im Kampf gegen die Diktatur.
Faustregel bei den Black Hammer-Comics von Autor Jeff Lemire: die großen Plots kannste vergessen, weil auf den Schlussseiten aus ihnen die heiße Luft entweicht, wie aus einem Souflé. Aber wenn Lemire sich um Zwischenmenschlichkeiten seiner Protagonisten kümmert, wird es gut. So auch hier. Und dass es hier so klappt, ist auch den Zeichnungen von Wilfredo Torres zu verdanken, dessen cleaner Linienstil kongenial zum Ambiente passt. Mit dem Originalzeichner von Black Hammer hat Torres zudem gemein, dass er sehr, sehr gut im Zeichnen von Gestik und Mimik ist und damit eine Intimität zwischen den Figuren und Leser|in schafft.
Was man Lemire auch anlasten muss, und deswegen nur drei statt vier Sterne, ist die eher karge Ausstaffierung seiner Vision von Zukunft. Da hat Lemire nur das Allernötigste investiert.
terst's review
2.0
So far the less engaging and entertaining issue of the Black Hammer universe so far in my opinion.
joshgauthier's review
4.0
While continuing to expand the world of Black Hammer into a distinctly expansive and impressive universe, this is admittedly not the strongest spin-off to come from the Black Hammer storyline. But while the first half of this volume is a little slow and more traditional it its storytelling, the second half delivers some dramatic twists and continues to point toward a strong future for this series.
And when I say "not the strongest"--The Quantum Age still showcases Lemire's abilities as a character-driven writer who also tells a great story--and showcases bold art from Torres and the rest of the creative team.
And when I say "not the strongest"--The Quantum Age still showcases Lemire's abilities as a character-driven writer who also tells a great story--and showcases bold art from Torres and the rest of the creative team.
mschlat's review
4.0
I have been reading Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer series since it started and have thoroughly enjoyed its agreeable mining of DC nostalgia. But, the spinoffs have been a little hit-or-miss for me. So, I picked up the first issue of The Quantum Age (with its nod to the Legion of Super-Heroes), gave it a read, wasn't impressed, and decided to skip the rest.
Reading the whole volume, I now realize that was a mistake. It helped that this collection starts not with the first issue, but a short story published in a Dark Horse Free Comic Book Day pamphlet. The actual first issue reeks of dystopia, while the short story (which takes place 25 years earlier) delivers the LSH vibe I was looking for. And the story, once it gets going, is a very nice visit to Lemire's DC pastiche universe.
Finally (and this is as spoilery as I will get), there are deep and meaningful connections to the Black Hammer title, connections I was not expecting and was happy to see. If you have liked Black Hammer, this is a must-read.
Reading the whole volume, I now realize that was a mistake. It helped that this collection starts not with the first issue, but a short story published in a Dark Horse Free Comic Book Day pamphlet. The actual first issue reeks of dystopia, while the short story (which takes place 25 years earlier) delivers the LSH vibe I was looking for. And the story, once it gets going, is a very nice visit to Lemire's DC pastiche universe.
Finally (and this is as spoilery as I will get), there are deep and meaningful connections to the Black Hammer title, connections I was not expecting and was happy to see. If you have liked Black Hammer, this is a must-read.
themtj's review
3.0
This book was good, but not great. Generally, I enjoy the Black Hammer universe, but this one spent a lot of time rolling out new characters and then didn't really do anything with them. Lots of characters, little plot tends to be the issue with these 6 issue minis in the Black Hammer world (with the exception of Doctor Starr). All that being said, I REALLY liked the ending. It is sudden and abrupt and doesn't leave you much time to adjust to it, but it is a great sci-fi concept. I thought this series was only ok, but I would absolutely read the follow-up series.
kryten4k's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25