When Erica flexes her powers, things get done.
Creative Staff:
Story: Frank J. Barbiere
Art: Joe Bennett & Jonathan Lau
What They Say:
SOLAR VS. OUTER SPACE. Erica is trapped far from Earth, and every alien wants to kill her. So Erica’s really only got one option: Fight outer space. It’s one weird girl and her energy ghost dad vs. EVERYTHING in the universe.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Solar, Man of the Atom has certainly been a fun ride, though as the opening arc progressed it’s come at the expense of some of the events going at home and has felt like it’s been moving fast in unexpected areas, keeping you from really connecting with it in a big way. With the opening main arc completed, at least for the moment, it’s potentially a chance to get to see some interesting things happen as Erica and her father have to deal with being as far out in space as they are and the weirdness that comes their way. Ideally, it’s a chance for the two of them to talk a bit and for her to get a better handle on her powers, something that’s definitely needed so she can be effective. She’s lucked out in some ways and has played the creative angle to good effect, but Phil’s more mathematical and logical style of using the powers has landed him far greater results.
With this issue, we do get some decent if minor background material on their relationship, seeing how life was for Erica as a kid with someone like Phil as a father and it’s standard but easily accessible material that lets you in on why they’re like they are. Both in how prior to this she wanted nothing to do with him and even when stranded in space she wants little to do with him, though she relents from time to time. Such is the case here as she ends up being rescued while floating out in space after what happened by a group of beaver-like creatures that are just pretty damn friendly and, as Erica notes, utterly adorable. That’s usually a clue that they’re hiding something darker and more deadly in secret, but thankfully we don’t really get that angle explored too deeply and instead it just lurks under the surface, which is even creepier.
Where the story goes here is rather interesting though as Erica eventually gets a chance to figure out where they are and discovers that they’re on a desolate world that’s been hit hard by its dying sun. With so many cute creatures that have helped her, she’s just completely aghast at the situation. It’s an instructive moment, not one we really needed, as we see how her view of what to do is so different from Phil’s as she wants to help and wants to use her power to do so. That she can reignite a sun like this is beautiful comic book science, but it also reminds just the kind of scale of power that we have here that Erica is working with. And after getting knocked around so many times, coping with situations like this, it’s good to see her being able to put it into a win column, at least on the surface.
In Summary:
While this issue opens the door to bigger problems in the last panel, a lot of what we get is pretty decent character material. Erica is holding up well considering what’s been thrown at her in a relatively short space of time and having to deal with a father like Phil hasn’t made it easier. This time around she goes to assert and establish herself more, since she is the one in control at the moment, and even finds that she can forcibly send Phil away for a bit. For the most part, the main present day thrust is to show her heroic side and what she’s trying to do to help those that helped her. Mixed into it are the flashback pieces to the past that makes it clear just how complicated and difficult her relationship with her father is. It’s good stuff all around and has me hopeful for where the book can go, even though I want a little more touching upon some of what’s going on back on Earth.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 5th, 2014
MSRP: $3.99
