Egos Vol.1: Quintessence

In a far-flung future, two members of the once-celebrated superhero team known as E.G.O.s %E2%80%94 Earth Galactic Operatives %E2%80%94 seek to rebuild the group with eager new hopefuls. As brash young recruits learn the ropes of super-heroics alongside mysterious new team-members who are other than what they seem, personalities clash, family dysfunction flares, and a superhero soap opera is born. Although it sounds familiar, any resemblance to the X-Men (and also the Legion of Super-Heroes) is superficial at best. Writer Moore approaches the material with a grownup perspective and sensibility, so the narrative is squarely about characterization, with the superpowers serving as a spice rather than the meal. Storms's quirky artwork perfectly compliments what Moore is going for, with its borderline-European flavor helping to set it apart from the bland stylistic tropes. . Volume 1 is worth checking out, though it should be noted that it's all set-up that clearly still has a lot to establish before the fuse is fully lit. The creative team brings a lot to the table, so what lies ahead looks to be promising. (Oct.)