Released by: Dark Horse Comics
Released on: December 11, 2013
A broken, decaying city and a conflicted superhero watching over it - sound familiar? Thankfully, that's as far as the cliche stretches in Michael Avon Oeming's first story here, titled Touched.
Faustus is the red-clad avenger and his conflicted status is called into question at the story's open: The vigilante animal-man known as Jackal attacks a corrupt judge and his wife during a ride through a park at night. His bloody, violent attack is cut short (though a little late) by the wisecracking Faustus who Jackal attempts to woo over to his side. The argument is that Faustus is also concerned with the fate of their city and fights crime - he just doesn't go far enough to be any sort of effective force, according to Jackal.
After securing Jackal for the authorities, Faustus returns home to nurse his injuries and drink his complications away. He watches the news which features reactions of people on the street reacting stereotypically to the story of the judge's murder. This allows for some exposition on Faustus, that he is/had been part of superhero team The Victories and has clearly taken himself off their active duty roster. He struggles with his usefulness, his limitations, his failings.
Meanwhile, the Jackal sits in federal prison, still up to his bloodthirsty ways, pontificating and planning his revenge and his plan to convert Faustus to his way of thinking…
Dark and bloody, this story is a well-paced adult take on the superhero theme. Oeming as artist is clearly influenced by Mike Mignola and old Frank Miller and that perfectly suits the somber tone and thematic elements. Smart and violent, this #1 is well worth the time.