By Chad Derdowski August 26, 2009 Source: Mania
WE THE PEOPLE #1 Review Mania: As it turns out, the legendary characters of Zorro, Robin Hood and Sinbad aren't just the stuff of legends; they were living, breathing human beings and their descendants are alive today. And as it turns out, those very same descendants happen to be friends... well, they were anyway, until a bit of a romantic entanglement turned them against each other.
Realizing that fate has brought them together, the three former friends must put aside their differences in order to expose the machinations of a corrupt city government. Some things never change, eh?
The Good The relationships between these characters were totally believable thanks to Jason M. Burns' spot-on dialogue. What could've been dismissed as a far-fetched story was totally grounded by the realism he brought to the table. Joe Eisma's artwork didn't hurt either. I've never heard of the guy before, but I suspect I'll hear more from him in the future.
As far as my blurb about "the next generation of superheroes finding their roots in the legends of the past"... here's the thing: in this day and age, the concept of someone dressing up in a costume to punch thugs and bank robbers is kind of quaint and outdated but the idea of people rising up to fight against social injustices and corrupt government officials seems much more relevant. It isn't an original idea, of course, but it's one that is much appreciated in the world of costumed heroes because we don't see it a whole lot and it's an idea I can relate to.
And $7.99 for 112 pages of full color is beyond awesome.
The Bad I had a couple of minor issues with a few aspects of the story and the leaps of faith readers were required to take. The motivations of the bad guy never seemed very clear other than sort of a vague "evil men do evil things" notion. The genealogy of the heroes was handled in a similar fashion... when Talia, the descendant of the Robin Hood, discovers her family tree, she naturally meets it with disbelief but when confronted with her innate archery ability, jumps into a costume a couple of pages later.
Normally I wouldn't have an issue with this type of storytelling: I enjoy heroes being heroes and I hate the "let's stretch a story out as long as we possibly can" mentality. Heck, if this was a Marvel Comic, they'd still be sewing their costumes right now and we might see them fight crime sometime next year. I understand that we're reading a comic about the descendants of fictional crime fighters, but when compared to the realism we saw throughout the rest of the story, it seemed that these elements were glazed over just a wee bit too much.
And if I can be nitpicky for a minute, I didn't like the paper. I missed a couple of pages because they seemed sort of stuck together through static cling or something. A minor issue, but this section is called "the bad", right? Gotta write something.
The Bottom Line
Cover art to WE THE PEOPLE #1 by Scott Schomburg I enjoyed this book quite a bit and would be interested to see where the story goes from here. There's a lot of potential to do a monthly series (or a series of graphic novels) following in the tradition of Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams classic "Hard Traveling Heroes" era of Green Lantern/Green Arrow. The concept of heroes not simply fighting evil but fighting real evil is a compelling one and while I don't always want to see it in the pages of Superman or Spider-Man (preferring to see more escapism in those types of titles), I love it when a new creation such as We the People shows up to tackle these issues.
Costumed avengers rising up to act as the voice of the people in order to take on "The Man"? Be still, my bleedin' liberal heart. I liked the concept, the story and the characters and I'd definitely be back for the next one.
See the original review at: http://www.mania.com/people-1-review_article_117256.html
The plot follows our 3 leads as they discover that they are the descendants of Robin Hood, Zorro and Sinbad. Jay follows a formula very similar to Ex Machina where we jump to different points of time, flashing backward and then going back into the present.
The introductions into the lead characters were definitely a highlight of the story for me. From Nadar helping a homeless man that watched after his boat to Xander trying to put the moves on Robyn who really wasn't having any of it.
Joe Eisma's art here, for those that remember, I once compared him to George Perez. I'm going to have to correct myself here by saying that Joe is a mix between Mark Bagley and Tony Harris. I swear the man could do a weekly comic if someone hired him to.
This is Outlaw's 5th book being released and, in my mind, the strongest. The storytelling, the art and the overall theme are incredibly strong and I would love to see more of these characters.
So that's it for this short edition readers. We the People actually officially debuts at San Diego Comic-Con where Joe and Jay will be signing copies!
Praise must be given to a book that opens with a dirty joke and a big explosion, and the fun continues as one of the main characters, the one who cannot keep his motor mouth shut, is introduced. Though Xavier, later to be known as Z, is a laugh riot, it soon becomes clear this is not a book of solid substance but one of quick quips and flashy action. We are introduced to the main characters and given enough background information to make them interesting, as well as a scene or two to give them the motivation to don a mask, but the character exploration ends there.
WE THE PEOPLE can be massively cheesy and is certainly pushing the boundaries on ridiculous, it is also packed with a light-hearted, "laughing with you" kind of hilarity making this book impossible to resist. Z's lines were consistently comical, though by far the best line in the book belonged to Talia aka Robyn, who when fed up with the bickering of her male companions shouted: "We get it! You both have big, virile tools capable of slaying the mightiest of vaginas!" You don't get golden lines like that in every comic book.
There is nothing negative to say about Eisma's artwork. Consistently beautiful from start to finish, his pencils are one of the best parts about this book. Crisp, clear faces coupled with appropriately proportionate smoking bodies make for attractive and appealing main characters, and the action sequences and background detail compliment the rest of the story perfectly.
If you're looking for a deep, meaningful comic then check out the list of potential Eisner winners, but if you're looking for a swashbuckling, laugh-out-loud, young adult adventure story then WE THE PEOPLE is the book to pick up. The abundance of amusing one-liners and the visceral sense of purpose these young heroes are infused with are easily entertaining, and the striking artwork makes it effortless to get caught up in the explosive escapades. Do not look for anything subtle or serious here, just look for a good time and WE THE PEOPLE will provide.
Avril Brown See the original review at: http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2009/07/17/we-the-people.aspx
We The People Vol. 1 by SebastianPiccione
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Title: We The People Vol. 1 Publisher Name: Outlaw Entertainment Writer: Ricardo Villa & Jason M. Burns Art: Joe Eisma 7.99, 112 pages, Color
Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.
Publishers Blurb: Cover Artist: Scott Schomburg
Description: In reality, the legendary characters of Zorro, Robin Hood, and Sinbad the Sailor are not just the stuff of fiction, but instead, a long lineage of skilled protectors who vow justice for the innocent. Now in 2009 the mask, the bow, and the sea will call out a to a new generation, and in the process a group of unlikely heroes will arise, one that promises to clean up a city where the streets have run rampant with corruption and injustice.
Reviewer Comments: Bumping HAT TRICK to a close second, WE THE PEOPLE is EASILY the greatest book fledgling company OUTLAW ENTERTAINMENT has done to date!
This book has all the cool-factor of Marvel's original YOUNG AVENGERS series mixed with the relevance and literary savvy of Alan Moore's LEAGUE OF EXTRAORIDINARY GENTLEMEN.
When estranged friends Talia, Adir, and Xavier take on a college genealogy assignment, they discover they are the descendants of Robin Hood, Sinbad, and Zorro. This knowledge comes at a time when a corrupt NYC Mayor is "cleaning up the streets" by arresting and eliminating anyone he deems "undesirable". So, our young heroes adopt the mantles of their ancestors to make the city safe for We, the people.
How can you NOT love a concept like that?
working from the concepts created by Ricardo A. Villa and Tony Hobdy, Jason M. Burns does some of his best writing here. The story grabbed on page one and didn't let up until I'd completely ignored my dinner and read all 112 pages.
Joe Eisma's artwork is simply fantastic, calling to mind Terry Moore, Bill Willingham, and even a touch of Steve Rude. And when you add Giuseppe Pica's flawless colors, you get one beautiful book!
This book is the surprise find of the year, and perhaps one of the best original graphic novels I've ever read it.
Go buy it. You'll thank me later.
