DC Kicks Off New Line with Some ‘Damage’
In late 2017, DC Comics announced several new comic book series that would begin in early 2018. With a total of eight new titles set, DC is looking to establish some new characters, like Damage, while bringing back some old…Plastic Man, anyone? Innovation and creativity are key in the industry so it’s no surprise the new roster of heroes (are they all heroes?) are making their debut. Keep an eye out in the coming months for The Silencer, Sideways, The Terrifics, The Immortal Men, The Curse of Brimstone, New Challengers and The Unexpected. For now though, DC has satiated our appetite with the first of the eight new series, Damage.
Things go haywire in a hurry in this title as this book wastes no time in living up to its name. Taking place over the skies of Atlanta, a C-130 has its crew scrambling while the radio waves are lit up with the exclamation that “Damage is off the leash!” A hulking gray humanoid beast, Damage tears through the streets of one of our nation’s biggest cities while he apparently has a voice in his ear telling him to resist the rage.
We rapidly get informed that the identity of Damage is one Ethan Avery, who apparently is a soldier. Already he is being pursued by a fellow soldier, one who seems to be going through some serious jealousy issues as he was not chosen for the Damage program. More than a dozen broken bones and one lacerated organ later, that soldier is out of the picture and the military is on the hunt for Damage’s whereabouts. Along the way we’re introduced to a female high-ranking officer who seems to be spearheading the search for Avery. There is an obvious tension in her review of the destruction left behind and her pursuit of the big gray beast.
There’s more to the story than that of course, but not a whole lot was revealed in this premier issue. Considering this is being written by the extraordinary Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar), I will definitely be along for the ride. Truth be told, all indications point to Damage being DC’s version of the Incredible Hulk, but hey, I’m okay with that. There’s more than enough room as long as we get a very different backstory, which is already being established. Bruce Banner was a scientist who unwillingly became the Hulk. Ethan Avery is a soldier who volunteered for the brick-smashing, car-flipping fun he took part in here. All in all, I’m really looking forward to the direction Venditti and crew take this series in the coming months.
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Stay tuned in February as we’ll have more of the new DC titles to cover!
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