The only "cosmos-shaking mystery" is why comic book writers don't realize that the more hugely the stakes, the less interesting the story. When was the last time anybody thought, "Oh my freakin' god! The very existence of the multiverse is at stake? Here, take my money."

I can't really say there are any spoilers in this review, as the writer, Peter Milligan, spoils the major mystery of this story from the get-go.

If you are old enough to remember the original series (as I am), you may very well be disappointed in this issue (as I am). The big problem with this new version is that The Village in which Patrick McGoohan's TV character awoke, is already a known entity by everybody, it seems, from the chief of The Unit (the name of the MI5 unit for which this new character works), down to ordinary field agents, like our protagonist, Agent Breen. This immediately eliminates the single most important plot point of the original series, of the hero waking up in a bizarre, unknown world, seeking answers to the questions: Where am I? What is this place? How did I get here? WTF is going on?

That makes no sense at all, especially the part where Breen volunteers to go into the Village to attempt a rescue. And when Breen eventually wakes to find himself in The Village (with him knowing that's where he is, no less), the reveal is totally lacking in any sense of wonder, trepidation, anticipation, or tension. For the reader, it's a gigantic nothing-burger. It's as if Alice went down the rabbit hole fully aware of what lay ahead.

I would rate this book a 1, but for the fact that it is a 1st issue, and I don't know what Milligan has in mind, or whether my initial concerns may be assuaged in future issues. I will give him a slight benefit of a doubt and raise it to a 3. I will probably pick up one or two more issues, only because I want to give this series a chance to bring that sense of mystery and surrealistic intrigue of the original. Somehow, though, I do not feel hopeful.


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This low rating is 100% due to the new kid on the block. Bendis's contribution to this issue was sadly out of place. Where the first six stories closed the book on the Man of Steel's first 80 years with love and appreciation, Bendis should have offered a story that welcomed Superman into the next 80 with hope and optimism. Instead we're offered this trite preview with a retcon gimmick, which should have been saved for Free Comic Book Day. more

I'm a huge fan of the Black Hammer Universe that Jeff Lemire is creating, but even if you've never read a single Black Hammer related comic this is a great issue. Lots of comic say this, but in this case it's really true, Doctor Star is a great jumping on point for new readers.

What I love about this comic and much of Jeff Lemire's work is that he's able to bring pathos to a superhero comic. Much as I'd love to have the powers that Doctor Star attains I spent most of the comic wanting Doctor Star/Jim Robinson to make different choices. I kept thinking: "You're missing the point, Jim Robinson. Your family is much more important than being a superhero." Which is, I'm sure, exactly what Jeff Lemire wanted me to feel. Well done! more

The story is rather interesting and the artwork is quite enjoyable, but, in my opinion, it's not worth an annual.

For all the inspiration the writer claims to have gotten from countless cop shows, this is a very uninspired story. If this comic was a TV show, it would be cancelled after the first episode.