DC’s ‘We are Legends’ initiative is, for now, a series of unconnected miniseries that all follow different Asian characters. “Spirit World” is both the most original idea of the batch, and also one with a strong DC Universe connection, as both Cassandra Cain and John Constantine are key parts of the issue.
But mini-lines like this are not uncommon at DC, and the past is littered with similar endeavors – New Age of Heroes, Wonder Comics, Young Animal – that haven’t had much of an impact once they wrapped up. But that’s not of a concern right now; the only questions is whether or not “Spirit World” is good. And, thankfully, it is. Very good, even.
Written by Alyssa WongCover by Haining
Illustrated by Haining
Colored by Sebastian Cheng
Lettered by Janice ChiangWith Cassandra Cain still stuck in the Spirit World, Xanthe and Constantine are hoping the one portal they’ve found (which is quickly closing) is their one-way ticket to the land of the dead to help rescue Batgirl! Cass has made two spirit friends along the way who have given her a special cloak that helps mask her living-flesh stench to keep the other spirits from eating her…but can they be trusted? And hey, what’s in this tea that they just gave her…?!
What makes “Spirit World” #2 such an effective issue is that it is the rare second issue that isn’t either a rehash of the first or such a leap forward that it feels disconnected from the ‘pilot’ issue. There’s no such issue here, as Alyssa Wong continues to build the dueling stories in ways that are interesting and surprising. Both stories are rooted in the very real issues of life and death facing these characters, but because of the titular Spirit World, the question isn’t so much if the characters will survive or perish, but rather more existential questions, such as “what does death mean?” and “how do families deal with loss?”
These are big questions to ask in superhero comics, but Wong’s writing is so natural and well considered that it doesn’t contrast with the character wearing a Bat-emblem on their chest or the chain-smoking magician, encountering evil exes on the road to the Spirit World. As good as Wong’s work is, it is really buttressed by Haining’s art, which is a revelation here. The work never goes too far into the horror realm, but always has a toehold in the spooky. It never goes over the top or maudlin, but the emotional realities of the characters are on full display. This is a book that, quite literally, takes place between two realities, and both the writing and art straddle multiple perspectives, doing so without issue.
The emotional centerpiece of this issue is Xanthe’s reunion with their family. Wong and letterer Janice Chiang do a fantastic job with Xanthe’s dead name, showing up as a blur of text that the reader can’t understand, in a font that looks totally foreign to the scene we’re watching. It’s a brilliant way to deal with the situation that honors Xanthe’s chosen name, illustrates their family’s unceasing grip on the past, and how that name no longer represents the character we know. It is subtle, but brilliant.
Haining does fantastic work at showing a sequence that can turn on its ear with no notice, whether it is Constantine’s dead exes turning demonic, a stunning realization about Cassandra’s past, or when a family dinner turns into a magical trap. These pages are dripping with style and flair, showing a decided manga influence without being derivative of any particular genre or title. There’s a joy and exuberance to Haining’s work that sets it apart from just about anything else at DC at this point. Although the work is not, technically, like Gleb Melnikov’s work, there is a similar energy and vibe coming off of the pages as we saw with Melnikov’s DC work.
Overall, this is the ‘We are Legends’ story that I think has the strongest legs, and this second issue really makes the case for Xanthe to be a key part of the DC Universe for years to come. The pairing with Constantine and Cassandra is inspired, and shows that the character is already a versatile and unique character in the DC Universe.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – A strong, exciting second issue.
