“The Visitor” #1 takes a somewhat decompressed approach to its introductory issue, which makes this part compelling character study, but part more prologue that a proper introduction. In what seems like a zero issue, there is little representation of the main character itself, but rather of the world he inhabits and the supporting cast that will seemingly react to his existence.
Written by Paul LevitzCover by Michael Walsh Alexander
Illustrated by M J Kim
Colored by Diego Rodriguez
Lettered by Simon BowlandUnstoppable. Untraceable. Unkillable. This is how he changes the world… Who is the Visitor? Why are the leaders of the world terrified of him? And will they live long enough to find out?
This December, industry icon and Eisner Hall of Famer PAUL LEVITZ (Legion of Super-Heroes) and Russ Manning Award-nominated artist MJ KIM (FAITH: DREAMSIDE) unleash THE VISITOR from Valiant Entertainment!
“The Visitor” #1 is a very unusual first issue, and a lot of that comes from the fact that the creative team chose a very different way to introduce the world and characters on this debut issue, which is commendable on its own right. Paul Levitz (from “Legion of Super-Heroes” fame) is surely no stranger to handling a large cast in a brand new setting, so the alternative of focusing the lenses away from the main character, and into the broader cast that will reflect off of him is certainly intriguing.
That said, it does feel after reading this inaugural issue that this option may have come to the cost of actually having readers properly engaged with the plot and actions of its lead. Because of the pacing and the prolonged sequences with the supporting cast, this story reads too much like a zero issue, leaving too much of a weight for the subsequent sophomore issue than standing on its own right as a full-fledged debut.
Art by Kim is beautiful, if a bit uneven across the issue. It opens remarkably well, a sprawling metropolis under the flight of a helicopter, as bombs start to explode throughout Midtown Manhattan. When characters are introduced their designs are well done, making them unique without relying on uniforms or super powers. Those are mostly ordinary humans, so body posture, clothing, and facial expressions are all the artist has to make them stand-out, which he does very effectively.
However, there seems to be an indecision by Kim on the style he is utilising. On some pages, the world and characters are drawn more aligned to the aesthetics of North American comics, while in others the same places and individuals lean more to a manga-esque feel, especially when body formats and facial expressions are concerned. Neither would be inappropriate for the story at hand, but the transition between the two is a bit jarring.
Rodriguez on colors instills a strong sense of dynamism and energy to the pages, being the more consistent element of the visual department. His palette is vibrant, so even during quieter moments in office spaces and laboratories, “The Visitor” #1 comes across as an exciting adventure.
Going back to Levitz’s script, the main problem comes from an over reliance on the supporting cast and a number of threads that don’t seem so compelling on first examination. This first issue does introduce a lot of elements, locations, and groups that are affected by the titular Visitor, but there is a level of exposition that will require a lot of plowing through dense pages of dialogue and explanations. It is not that those elements are not interesting, but rather that the manner upon they are downloaded seem more like an education, than actually discovering the world for itself.
That said, the series looks like a sci-fi mystery done right. Levitz introduces a character that is very much a terrorist, a villain, but the groups and people he terrorises seem to be antagonists, if not outright villains on their own right. One cannot avoid the comparison against the seminal “V for Vendetta.” While not as elaborated and poetic as that Alan Moore classic, “The Visitor” does emulate some of that political conspiracy and high-stakes drama. That, on today’s political climate, is reason enough to be compelled to pick this series up and offers it another chance.
All in all, “The Visitor” #1 is a victim of an ambitious alternative approach, that could have been better handled by giving just a bit more of the titular character to its audience. Now that a lot of the groundwork has been established, it is very likely that the second issue will be much stronger, with a more gradual reveal of mysteries and characters to the main stage.
Final Verdict: 6.9 – Examining it as a stand-alone issue, “The Visitor” suffers from pacing and focus issues. Nonetheless, by having such a layered world and promise, it should be inviting for a return on subsequent issues.
