Review by Ian Keogh
It’s sometime after 2050. There’s been a war, and Tariq Geiger died protecting his family. Survivors only dare enter some areas wearing suits protecting them against radiation, but in Las Vegas a form of civilisation exits. It’s run as a kingdom, but rumours persist of a strange glowing man in the desert who doesn’t need a hazmat suit.
Existence is only pleasant for a privileged few, and the way Geoff Johns constructs society after the bombs have dropped means opportunities have to be taken when they present themselves, even if that means risking life. Given his name is the series title, it’s no real revelation that Geiger is the glowing man, and he stars in a tale that’s relatively simple once unpicked, but concealed by Johns via introducing the circumstances, then selectively employing flashbacks revealing a little at a time. This includes fragmented societies, none of them representing the best of humanity irrespective of what they claim to stand for.
The artistic polish and clear storytelling of Gary Frank is allied to an array of distinctively designed characters, a lot of effort put in considering many are just cannon fodder. Among the visual highlights is a two-headed wolf, which presumably originated with Johns, but Frank brings it to startling life, with the finishing touches added by colourist Brad Anderson. Given the title character is a glowing radioactive man, Anderson’s contribution is essential.
It’s quite the surprise to learn in the final chapter that Johns isn’t constructing a series, but building a world, and several characters either featured or mentioned in passing would subsequently be featured in their own graphic novels. This is also merely an introduction for Geiger, as Volume Two follows. The ground has shifted considerably, but it’s also become apparent that Geiger is a force of nature, and society can change around him.
Ultimately, Volume One is a very nicely drawn tragedy, with the promise of more to come. If you really love Frank’s art, an oversized hardcover edition presenting it at a larger size is also available.
