Review by Ian Keogh
Given the exceptional growth of fan culture and cosplay in the 21st century it’s a topic that’s remained surprisingly rarely addressed in superhero comics, so definitely contemporary and ripe for exposure. Children of the Atom begins with a group of teens who have powers similar to those of the most high profile X-Men, and give themselves names like Cyclops Lass, Daycrawler and Marvel Boy, the last most likely a trademark reinforcement. The X-Men are puzzled that the teens don’t show up on Cerebro’s mutant detecting radar, and they’re reluctant to accompany them to the exclusively mutant community of Krakoa.
Each chapter features the narration of a different team member, and by the sixth Vita Ayala has provided a complete understanding of them and their circumstances, and set them up for future use while dropping a couple of surprises along the way. Credit is also due for creating new characters rather than just selecting from Marvel’s vast back catalogue, and some good comments about judgement.
Bernard Chang starts as artist, but seems to be going through the motions as his art has been more imaginative and dynamic on other projects. Paco Medina completing the story is an improvement, bringing greater personality to the cast and to the action.
However, for all the good points Children of the Atom never flourishes as it ought to. The voices are derivative, and it’s likely readers are going to figure out what the repeated issue is before Ayala reveals it. Having locked herself in to one narrative per chapter proves a straitjacket as the focus isn’t on the team, but the individuals, and Ayala explains everything at length, underlining it in bold with a dozen emojis. There’s around three chapters of plot here doubled in length by repetition and emoting. Disappointing.
