So far Alan Moore's America's Best Comics line has proven to be just that- some of the best comics on the stands today. Of the four regular titles (League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen is hardly regular in any sense of the word) Promethea was initially my least favorite. It was probably the slowest to involve me in the story because it has turned out to be the most ambitious of the titles. It is set in New York, 1999 (but, as best as I can tell, not our New York or our 1999). College student Sophie Bangs is researching a mythical character that appeared throughout the ages in a variety of different formats. Promethea, she discovers, was an epic poem, a novel, a pulp hero, a comic character and many more things. Most importantly, Sophie discovers that when given the proper human host and belief, Promethea exist in our world.
As a comic book, Promethea works on two different levals. First, as an adventure comic it introduces a number of intriquing characters which serve to help or attemp to hinder Sophies quest to learn of her potential as Promethea. Second, the book allows Moore to probe into larger issues such as how our perception shapes the world in which we exist and how imagination alters that perception. It can be pretty heavy stuff for a comic book, but there is no more skilled writer working in comics today than Alan Moore. He deftly weaves his various subplots together giving us just enough to maintain our interest as the main story moves along. This could be a small problem for casual readers as, quite frankly, Promethea is not a casual read. One issue is really not enough to grasp all that Promethea has to offer.
Although the America's Best Comic line could be recomended based on Moore's writing alone, in each of the books he is complimented by outstanding artist. Promethea is pencilled by J.H.Williams III. He gives the book a surrialistic, often awe struck feel that is entirely appropriate for this story. Like Dave Gibbons work on Watchmen, Williams crams every page with details and visual references that in anyone elses hands would most likely be chaotic. His ornate page layout is such a beauty to look at, it eases the digestion of Moores complicated ideas. Promethea is not a comic that is best sampled with only one issue, but I'm going to recomend #7 because... well, because it's the one that came out this week. You will be best served, however, by seeking out the back issues. This book, like each book in the ABC line, is a treat that no comic fan should miss.
