Warning! Spoilers ahead for Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1!The latest DC Comics event has officially kicked off with the extremely promising and action-packed Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1. The issue hits the ground running with an opening salvo that turns the world upside down during DC's latest calamity.
Things have been building up to Lazarus Planet for some time now. Batman/Superman: World's Finest's first arc introduced a new threat, the Devil Nezha, and saw him attempt to take control of the world through possessing its greatest heroes and villains. However, the villain was defeated and locked away in the depths of Lazarus Island for years. Unfortunately, Batman's son Damian Wayne accidentally freed Nezha, allowing him to begin his mission in Batman vs. Robin: Stealing the magic of the DC Universe. But Nezha's plans were interrupted by Batman, Damian, and Nezha's son, King Fire Bull. As a result, a volcano has erupted on Lazarus Island, and readers were left hanging on the results.
Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 by Mark Waid, Gene Luen Yang, Billy Tan, and Riccardo Federici picks up immediately from Batman vs. Robin #4 with the eruption causing a storm that throws the magic and science of the DCU into absolute chaos. With Batman critically injured, Damian Wayne steps up to organize DC’s available heroes into two camps: One to recover magical items from the Tower of Fate and the other to track down Nezha. Despite both teams' best efforts, they are stymied not only by the magical storm battering the world, but by King Fire Bull's underlings, Golden and Silver Horn King. In addition to the main story, Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 contains a backup story that elaborates on the connection between the father of DC newcomer, Monkey Prince, and the friendship he shared with Nezha millennia ago.
Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 Sets Up High Expectations
Readers who have followed Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Robin, Monkey Prince, and Batman vs. Robin will almost certainly love Lazarus Planet from the get-go as this event almost immediately pays off for seeds that were planted months ago. However, the sudden thrust into action may confuse readers who aren’t familiar with what’s been happening in certain corners of the DC Universe. Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 demands readers know some context, and for those that do, it makes for a nail-biting intro that promises a lot of action.
That said, some may be disappointed that this issue doesn’t have as many groundbreaking changes as implied by the crossover event’s promotional material. The first issue of Lazarus Planet is spent getting the major players in place for the rest of the series. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything substantial in the series. There are some great fights and good interplay between several heroes. There’s also moments of emotional depth, such as a sweet moment between Monkey Prince and Black Alice. The story moves very quickly, and the art and colors do a fantastic job of communicating the ominous threat the heroes are facing. Fans of Batman and the mystical side of the DC Universe owe it to themselves to check out a copy of Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1, on sale now.