The all-new Millarworld Universe kicks into high gear with the launch of writer Mark Millar and artist Duncan Fegredo’s fast and furious miniseries. When a group of hard-luck teens in Motor City stumble upon a street drug called MPH, they gain the power of super speed. Will they use it to save the world? Hell no! Not when there’s dolla, dolla bills to be had, y’all.

While Millar has made a lot of the “political” nature of the series, the first issue introduces us to a very real world, and sets up the adventure to come. But, instead of an adventure, we get a mystery with a lot of potential.

We see the drug MPH, and its results, a few times in the first issue, but the focus is more on drug dealing as a whole and the hopes and hard ships of some. Millar’s promotion that this is a real hero taking on “the man” isn’t present at all. I expect it’s coming, but if folks were to go into this first issue expecting a comic with a message, it’s not really present. Instead, it’s filled with criminals who pay their debt to society in jail. But, enough on what it’s promoted as, and instead lets focus on what it is.

What it is, is a solid first issue. The story is entertaining, and the build up and mystery is very intriguing. I’m definitely coming back for the second issue to see where Millar takes it from here.

He’s backed up by Fegredo’s art which helps bring the speed of the series to page and panel. With a drug that gives super speed, there’s a need to convey motion, and lack of it to show the super speed (that’ll make more sense when you read it). Fegredo pulls it all off really well, with a great style that’s pleasing to the eye.

Overall, I don’t want to ding the series for what it’s been described as, and what it is so far. It’s a solid comic, entertaining, fun, good read. Overall, it’s an interesting first issue that gets me to want to read the second. Lets hope Millar delivers on the hype.

Story By: Mark Millar Art By: Duncan Fegredo
Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy