When one thinks about the universes that have been created by Marvel and DC few would consider the genesis of either. Before Marvel became so ominous a universe, how did Stan Lee create these characters to not only be so fantastic but also likeable. Same question goes for DC, as well liked Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, how did the creators of these characters even come up with them. As many comic fans do their research, I do know the answers to these questions as well.

The thing is to create worlds like these, it takes a great amount of imagination, hard work and originality, the last of which, the world greatly lacks. As the legendary Mark Twain, once said “There is no such thing as a new idea. We simply take old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope.” As true as his statement was and is, that doesn’t mean the world cannot give way to new ideas. That is what I think of when I read The Passing, as what this creative team does, more than shifts the paradigm, it changes the game.

In this debut issue, an extinction level event occurs, which gives power to John Henry, Calamity Jane, Paul Bunyan making them the legends we know and according to this debut issue, the ones we don’t know enough of. We also find out how they have fought the evil in the world as it can be traced to the most notorious figures in history, from Adolf Hitler to Osama Bin Laden. As all these figures come and go, the need to fight evil never goes away, as the power that are given our heroes, is passed down to man in Sierra Leone by the name of Babatunde and to a man in Chicago, named Artavious. By issue’s end, a tragedy at the hands of police, have called these men into action, to stop further atrocities perpetrated by evil.

Overall, a commanding first issue, which grabs the reader with familiar worldbuilding and adds more depth where it would have been a rewriting of legends. The story by Edward Williams is brilliant, insightful and engages the reader like few have done before. The art by Miguel Angel Ruiz is luminous and gorgeous. Altogether, a solid introduction to a universe every comics reader who loves superheroes will want to know.

Story: Edward Williams Art: Miguel Angel Ruiz
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Every reader can grab the first issue starting now, as the publisher is giving the issue away for free Friday-Sunday here’s the link.