In the wake of Absolute Power, the Justice League Unlimited has created a haven for all heroes–but can they keep it secure? Enter Renee Montoya, reeling from an abrupt end to her time in Gotham and looking for a place to hang her hat. But the Trinity didn’t bring her up to the Watchtower to relax–there’s a dark threat bubbling underneath the surface, and only the Question and her ad hoc support team stand a chance of figuring out who the problem is before it’s too late. The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 is a solid start to a series that’s very new reader friendly.
I love a good mystery. Noir, crime, detective, those types of stories usually suck me in if done well and keep me guessing as to where they’re going. There’s some excellent ones when it comes to comics, so to get me to really be interested, the comic needs to really nail its various aspects. The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 does exactly that providing a debut issue that sets up an intriguing mystery but also lays out the current DC status quo.
Written by Alex Segura, The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 has Renee Montoya heading to space taking up residence in the Justice League’s Watchtower. Something is amiss with teases that something or someone is attempting an attack of some type. What exactly is going on is teased but the debut issue sets things up well… really well.
New readers can dive into The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 without any issue. Segura has done a fantastic job of creating a first issue that is both an introduction for all readers but also steeped into the current status quo. The Question is taken on a tour as the mystery is laid out. Something is going on at the station but no one is quite sure what exactly. We’re introduced to the main characters while Segura also fills in Renee’s backstory. By the end, the mystery is even more complex but readers will leave understanding what has come before and what lays ahead.
What’s really intriguing about The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 is that it’s a crime/noir/detective story (complete with murder) but it isn’t dark and gloomy. Much of that has to do with the art of Cian Tormey, color by Romulo Fajardo Jr., and lettering by Willie Schubert. The comic looks more like a typical superhero comic (not a bad thing) than a detective/noir story. There isn’t a dark and ominous tone to it. Instead we get some beautiful art, some of which will get you to pause. The visuals do an amazing job of pulling back to show the awe of what Renee is experiencing and then focus in as she learns the ropes. The pages are packed with characters making the new Watchtower feel active and used but not overwhelming or playing “spot the character in the background.”
The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 is a solid debut issue that blends a good mystery with superheroes ending in a murder mystery. It doesn’t fall into traps of that DC superhero murder mystery from years ago, instead keeping things a bit brighter as well as focusing in on Renee herself and how she’s taking in the experience. It may involve superheroes on a space station hovering over Earth, but the comic delivers a grounded, familiar, and entertaining story that’s easy to dive in to.
Story: Alex Segura Art: Cian Tormey
Color: Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letterer: Willie Schubert
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle
