Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Neil Googe
Publisher: Wildstorm
Price: $2.99
Welcome to Tranquility has the distinction of being the last of the Worldstorm books launched by Wildstorm. It also has the honor of being the most original concept launched by Wildstorm in many a year. Welcome to Tranquility poses the question what happens when superheroes get old. Not superhero old, but real old. Writer Gail Simone and artist Neil Googe bring a comic that goes out of its way to be different, high intensity, heart felt and honest of its intentions.
Tranquility is a small town in America that is home to a generation of former superheroes and villains who, as time passed them by, decided not to go out in a blaze of glory, but retire to a quiet small town paradise instead. These residents rather than be treated as threats are handled and referred to as elder statesmen or harmless eccentrics. This town has a visiting reporter and camera crew come into town to get a feel for the quaint traditions. The town Sheriff by orders of the Mayor (a former superhero of whom legends were made) gives the camera crew a tour. In this tour, the major conflict is between age and youth, whose biscuit recipe is best, when is the best time to stop in for chicken at the local restaurant, and whose fault it is that the mad old lady up the street has crashed her rocket into the town square. Oh and of course…murder!
The character archetypes used in Welcome to Tranquility are not conventional to modern comics and the heroes in them, having more in common with the masked men of mystery and crime fighting billionaire philanthropists of the ‘50.s This use of character type brings a distinct flavor to the book that is retro, yet feels new. The older cast of heroes are distinguished enough that their deeds merit respect, yet honest and ribald enough to feel human whilst the younger leads, in particular, the town Sheriff are respectful and courteous to a fault. She may have manners, but on the job, she is serious. This leads to both establish a world where the characters are honest and what occurs to upset the community at peace all the more startling.
The storytelling of Gail Simone borrows and revels in a lot of love to Robert Altman’s work. The late directors work style reflected and often used a true ensemble cast where people displayed their lies by action and words. Each character has a very noticeable identity. That identity and strongly defined personality defines and guides the action in the tale. Simone also is channelling Howard Chaykin’s American Flagg in places as well. The first page with the old school comic page and the intermixing of the retro scene with current day activity is both classic yet mature. The conversation about a romantic affair and a character’s sexuality expressed motivation is effective without beating the reader over the head with foreshadowing. Also established in a subtle way is the town of Tranquility itself. The citizens may live in a city yet Tranquility has an identity that is very distinct. Chick’N Go in particular stands out as being funny and entertaining.
The art by Neil Googe is absolutely appropriate for the book. The older characters look mature, the younger characters display life, emotion is displayed and the tale is told in a clear concise manner. Googe’s style is also essential to clarity of the style changes and story requirements.
Overall Welcome to Tranquility is a great book that is filled with life, energy, identity, smarts, grace, and fun. This is a series that this reviewer would like to see more of from any comic company, but the chances are slim on that hope, so for the discriminating reader or for a comic fan in the mood for something different, go and look at Welcome to Tranquility for a engrossing first chapter of a series with a purpose.
- Francis Davis a career drunk with a love of comics and movies, lives in and works for the City of Chicago. Confidentiality agreements prevent him from saying exactly what he does, but it is important.