Synopsis
The first Umbrella Academy spin off series!
Umbrella Academy creators Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá are joined by Way’s Killjoys cowriter Shaun Simon (Collapser, Electric Century) and artist INJ Culbard (Everything, At the Mountains of Madness), for a supernatural adventure featuring the breakout character from the hit Netflix show, now on Season 3!
When 18-year-old Klaus gets himself kicked out of the Umbrella Academy and his allowance discontinued, he heads to a place where his ghoulish talents will be appreciated—Hollywood. But after a magical high on a stash stolen from a vampire drug lord, Klaus needs help, and doesn’t have his siblings there to save him.
Collecting issues #1–#6 of the first Umbrella Academy spinoff miniseries, with a foreword by Robert Sheehan, portrayer of Klaus in the hit Netflix series!
Review
I’m so glad that I made time to roll right on through these after my rewatch of the show (you can read my series review here). And be sure to check out my reviews for TUA 0, Apocalypse Suite, Dallas & Hotel Oblivion!
As Klaus was a favorite of mine in the series, I’m so glad to have a prequel spinoff!
Klaus’ ability to commune with the dead has always been a struggle for him. He turns to vices to quiet the voices and pain they share, and while that is kind of understandable, dear old dad has certainly had enough. Just 18 years old, and Sir Reginald wants him gone, completely removed from the premises. And all Klaus can think to ask is, “will I still get my allowance?” Now out on his own, he heads to Hollywood where his ability to commune with dead actors keeps him from a life of turning tricks. However, his benefactor takes to enabling him—giving him powerful drugs that take him to the void (kind of like his “other place/mastering the dead” stuff from when he dies in the show)—continuing the cycle of his abuse for her own self gain. And of course, this one can’t get away that easily without its own fair share of weirdness, and features a subplot full of vampires in the Hollywood underbelly.
This miniseries was awesome. Klaus was one of my favorites in the show, mostly for his tortured soul and yet lightheartedness, but I’d also love to see the rest of the Umbrellas get the same treatment. We get a little snippet of Diego and Vanya in the short, Anywhere but Here, and some prequel-style scenes with Five in the past, but a full series would make them even better. There are endless options, too! What exactly was Luther doing on the moon? Why exactly is Diego called Kraken—other than him just kind of swimming in Apocalypse Suite? What happened with Allison’s daughter? A miniseries of Five surviving the future? What happened to BEN (I have a feeling this is in Plan B, though)? There are so many cool things they could do.
Focusing on Klaus was a great idea; he really is one of the most complex characters. For much of his life, his powers are nothing more than a hindrance, and at worst, a curse. The story allowed Gerard to deep dive into that, not just for character development and depth, but also allowing him a commentary on addiction. Klaus is numbing the pain, and not receiving the best/correct care from his family. After his father has had enough, he immediately falls in with an enabler, someone who looks supportive but is actually supplying his disease. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a chimp-vampire-gangster looking for him as well in the hopes of capturing him for the use of his powers (just like the bikers in Hotel Oblivion). Without his siblings to turn to, his pain is just compounded over and over again as each face is another mask hiding selfish desires. And of course, the blood sucking vampires are a great metaphor and commentary on the greedy and dangerous nature of the film industry.
A great standalone that adds so much to our understanding of Seance as a whole. Can’t wait for Plan B to drop!
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