Synopsis
A dysfunctional family of superheroes with bizarre powers, the seven members of the Umbrella Academy spent their childhoods fighting evil and honing their extraordinary gifts under the tutelage of their guardian and mentor, Dr. Reginald Hargreeves. Here is one story from their past where they learned a powerful lesson and fought a mysterious murderer Conceived and written by Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance), The Umbrella Academy features interior art by Gabriel Ba (Casanova) and Dave Stewart (Hellboy) and covers by multiple Eisner Award-winning artist James Jean (Fables). The Umbrella Academy debuts with a twelve-page story set before the start of the ongoing series.
Review
This was a free comic book day short, and it’s still free to this day on kindle. It is also included in the back of volume one, Apocalypse Suite, in the 1-3 box set I own, so I’m glad it’s far from hidden. This is review 1 of my read-through after finishing the entire Netflix series again. You can check out that review here if you’d like.
This is a prequel short to the series. It really helps set up the tone and art of the series, and I think it’s a fantastic place to start. I almost wish we had seen this and some other events (like the Paris rescue) at the opening of the show. I know fans received some flashback scenes, but there was not much in the way of heroics. It could have worked as a brief bit or shorts like the opening “4 years” sequence in the latest Fantastic Four. It would have given some depth, I think, and seeing some of their villains would help explain why the world needed 6 child superheroes…
The Murder Magician and his helper felt kind of like a nod to Joker and Harley Quinn, but without being a rip. This short gives us a snapshot into the stylized art that we’ll see throughout the rest of the series, and even offers readers an important snippet into how the Rumor’s powers work, which is different from the show. The idea that her sowing lies would actually create altered realities is really neat. I can see how that would get awfully messy for the show, though.
Overall a swing-for-the-fences opener.
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