The Quantum Age #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Wilfredo Torres
Colourist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Nate Piekos
Publisher: Dark Horse
Review by Josh Rose
The Black Hammer series has been a huge hit that’s been inspired by Silver Age comics. The Quantum Age #1 continues to be inspired by classic comics, but this time it takes place in the far future. The Quantum League are Earth’s greatest heroes, whose members are off on various missions when Mars invades. 25 years later a young man searches for the remaining members of the Quantum League after a totalitarian president and Earth Citadel places the world on curfew and outlaws aliens.
One of the great things about the Black Hammer Universe is how much history and backstory there is. In the middle of reading The Quantum Age #1, Jeff Lemire has me wondering what happened to the relationship between Earth and Mars, and what happened to force the Quantum League underground after the invasion? I also like how Lemire ties this back to the Black Hammer series by showing the lasting legacy of the Black Hammer with the hero Hammer Lass.
Wilfredo Torres has a style that fit perfectly into the world of Black Hammer. It’s futuristic, yet simplistic, while still giving off those weird vibes that one gets from reading Black Hammer. Dave Stewart’s colours in scenes that take place 25 years after the invasion are full of oranges and reds. The kid searching for the Quantum League wears green, which really makes him standout against the background. In comparison, Stewart’s colours in the flashbacks are more varied and much bolder. The juxtaposition between the colours of the different times really reinforce the dystopian downfall of this future society.
The Verdict: Buy it.
The Quantum Age #1 is a mystery. What happened to the Quantum League? How did we get this dystopian world in a matter of 25 years? If you enjoy Black Hammer, you need to read this. If you’ve never read Black Hammer this is the perfect jumping on point for you.
