Crossing Midnight #1 - Mobile Edition

DC Comics
Crossing Midnight #1
By Al Kratina
December 5, 2006 - 22:12

DC Comics
Writer(s): Ed Brubaker
Penciller(s): Jim Fern
Inker(s): Rob Hunter
Cover Artist(s): J.H. Williams III

The Japanese have a rich tradition of folklore and mythology, all of which is fascinating, and all of which makes absolutely no sense to Western audiences. As such, it makes perfect fodder for horror stories, as people fear what they do not understand, especially when what they don't understand is a man in a top knot surrounded by flying knives or a gargantuan ox with houses built on it. Writer Mike Carey uses these images and plenty more in Crossing Midnight, a strange tale of Eastern mysticism set in Japan. The series is a breath of fresh air in the already unique Vertigo line, and promises to be a continually interesting read.

Carey, who has done a lengthy stint on Hellblazer as well as Lucifer, is no stranger to the horror tale, but the shift in setting seems to have initiated a change in tone. Less grim than his previous work, there's a sense of child-like wonder inherent in the story, not unlike a Miyazaki film that's slightly more likely to have a character carved up like a woodcut. Crossing Midnight is about a pair of twins, one born before midnight, and one after, in the rebuilt city of Nagasaki. The female twin, Toshii, begins exhibiting strange powers, like invulnerability, as well as a rebellious spirit. At the same time, strange happenings begin to surround the twins, which may be linked to a promise their father made to an ancient Kami shrine before their birth. The ghosts of Japan's past, both the spiritual traditions and the horrors of World War 2, loom large in the background of the story, an ever-present reminder of the literal and technological demons that haunt Nagasaki. Carey deals with most of the exposition with a first person narrative directed at the reader, a familiar device that can be clumsy in the wrong hands, but moves things along here. The story is just strange enough to be fascinating without being confusing, and promises big things ahead for the series.

The art, by penciler Jim Fern and inker Rob Hunter, fits the story well, perfectly embodying the book’s mix of Eastern and Western styles. The style echoes the flat line art of Japanese scroll paintings without being excessively 2-dimensional, and the bright, pastel coloring of Jose Villarrubia helps to underscore the sense of youthful awe infusing the script. This element, as well as the unique (for Western comic books) setting, helps Crossing Midnight stand out from the pack of Vertigo titles, and will hopefully lead to its success.