If Gerard Way isn’t careful, he might become better known as a comic writer rather than the front-man for My Chemical Romance. Along with artist Gabriel Ba, Way has made The Umbrella Academy from Dark Horse Comics into a cult hit. Currently four issues into the second mini-series, Dallas, The Umbrella Academy focuses on a group of orphans (now grown) that were raised by a man that turned out to be an alien. Having chosen these children because of their potential for powers or otherwise, he trained them to be the heroes needed to save the world, time and again. As they grew up, the children grew apart and had their own adventures or tried to carve out a normal life. They have since reunited after the death of their “father” and are force to save the world together once again.
The art and colors are phenomenal and the story has so much character is hard to believe that Way only has the two mini-series on his resume. Quirky, funny and painstakingly smart – The Umbrella Academy is a series that has legs for years and I hope that Way and Ba keep together on all future series.
The Umbrella Academy is poised to become the next Hellboy and should be on the fast-track to Hollywood, if it isn’t already, given Dark Horse’s partnership with Universal. Get the current issues on the stands now and the previous series, Apocalypse Suite in TPB.
