C.O.W.L. 1964 - graphic novel

GRAPHIC NOVEL WEEK


 It is 1964 and C.O.W.L. (Chicago Organized Workers League) is the first superhero union in the country. The union is now looking to go national, with the union leaders tasting a bit of power. But the members who made up the union are no longer a cohesive force, having scattered or retired.

Not everyone is happy about this turn of events and there are those who hope to bust this union before it gets too big for itself.

I'm frankly not too sure what to make of this book. There's a clever germ of an idea here, though it reminds me a little too much of Watchmen without the superheroes. You read that right ... without the superheroes.

Mostly this is an alternate earth Chicago mob story where a few of the individuals involved have powers and some once (or possibly still) wore spandex costumes. The people in costume that we do see - we're not too sure if they're heroes or villains, the line being pretty muddy (which of course is not a new theme in superhero comics these days).

Most of our time is spent in back rooms trying to make deals or public facing trying to present a positive future with a national C.O.W.L. (N.O.W.L.?). 

It's just ... It's not exciting.

There is so little here to keep me interested. The dark figures who pop in and out and appear to not only have some power but some insight to what's going on is a nice attempt to create mystery, but it's paced just the same (perhaps even slower) than the scenes with our union leaders. The most exciting thing to happen occurs just at the end of the book to hook us into reading the next volume.

The art is by Rod Reis. It is very stylistic - it looks like it is drawn on a computer (most of them are now, aren't they?) in 'watercolor mode.' I've seen the style before and it just not something I personally enjoy, though I understand why others might. This is very much a personal choice. It seems to serve the story, but it definitely doesn't help provide any kind of energy to make the story more exciting.

The story is by Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel. Both have some comic/graphic novel background though I am not very familiar with either of them (but I've not read many graphic novels the past few years).

Looking for a good book? C.O.W.L. 1964 is a graphic novel that looks at a corrupt Chicago in an alternate universe.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

* * * * * *

C.O.W.L. 1964

authors: Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel

artist: Rod Reis

publisher: Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534355972

paperback, 112 pages

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