“But Nothing Happens” — Reviewing ‘Jupiter’s Legacy: Finale’ #4

In the famous World War One poem, Exposure, by Wilfred Owen the refrain of “nothing happens” ironically implies that as the soldiers await their orders to go over the top and run towards their possible death, nothing happens. The growing, quiet tension of that poem reminded me somewhat of the writing and pacing in Jupiter’s Legacy: Finale #4. But unlike Exposure, the tension in this issue, as plotted by Mark Millar, explodes in your face. And when it does, it’s sudden and surprising. 

And so we have a number of scenes building up to the imminent invasion of Earth: Utopia trying to do right by Ellen, the rounding up of super folk, and coming to terms with the possible ending of it all. So, some pretty heavy stuff is going down, and not a single punch has been thrown. And in the real estate of comics, that’s the equivalent to “nothing happens”. The silence before the storm. 

Sadly this is an issue that features a guest artist. But, I am pleased to report that Lee Carter is an excellent replacement. And while his art style is very different to Tommy Lee Edwards, the paint-like art does replicate the art of previous issues and so it isn’t too far removed in style to be too jarring when reading this back as one continuous story. His artwork has a more than fleeing resemblance to the art of Gene Ha!. And while he is an artist I do not recognise, he’s certainly one to look out for in the future. In fact, it’s worth noting how much outreach work Millar has done over the past few years by unleashing many talented artists who do not have a large profile in American comics. He’s certainly opened my eye up to raw new talent or even European masters I had not been too familiar with. It’s not just world-building Millar is accomplishing by sowing the seeds for the next generation of kick-ass comic creators to forge their own paths. U don’t think enough has been made – if at all – of this endeavour. 

And so we have the silence before the storm, and the starting of the tempest to come too. While there are no “merciless iced east winds” to knife them, there’s certainly enough aliens to kill ‘em all! 

Jupiter’s Legacy: Finale #4 is out now from Dark Horse Comics