- Title: Jenny Sparks #1
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Tom King
- Artist: Jeff Spokes
Planetary may be my favorite team, but Jenny Sparks is my favorite character from the WildStorm Universe. The Spirit of the 20th Century saved the world by herself and with various teams including the Authority until the end of the millennium which was the last we heard of her. After killing God, something referenced in this comic, she died (and left a gaping hole the team could never fill). As part of DC’s Black Label, we get Jenny back… somehow.
There’s no Authority, but there still is a hero universe (now DC rather than WildStorm) that needs to be kept in line. When heroes get out of line, that’s where Jenny Sparks comes in. The new series kicks off with Captain Atom having had some kind of psychotic break and Batman calling in Jenny for help. While it’s unclear why she’s alive in the 21st Century, the chain-smoking, ass-kicking hero is back in action and not even Atom killing her can keep her down for long.
The issue jumps around more than I’d like with several panels involving what appear to be random people going through their day-to-day lives. By the end of the issue, those random strangers fill the the bar Captain Atom chooses to take over on his bizarre walkabout leaving death and radiation in his wake. Heading into issue #2, this sets up round 2 for Jenny which, hopefully, may fill in a little more of how she’s still walking around.
[DC, $4.99]