Note: The Union was delayed due to COVID and has apparently had to be changed heavily due to the pandemic. While writing this review, I did my best to take the book on its current terms and not let my mind drift to what-ifs and what-could-have-beens. I’d ask any reader of the book to do the same.

By Jacob Cordas — B-list teams make for A-list stories.

That’s the general rule of thumb I follow. Across the board the team comics I most greatly enjoy are always made up of the lesser known heroes, characters that require a Google search to determine who exactly that is and where you know them from. There is a narrative freedom these characters are afforded that the A-listers can never have. They can be changed at will, personalities being more recommendations than true canon. They can be killed off as wanted, maimed or disfigured as the creative team decides. There are true consequences now in a world that often sorely lacks them.

The Union #1 is attempting to embrace all the freedom presented by this kind of team. It wants to sit somewhere between the original runs of Excalibur and Justice League International. It wants to be the kind of fun romp that those comics were at the height, but it lacks the spark that made the others work so well.

It isn’t for lack of trying. The script by Paul Grist is breezy and fun, though clearly struggling under the weight of the event it has to participate. To his credit, he is able to find a delightful way to anglicize the symbiotes attacking but it can’t be ignored how it struggles once the event seeps in.

Before that though, it’s a great starting first with a simplistic cartoon providing necessary backstory pivoting into a superhero reimagining of the opening of The Living Daylights. Characterization is smooth and well considered over this period with exposition being generally organic.

Andrea Di Vito with Paul Grist pencilers the work while Drew Geraci and Le Beau Underwood with Paul Grist (doing everything it seems) ink the book. This creative is able to do a wide variety of colors and styles over the course of it. As brought up above, the opening sequence is done in the style of the funny pages, giving it an exuberant silliness from the get go.*

From there the book transfers to a more traditional superhero style. It isn’t complacent with sticking to those tropes though. Consistently the panel structure subverts what is expected creating uniquely dynamic means of elaborating on the action inside of the panels. Whether it be a dutch angled phone or a panel offset with an explosion, it drags you into the action instead of merely reporting on it.

They also break up the art style even further with the introduction of the symbiotes. The series breaks fully from its established art language having the monstrosities be represented with a far busier design and uglier aesthetic. They are instantly both a literal threat and an existential threat overwhelming the pages they are on.

It is such a tragedy that this book is forced to be a part of The King In Black event. Consistently when it is allowed to be its own comic, it excels. The line-up of the team is unique and exciting. It captures the spirit of what I wanted out of the new line of X titles. I truly hope the series is able to grow past the miniseries it is currently into the ongoing it needs to be. Provided the space, The Union can easily become one of the most unique and exciting titles Marvel has.

But it needs to be provided the space.

*This is the closest the book comes to capturing the essence of Excalibur, where there are casual alternate dimension dinosaur tourists just strolling around - no questions asked.

Overall: The Union #1 is a promising start to a miniseries that struggles under the weight of being an event tie-in. 7/10

Review: The Union #1

The Union #1
Writer: Paul Grist
Penciler: Andrea Di Vito w/ Paul Grist
Inkers: Drew Geraci & Le Beau Underwood w/ Paul Grist
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
The grand unveiling of The Union! A team of super heroes gathered from all over the United Kingdom, featuring Union Jack, Snakes, Kelpie, Choir, and their fearless leader, Brittania! But when disaster strikes on their first public debut, in the form of the invasion of Empyre, the fledgling team is immediately pushed to their limits! Don't miss out on an exciting new chapter of Marvel from legendary creators, Paul Grist (JUDGE DREDD, JACK STAFF) and Andrea Di Vito!
Release Date: December 2, 2020
Buy It Here: The Union #1