Issue #1 established a temporal setting of 1962 and introduced to the Chicago Six, a band of former communist super-powered villains who C.O.W.L are in the process of eliminating from the city. The concern, as is more so explored in issue #2, is once the threat of evil is neutralized, will the league become obsolete?
WRITTEN BY: Kyle Higgins
ART BY: Alec Siegel
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: June 25, 2014
Reviewed by Nick Brehmer
The first thing I thought after reading the first two issues of “C.O.W.L” was ‘The Incredibles with curse words’. Don’t take that as a dismissal — it’s terrific. C.O.W.L (the Chicago Organized Workers League) is, as issue #2’s front matter describes, “the world’s first superhero union league.” There’s a bureau, filing cabinets, and even hints of in-office romantic drama. The identities of the organization’s members seem to be known to the public to the extent where they’ve become celebrities, having costumes made by designers. They even partake in photo-shoots and magazine profiles. C.O.W.L’s mission, however, is to “stop costumed and superhero crime.” For reasons yet to be fully understood, superpowers appear to be bestowed on multitudes of citizens in varying degrees and for different reasons. Obviously, those with more dangerous powers are those who C.O.W.L hunts down first.
Issue #2 picks up after the fast-pace opening of the series, which had the agents of C.O.W.L engaged in an epic battle above the skyline of Chicago with the last member of the Chicago Six, ex-KGB Skylancer. We get a glimpse at the history of C.O.W.L and its beginnings in WWII with the now-chief Geoffrey Warner (codename The Grey Raven), Reginald Davis (codename Blaze), and the mysterious “Sparrow”, who Warner seems keen to forget. Agent John Pierce, an unpowered C.O.W.L detective, is concerned over the discovery of sensitive C.O.W.L weaponry files found in Skylancer’s lair. Tensions are heightened when playboy Tom Hayden (codename Archlight) does not share in Pierce’s worries.
Perhaps the most gripping aspect of the C.O.W.L series is the personal trials of the agents themselves. Grant Marlowe, another unpowered patrol member of C.O.W.L, experiences growing insecurity made worse by his young son’s embitterment. Working with Karl Samoski (codename Eclipse), who is proving to be quite the anti-hero (to say the least), the two agents are called to a crime scene where the perp is suspected to have increased strength and connections to the Camden Stone crime ring. The ensuing brawl leaves one of the agents in serious condition as the fabric holding C.O.W.L together frays even more.
There’s still a lot to learn about the C.O.W.L universe and its cast of characters. The darkly beautiful artwork creates a very palpable atmosphere making the beginning of this series a joy to dive into.