Crossing Midnight #1 *Spoilers*

[Mr. Palmer]

A brother and sister, born on opposite sides of midnight, end up with powers. Before they're born, however, a gift is offered to the gods by their parents for the babies safe arrival. Unfortunately, the parents offer anything in return for this favor.

The childrens powers seem the most strong in the girl. She exudes unbreakable skin, while the boy possesses a "mirror" power.

After a brief rundown of their childhood history, the story switches to their lives as high school kids. It's here that one of the gods who was offered "anything" shows up to take the girl. Both her and her brother fend off the samurai-like god, though he vows to take something in the time he will wait.

Said something is the complete massacre of the family dog.

_____

I really liked this book. The Hiroshima flashbacks are effective, as is the confrontation with "the samurai". That last page punched me in the gut as I didn't see it coming.

Strong opening for this new ongoing.

Recommended.

[Cayman]

Great debut issue. I really have no idea where the book will go.

[brundlefly]

The preview (it was in FABLES, I think) intrigued me, along with Carey's name attached, and I was not disappointed by the first full issue. In the next-to-last page when the brother says (I'm paraphrasing): "all the dogs were barking......except for one," I knew what we'd get on the next page, but it was still pretty horror-movie gruesome. Looking forward to issue two. I'm also quite curious as to what happened to the kid the brother and sister left behind on the other side of the "gate" when they were younger.

[Mr. Palmer]

I'm also quite curious as to what happened to the kid the brother and sister left behind on the other side of the "gate" when they were younger.

That was interesting. Definitely don't believe we've seen the last of him...

[Jack Zodiac]

What's the brother's power, or haven't we seen it yet?

This looks interesting. I love Carey's work, and he did some incredibly imaginative things with Lucifer, so I'm sure we'll see some vivid stuff in this book (like what was on the other side of the arc). And the first issue set up a lot of points to elaborate on, so I'm sure he's got some big stuff planned. Looking forward to the next issue.

[brundlefly]

That was interesting. Definitely don't believe we've seen the last of him...

The first time that we saw the samurai, that's who I figured he was. But when he popped up later in the sister's room and explained his reason for being there, I realized that was not the case.

[FanboyStranger]

I had a lukewarm response. It has an intriguing core premise, but nothing in the first issue really pulled me in. That's in pretty stark contrast to the other #1s Vertigo has released over the last year, which have, for the most part, grabbed me and never let go. (Even DMZ with its 'merely okay' first arc had enough promise to make me hang around, which paid off in the "Ghosts" issue.) I have faith in Carey, so I'll probably stick around until #6 or so before making a judgement.

[gorthon616]

I had a lukewarm response. It has an intriguing core premise, but nothing in the first issue really pulled me in. That's in pretty stark contrast to the other #1s Vertigo has released over the last year, which have, for the most part, grabbed me and never let go. (Even DMZ with its 'merely okay' first arc had enough promise to make me hang around, which paid off in the "Ghosts" issue.) I have faith in Carey, so I'll probably stick around until #6 or so before making a judgement.

Usually, Carey takes a little bit before he gets going, but it had sufficient depth and core to the story that I'm sticking around as well.

[Mr. Palmer]

Even DMZ with its 'merely okay' first arc had enough promise to make me hang around, which paid off in the "Ghosts" issue.

OT: That still remains my favorite issue of DMZ.

[Jack Zodiac]

The first time that we saw the samurai, that's who I figured he was. But when he popped up later in the sister's room and explained his reason for being there, I realized that was not the case.

I figured it was the samurai watching them when they crossed into that world on the other side of the arc.

[brundlefly]

Yeah, that narrowed down who the "watcher" was after he explained why he was there. But initially I figured on the well-used "time passes faster/slower in parallel world" concept and the samurai was the kid who they had left behind, all grown up now and an agent of whatever forces populate that world.

[xhellfacex]

I also thought that the Samurai was the kid all-growns-up, but I'll see if I think that after the next issue. When they first show the "watcher" up above them, doing his watching, he is wearing what appears to be a cowboy hat of somekind. Then after entroducing the Samurai they show the same scene and its obviously the samurai. I'll bet there is a reason they are different looking. Maybe the children recollecting differently, maybe something else. Or maybe the artist just screwed up. Anyway, I will continue to buy this book. It intrigues me.

[FanboyStranger]

Usually, Carey takes a little bit before he gets going, but it had sufficient depth and core to the story that I'm sticking around as well.

Yeah, that's why I'll give it to six or so. Luciferstarted off slow in the first few issues (with Chris Weston, who is generally great, but didn't fit so well), but the second storyline sent it into orbit. (A lot of that was Peter Gross). Granted, Carey had already sold me on the series with The Morningstar Option. There is enough promise in Crossing Midnight to hope for the best.

[zombie]

I really liked the issue, and am really looking forward to what Carey's going to bring into this story. The only weak point for me was the art. Hopefully it'll grow on me as the series goes on.

[Agent Helix]

It's a good first issue, but not great. I'm intrigued, but I'm not exactly excited to find out what happens next. I'll stick with the series for a few more issues before I make up my mind whether or not I want to read it month to month.

[zombie]

This isn't about Crossing Midnight, but I read about it in a review of the first issue. The reviewer said that Lucifer was cancelled, and I'm collecting it through trades so I don't really know how the series ended, but did it really get cancelled or did Carey get to finish it off as he wanted to?

[brundlefly]

This isn't about Crossing Midnight, but I read about it in a review of the first issue. The reviewer said that Lucifer was cancelled, and I'm collecting it through trades so I don't really know how the series ended, but did it really get cancelled or did Carey get to finish it off as he wanted to?

Yes. The story ended as Carey intended it to, as opposed to it being "cancelled," so I wonder why the reviewer used that term. #75 of Lucifer is the final issue, which wraps up the series.

[zombie]

The review (http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/reviews/116526438996308.htm) goes: "Mike Carey is mostly remembered by me for his run on Lucifer. Not my favourite series at all. I collected that series off and on for two years, but it didn’t strike me as a strong title. There weren’t many protests when the series was cancelled either."

I was just a little confused. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Agent Helix]

It's a review from Silver Bullet.

I'm surpised he managed to spell Carey's name right.

[brundlefly]

Yeah, sounds like he was just spouting off without having his facts straight. If you're digging the Lucifer trades currently, zombie, you'll probably like the final arc and wrapup, imo. Nice to see a series come to an actual conclusive end as the writer intended, as opposed to getting cancelled early and leaving plot threads everywhere and stories unfinished. Lucifer's the comic that made me a big Carey fan, along with his Hellblazer run.

[Jack]

The Hiroshima flashbacks are effective...Nagasaki. I mean, the name is only mentioned in the issue a dozen or so times. :p

There's definitely enough in this first issue to make me come back next month.

[Mr. Palmer]

When I did that quick synopsis, I didn't have the issue in front of me. I have an excuse, dammit! :D

But, honestly, I've been waiting for someone to call me on that. :)

[Ayo]

This is a pretty good debut. I'm glad to have gotten in on the ground floor, I'd like to see where this is going.

I totally picked this book up nearly by accident (randomly pulling comics off the shelves, flipping through them and putting them back) and I have to say, it pulled me in instantly. And that's saying a lot, I scarcely read this kind of stuff anymore.

I hope that the art remains consistent because that's my primary pet peeve with Vertigo Comics and other mainstream imprints.

Is this supposed to be ongoing?

[Mr. Palmer]

Is this supposed to be ongoing?

Yep; it's an ongoing.

[sgt pepper]

So #2 was intriguing. Poor Saburo.