As a gamer with over two decades of comic book reading under my belt, I must say that Prodigy: Slaves of Mars #1 left me feeling more like a slave to tedium than a fan of the genre. Mark Millar’s writing, while visually appealing thanks to Stefano Landini’s artistry, fails to deliver a compelling story or character development.
As a longtime reader of comic books, I have come across many series that promise much but fail to deliver. However, Mark Millar’s “Prodigy” is one of those rare exceptions. Having followed the series since its inception at Image Comics, I am excited to see it continue with a new publisher (Dark Horse) and a new sub-title, “Slaves of Mars.”
In the comic series “Prodigy: Slave of Mars” #1, the focus is on Edison’s family background. The story starts with a flashback showing his father, setting up the appearance of an enigmatic older brother later. Despite depicting Edison as either a youth or an adult, his character remains consistent. Edison’s abilities – intellectual, financial, and physical – are beyond what most would imagine for Batman, but he consistently emphasizes these qualities to those around him and the reader. Whether it’s rescuing his kidnapped father or returning home on a luxury cruise ship, every situation becomes a chance for Edison to clarify his actions and their significance in boosting his superiority.
In this comic book, the character of Edison is portrayed as a figure of awe by all except the antagonist. Readers are encouraged to admire and celebrate him due to his impressive achievements. However, upon closer examination, one realizes that these successes are often explained through expository dialogue without sufficient distinction from other characters. As a result, the comic book seems overly enthusiastic about its protagonist without providing compelling reasons for the reader’s engagement with the story.
In the comic book pages, artist Stefano Landini skillfully illustrates both the dynamic action scenes and creative environments, taking over from Matteo Buffagni in Prodigy: The Icarus Society. His work is clear and straightforward, demonstrating a talent for conveying complex emotions with just a few key details. However, the script appears to be quite minimal, lacking grand set pieces or emotionally charged sequences that could fully showcase Landini’s abilities. Instead, his contributions primarily involve structuring the story’s foundation, much like a skeleton provides structure to a living being.
Instead of labeling “Prodigy: Slaves of Mars” as ordinary, dull, or uninteresting, like many other superhero comics that focus too much on the hero’s exceptionalism without fleshing out their character, one could say that “Slave of Mars” carries an undercurrent of discomfort which makes its title a warning sign.
In this issue, almost all the major characters are black, except for a few exceptions like two tourists, staff from Edison’s company, and a stereotypical villain with a twirled mustache. Edison stands out not just because he excels at everything he attempts, but also because he is black. This association is emphasized through every other black character in the issue. The story begins with African warlords who seem to only indulge in violence and plunder without any apparent motive, and ends with Edison’s brother depicted smoking in a run-down house that resembles a trap house and speaking a dialect often associated with African American culture, filled with prejudiced connotations.
As a reader with a keen interest in literature and a deep concern for representation, I find it deeply disheartening to encounter such blatant racism in the pages of “Prodigy.” Having grown up as a black individual in a world where diversity is still not fully embraced or understood, I cannot help but feel the weight of history and stereotypes when confronted with such works.
Published by Dark Horse Comics
On August 7, 2024
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Stefano Landini
Colors by Michele Assarasakorn
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Stefano Landini and Michele Assarasakorn
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2024-08-07 17:40