Humanoids had previewed its H1 shared universe with the Free Comic Book Day preview, H1 Ignition. It was one of the most intriguing preview comic books. There seems to be someone who is watching all of the Ignited and understanding that their powers are a reaction to changes with the Earth. Ignited features a cover by Phil Briones that has crowded cover of people, but they are all in grey shades except the full color standoouts of the Ignited characters with one distorted in 3D colors. “Triggered Part 1” is written by veteran comic scribe and Director of Creative Development, Mark Waid, and also co-writer Kwanza Osajvefo. The art is by Phil Briones, he worked on the Marvel/Soleil series Tales of the Dragon Guard and Aquaman with the Rebirth issues. Briones’ art has simple lines, simple backgrounds, that are mixed with some detailed figure work. It has a title page that brings together panels from the preview comic. It is explained in more detail so hopefully you have H1 Ignition, but it is not required for reading.
It opens with an angry, bald radio host, Brent Smythe, in Phoenix, Arizona discussing a school crisis which he has written about in his Phoenix Academy Hoax book. The issue is topical and also interesting in that the real world has very little reflection in comic books. Wars, severe weather events, and other crises usually are not dealt with in the realm of super powers. Smythe gets a caller who reveals in splash page that he is at the host’s home which we see is in not great shape with the appearance of the Ignited. The narrative moves to “two months earlier” with a teenage girl going through her morning getting ready for school while trying to reassure herself that everything is normal. Her routine is broken by the shocking appearance of bullets in a red scene. She then gets chauffered to school. Then, we get the news crews trying to get an update at the school. The girl, H1 Ignition identifies her as Anouk Lovari, thinks about their intrusive presence. The introduction of character names are sometimes confusing. One student with green hair, Callum Healey (he is later identified), is annoyed at the reporter when the microphone comes his way.
The students are going through a security check, once past it, Anouk sees students bullying a girl, Marisol Flores (her name is whispered), for not carrying a transparent backpack. She responds with a Spanish swear word. Other strong words are distorted. Anouk recognizes the bullies who taunt her with her usual phrase, “Getalong.” Classes continue, there are pictures of students and flowers, and then it gets interrupted with all of the phones ringing. There seems to be a good reflection of On screen, is masked figure in gas mask and hood with another with a tv screen head, who introduce themselves as @Viral and @Wave. @Viral warns the teachers and administrators to turn down the school board’s action of arming teachers or everyone will become sick. This brings hope to all of the students. Principal Romero makes an announcement that the notice was given by a hacker and to ignore it. He later sees in his office, the ClassAlert which notifies all of the students, was rejected by the school board.
The next day, the school personnel all get sick, and somehow the school board reverses its decision. The students are excited, but don’t know the identities of @Viral and @Wave. Anouk suspects Callum. In art class, another student, Himari Saito (her name is said), with blue and purple hair has finished an origami swan. Anouk is distracted and then struck with a flashback of gunshots. Later, Anouk talks to Himari about the two mysterious people, and she runs off. Week two, a flashback of students running while there is gunshots, suddenly waking is a teen, Luther Ray Henschen (his name is also called), he heads downstairs and finds that his parents and others are dressed as soldiers. They intend to protect the students with their firearms. The tense students and this group encounter the Ignited who look to stop the adults. This of course gets Anouk to discover them. It is explained how their powers Ignited in H1 Ignition and their names. The powers are only hinted here and it is more centered on the tragic event. The first issue is interesting weaving in different characters who are part of the Ignited. An intriguing launch for the H1 shared universe.
Four Transparent Backpacks out of Five!
#Ignited, #MarkWaid, #KwanzaOsajvefo, #PhillippeBriones
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