Harbinger: Faith #0
-
The good
Great character development using a twitter format to tell stories was an entertaining touch. Connects events to Unity #12. Quintessential decision made by all superheros in a unique way
-
The bad
Messages might work better with target audiences.
-
The ugly
- Total score
Harbinger: Faith #0 is a one-shot issue about Faith, and chronicles her backstory as well as her life after the Armor Hunters invasion. It opens up with Faith when she was young, and being driven to the local comic book store by her grandmother, who notices she’s wearing makeup. Her grandmother inquires about this knowing there’s a young man, Leo, who works at the store and Faith is really into him. But Faith assures her that it’s not all about him but about the comic books, and it’s new comic books day. When they arrive she asks the owner if Leo is working today but plays it cool and doesn’t want the owner to go get him. Her grandmother leaves her there since the owner and the family go way back, and it’s so Faith can chill and read all the new issues she wants. Of course this was all years before she had powers and knew Torque. And this was also long before she gained millions of new followers on Twitter because of her role in the Armor Hunters invasion. So she and Torque are now a celebrity couple, and he wants to make the most out of the opportunities in front of them as a result. One such opportunity is a reality TV show, and the company has already given them a brand new house. Faith doesn’t want to blow this opportunity either but she also has the desire to want to use her powers to make a difference such as fighting crime at the very least. And besides, they learn that having all this fame isn’t as easy as they would think as some in the media question them about their former teammates, one of who is currently in jail, and whether or not they were responsible for the alien swarm. But with her desire to be a superhero and his desire to be a celebrity, will this dynamic be even more challenging than their celebrity status?
This issue leads up to the events in Unity #12 where Faith was selected as the newest member. It does a great job in filling in the details of that surprising choice but this is about so much more than that. When I first saw Faith in the Armor Hunters event I thought she was a pregnant character (in a relationship with Torque) but I quickly learned that wasn’t the case. That assumption is just one example of what makes Faith a unique character because when one thinks of a superhero it’s either chiseled, a mutated form, or a body type that is indicative of the character’s powers. In her own words, she’s a “heavy girl,” and every bit a superhero as anyone else. She definitely acknowledges this, and it plays a role in her contemplation in this issue, but it’s not her defining characteristic. She’s confident, has a great relationship with Torque and an active, and adventurous sex life, and she wants to use her powers to do good. There’s also the story of her time in the comic book store that has another message in it, so this issue doesn’t shy away from target audiences. And overall I believe they are positive messages making her unique. However, there are other aspects about this issue that are enjoyable such as the format, and even the humor (video game hands). The way twitter was incorporated into this issue, whether it was Faith telling how she got her powers or sharing another story, it was an entertaining way of conveying these events. And ultimately it’s still a tale about a young superhero struggling to choose to become one and examining the sacrifices that are made as a result. And that part was pretty exciting especially when Unity was brought into the mix. I didn’t know much about this character before but now I understand completely why Unity selected her as the best fit. And as of now, I agree.
SUMMARY
Harbinger: Faith #0 is an enjoyable tale about a young superhero coming to terms with being one, and deciding what would be best for her life going forward. The use of Twitter to tell parts of this story was an interesting and entertaining touch, and didn’t feel gimmicky at all. The character development not just for Faith but Torque as well, shed light on these characters making them well-rounded. And there are also messages in this issue for specific audiences, which I believe will receive this well. And as a result of this issue I have a much greater appreciation for Faith being selected as the latest member of Unity, and I’m looking forward to seeing her in those stories as part of the team.
Release Date: 12/17/14
Writer: Joshua Dysart
Artist: Robert Gill
Leave a Reply