Writer: Mark Millar
Penciller: Greg Capullo
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: FCO Plascencia
Lettering/Design: Nate Piekos of Blambot
I was a huge Mark Millar fan in the early 2000s. I enjoyed his take on the Authority when he succeeded Warren Ellis as the writer of that title. I found his Ultimate X-Men to be a refreshing update on the classic series and to this day the Ultimates and Ultimates 2 are two of my favorite series of all time. Then Millar left Marvel, once he realized that the real money to be made in comics was selling his creator owned books to Hollywood, and love it or hate it he has been very successful at it. Over the last decade Millar has been churning out mini-series after mini-series under his Millarworld banner with some top notch artists, all with the intent of packaging the series for production companies to purchase them for millions of dollars. While transitioning from Marvel to the independent route Millar himself has both grown and regressed as a writer and his series have been hit and miss. Some of the comics were outstanding, such as Superior and Wanted, while others, like Nemesis and Kick-Ass were overly violent and uninspired. Yet over the past few years Millar has tapped a new creative vein and has returned to his earlier form and produced some of the most entertaining comics of his career. Starlight was an outstanding title, a look at what would happen if Flash Gordon returned to Mongo as a geriatric. Huck was a lovely and emotional tale of simple super hero who liked to do good deeds for his neighbors. Then there is Jupiter’s Legacy with Frank Quitley, which I have found to be an awe-inspiring comic as a deconstructed look at what multiple generations of super beings would look like and what our world could be since the Golden Age if these super beings were real. Luckily amongst this latter grouping of books is Reborn, which has been an utter delight to read.
Reborn is the story of what happens to us after we die. Obviously there is a diverse system of beliefs on what the afterlife is, whether it is reincarnation, reaching Nirvana and total enlightenment or obtaining a seat in the Kingdom of Heaven. I doubt though there are many out there who believe when we leave this plane of existence we enter a D & D, sword and sorcery realm of dark and light filled with fairies and demons all hell bent of destroying each other. This is Reborn and it has been quite a ride.
Reborn #6 is the culmination of what is being dubbed volume 1. Joined by Greg Capullo, Mark Millar has written a highly entertaining story of an elderly retired school teacher from Minneapolis, Bonnie, who is reborn in her twenties in a new world filled with people from her past, including her father and dog Roy-Roy, and destined to destroy the darkness overtaking this reality. Yet Bonnie isn’t ready for the messianic role as all she wants to do is find her husband, Harry, who was gunned down by a mass-murdering sniper who happens to now be the ruler of the dark lands in the reborn world. If it sounds like a trip then you would be right as Reborn has been an entertaining and magical read over its first five issues and it did not let off the accelerator for Reborn #6. Just as you would expect from a Sword & Sorcery High Fantasy tale this issue is the final battle, the culmination of all that has come before where good and evil meets and our heroine finally accepts her role.
That being said its not that simple in the world of Reborn and Millar, in his typical fashion writes on hell of a violent battle that is perfectly drawn by Greg Capullo, who was the perfect choice for this collaboration. Capullo is just as at home in the realm of high fantasy as he was one the dirty streets of Gotham during his run on Batman. He seems to be having the time of his life designing and drawing new demons and creatures of our nightmares to fill the pages of this title and I have enjoyed every panel of it. I’m hoping for a return to the Reborn universe in the near future but even if that never happens I’m happy to have read these issues, as it was a very entertaining and enjoyable series.
Verdict: If you’re tired of tights and capes and want to walk in a realm of dark and light then Reborn is a Buy. Reborn #6 is an awesome ending to what has been an entertaining mini-series. If you’ve read the series to this point then this issue will leave you fulfilled. If you have yet to read it then either track down the back issues (if you’re willing to spend the money), get it digitally, or wait for the collection in August. You’ll be happy that you did.
