Suspended Animation: Crux

It is 400,000 B.C. Before Christ. Or man. Or sentence fragments. Before most<br>everything living except, of course, ape men and superheroes.<br><br><br>Old myths were about gods like Hermes and Juno.

Friday, June 8th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

It is 400,000 B.C. Before Christ. Or man. Or sentence fragments. Before most
everything living except, of course, ape men and superheroes.

Old myths were about gods like Hermes and Juno. New myths are about Atlantis, crystals, and superhero aliens with superior intellects and powers
who colonize earth and manage the "evolution" of those ape-men.

Crux, the comic book, has melded both myths into aliens who have reached "the point of ULTIMATE EVOLUTION? A transition that will take us to the next level of existenceâ€¦a realm where we will be as one with a higher force". A realm called New Age silliness.

For an old reviewer who likes to criticize, hates New Age silliness and is
tired of superheroes, it is a shame that Crux is also well-written and well-drawn entertainment.

The art, which is influenced by past masters like Al Williamson, is especially impressive. Firmly in the school of realism, city and landscapes
are vast and detailed, and set the stage for high drama and epic adventure.

The WOW characters on that stage are appropriately grand, larger than life
in face, form and dialog. No human speaks like these Atlantians, but, then
again, these Atlantians are not human. No human stands in poses like these
Atlantians (outside of war memorials), but then againâ€¦. You get the idea.

And once readers get past the silly ideas, they are in for a rip-roaring, continent-spanning, gut-wrenching war between good and evil on a massive scale.

Isn't it disappointing that most adults will never see Crux, let alone buy it? For them, superheroes are the crux of why they won't buy, despite excellent art and intriguing story.

Editors and publishers, take note. The vast majority of adults are uninterested in superheroes, no matter how they are packaged.

Crux is, nevertheless, highly recommended for comics fans and those who
enjoy epic fantasy.

Crux #1/$2.95? and 28 pgs./ words: Mark Waid; pencils: Steve Epting/sold in
comics shops, on newsstands, by mail, and at www.crossgen.com.