Worlds collide in the Milestone 30th Anniversary Special. A massive tome, clocking in at nearly 100 pages and five stories, this special celebrates both the old and new Dakotaverses.
The centerpiece to the special is “Universal Beings” written by Evan Narcisse. Through events that are best left unspoiled, the characters of the new Milestone end up in the original Milestone universe. Narcisse does a fantastic job at using the characters to highlight the differences between the universe. Some of this is standard “you did X, I did Y” dialogue that is typical of this type of story, but Narcisse is able to get in some emotional encounters that will be especially rewarding to readers of the original Milestone universe.
On a creator level, “Universal Beings” also blends classic and new, with Milestone Initiative alumni Atagun Ilhan handling the line art in the sections in the new universe while ChrisCross handles the artwork in the original Dakotaverse. Ilhan acquits himself well, but Cross’s artwork draws the attention as the legendary artist recaptures his original style, making this section of the book fit seamlessly with the look of his earlier work. Adding to this is Noelle Giddings returning to do the colors on these sections. The watercolors are evocative as ever and it’s exciting to experience the new versions of the characters in this art style.
For the eagle-eyed, “Universal Beings” also contains a host of Easter-eggs paying tribute to Milestone’s creators, making each panel a joy to explore.
The second story, “Static Beyond” by Nikolas Draper-Ivey with letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, takes place within the DC Animated Universe. The story is brief, character-driven and stylistically a nice contrast to “Universal Beings.” Draper-Ivey’s artwork is the draw here, and the gloomy world of Neo-Gotham is stunningly rendered in a way that evokes the opening shot of the credits of Batman Beyond, grays and stark whites. It’s an aesthetic that feels fully part of that universe, but was never really utilized as well in the show as it is here.
Stephanie Williams and Milestone Initiative alumn Yasmín Flores Montañez create the third story “Icon Forever” focusing on Raquel Ervin decades in the future. The story takes its start from 2010’s Milestone Forever, though that story isn’t necessary to understand the beats here. Williams does a great job taking Raquel through the events of the story, finding a nice balance between character and action. Flores Montañez’s artwork is very clean, but also makes great use of perspective. The cleaner style of line art gives “Icon Forever” a classic superhero tone that works well with the story exploring legacy. Romulo Fajardo Jr.’s colors help contribute to the classic feel, with saturated colors that work well with the line art.
The fourth story, “Blood Syndicate: Epilogue” by Geoffrey Thorne and Sean Damien Hill proves aptly titled. This is easily the most insular of the stories, serving as a followup to Blood Syndicate: Season One. Reading that story (which you should) isn’t required, but it really does help understand what’s going on here. Hill’s artwork is beautifully detailed, and the story really highlights what makes the Blood Syndicate different from superhero teams. There’s also some aspects that help tie this story to “Universal Beings” and makes the volume feel more cohesive.
The final story is a preview of Static: Up All Night, an upcoming YA graphic novel. Written by Lamar Giles and with art by Paris Alleyne, the story focuses on Static as he deals with a break-up. The story is definitely focused on younger adults, and there’s enough of a tease of a larger plot that helps build excitement for the full work. However, it makes for a bit of a soft conclusion to the special, especially after “Blood Syndicate: Epilogue.” It’s not the biggest issue, but it might have been better to switch the order of the stories in the volume.
Altogether, the Milestone 30th Anniversary Special works perfectly as a celebration of these characters, and whether you’re new to the universe or a die-hard fan, there’s a lot to enjoy here. The combination of new and original Milestone talent also makes the issue special as well, celebrating multiple generations of creators.
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