With the recent buzz around the return of DC’s Vertigo imprint, you wouldn’t be too out of line in thinking that DC’s Black Label is on the outs. With Vertigo’s big return, where is there a need for DC’s more mature takes on their characters? Well, Gabriel Hardman is here with three of DC’s biggest noir vigilantes in Arcadia, a new Black Label series that harkens back to Cold War conspiracy stories of the 1980s. In doing so, he’s made a story that is causing Green Arrow, The Question, and especially Batman to confront the uncomfortable truths about their vigilante ways, and their roles in society at large.
After investigating mysterious government activity at an abandoned warehouse in Hub City, The Question (the Vic Sage version) runs across the Juno Corporation, a mysterious company with strong military ties, and is the new owner of Queen Industries. Turning to Oliver Queen for more information, Sage learns that Queen hasn’t been part of the board for years, and has no real business dealings with the company that has his name attached to it. This leads both Sage and Queen to question what is exactly happening with the Juno Corporation and their connections to the US government. At the same time, Batman runs across some young radicals looking to cause some mild social chaos against the elites in Gotham City. After learning of their role in climate change activism, it reminds Bruce Wayne of a gala he was invited to in Belize, where the richest members of society are gathering to discuss ways to address the growing climate issues of the world. Curious of their motivations, Batman travels to Belize, and as Bruce Wayne, learns of the creation of Arcadia, a “floating city” designed by Queen Industries to solve the world’s climate and housing crises, all funded by the world’s richest members. But something doesn’t quite add up, and Arcadia is also being surveilled by the Juno Corporation’s military security force, leading The Question, Batman, and Green Arrow on a collision course in Central America.
Naturally, that collision doesn’t happen just yet in this first issue, but one of the really interesting things about Arcadia is how Gabriel Hardman is using The Question, Green Arrow, and especially Batman to discuss hot button issues of today. Each of these vigilantes are of different social standings and classes in the world, and yet they all are trying to make a difference in their own ways. Having them each come across the Arcadia facility in their own ways makes for a unique mystery that not only grants us insight into their worlds and viewpoints, but also perfectly fits each character’s position in the world around them. Vic Sage is coming from a “ground level” position, attempting to take down the corporation from the protestor and societal level. Oliver Queen is the well-meaning but potentially ineffectual agent of change, believing he can tell the board of his former company to see the moral error of their ways. And Bruce Wayne is the (somewhat) idealistic billionaire who is thinking of how to change things on a global scale, despite seeing how improbable that can be from his position. All of these characters coming into the Arcadia is setting up a confrontation that is sure to be thrilling to see once we get to the next issues of the story, even though I am not entirely convinced by Batman’s position at the end of the issue.
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Hardman isn’t just scripting this series, he’s drawing it too, and what a series of pages he delivers here. The moody and dark art is extremely effective, showing us a layer of grit and grime that makes Arcadia feel right at home with the prestige format DC books of my youth. Hardman’s style is modern, and yet feels right at home with the type of vintage noir stylings you would see in things like Mike Grell’s The Longbow Hunters, and his designs for Green Arrow and Batman are very unique yet instantly iconic. Both characters have very practical and sleek, yet uniform, designs, and Hardman has fun playing with the different outfits Batman has throughout this issue. The various locations also allow Hardman to show us some really interesting scenarios for our heroes, and gets him to flex his artistic skills with some really fantastic fight sequences, especially when Batman confronts the Juno Corporation’s security team in Belize.
At only one issue in so far, it’s a little too early to call Arcadia one of the best books DC has released this year, but it’s extremely close to being there. Hardman’s tale of three vigilantes uncovering a mystery involving the world’s elite is already compelling from the back cover synopsis, and yet what you get as you read the actual contents of the issue is even more engrossing than you’d expect from that back cover blurb. As someone who loves to see my fictional superheroes interact and tackle real world societal issues, Arcadia hit the bullseye for me, and I can’t wait for the next issue.
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