Bizarre New World: Population Explosion #1(2008).
© Ape Entertainment

Mania Grade: A-
Title: Bizarre New World: Population Explosion
Issue: 1
Authors: Skipper Martin, Christopher Provencher, Wes Dzioba
Publisher: Ape Entertainment
Price: $6.95

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Bizarre New World: Population Explosion

Bizarre New World: Population Explosion follows up last year’s original Bizarre New World miniseries from Ape Entertainment, at the end of which everyone in the planet gained the ability to fly. In that first story, everyman Paul Krutcher realized he could fly before anyone else did. Rather than taking his story to the press or discussing it with anyone else, he flew in private. He also spoke to scientist friends about the hypothetical possibility of human flight, in a vain effort to understand his condition. But before he could learn more, a charismatic young man named Matthew took to the skies and revealed himself to the world. However, soon after Matthew announced his abilities, the world’s population followed. At the end of Bizarre New World, everyone could fly.

Writer Skipper Martin and artist Christopher Provencher ended the first miniseries on an optimistic note. The widespread ability to fly seemed like a new and hopeful stage in human evolution. However, in their new graphic novel, Population Explosion, the creative teams explores the fallout. People die in collisions with helicopters and airplanes. Dropped objects accelerate and kill anyone below. Paul tries to define himself among a world in which he is no longer unique, exploring his newfound—albeit common—talent and ways to improve it. By the start of the graphic novel, he has already learned how to fly in arcs to cover more distance. But, his mixture of wonder and annoyance over Matthew’s near-messianic aura is cut short when he receives a disturbing voicemail from his son, Sean, who lives with his ex-wife. Believing Sean to be in danger, Paul suits up and flies towards an uncertain situation, not knowing whether his son will even be alive when he reaches him.

Bizarre New World: Population Explosion stands in stark contrast to the optimistic tone of the first miniseries. Martin and Provencher explore the more likely results of everyone in the world flying. While the story hardly wallows in cynicism, it almost grabs the reader by the shoulder and says, “Hang on a second. Let’s think about this for a minute.” In that respect, Population Explosion serves as one of the better takes on the likely consequences of superpowers. While the creative team covers the obvious accidents and tragedies already mentioned, they also touch on the mundane. During Paul’s journey to save his son, beer rains from the sky when he passes underneath a fraternity party. When Paul lands, his homemade costume is covered in the countless insects that hit him in midair. All the while, Martin and Provencher retain the personal and very human perspective of the first miniseries. Above all, the Bizarre New World series examines the reactions of ordinary people in very extraordinary circumstances. It almost—but not completely—jettisons gee-whiz thrills for a very up-close-and-personal perspective of a world that can fly. However, the eventual fate of Paul’s son carries less gravity than it could have, had he been featured more prominently in an earlier part of the story. As it stands, the reader can’t help but expect Paul to find Sean in greater danger than he does. To say more would spoil it, but the ending leaves the reader with another set of questions rather than a sense of a day well saved. But fortunately, there’s a sequel in the works.

Christopher Provencher does a fine job on the book’s pencil-work, providing a nice balance between realism and the slightly exaggerated tone one expects in a superhero comic. Wes Dzioba‘s colors compliment Provencher’s work nicely, giving the reader a lifeline to the ultimately hopeful—if more grounded—tone of Population Explosion. Just like its predecessor, this graphic novel is always a pleasure to look at.

Bizarre New World: Population Explosion will be available in April from Ape Entertainment. Pick this one up. 

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@mania.com.