National Comics - Eternity #1 One Shot

"So that's how I died...Hope you enjoyed it."

DC is launching a new series of one-and-done titles under the heading of National Comics. They start this month with Eternity a re-vamp of Kid Eternity, written by Jeff Lemire with art by Cully Hamner and Derec Donovan. This was an interesting book, it's very well written (we'd expect nothing less from Jeff Lemire) the art is nothing special though. My big gripe with this book though is that it ends in quite an emotional cliff hanger. That would be fine if it wasn't a one-shot with no word of a follow up anytime soon. That's not a dig at the book itself but more so at DC, that they don't want to give this book more issues is beyond me.

Lemire sets to get the story underway quickly, establishing Christopher Freeman's back-story and power set - he died once and now he can pull the dead from a nether world for a limited period of time, which comes in handy at his day job as a coroner. As a coroner Freeman uses his powers to help solve murders, though the case that he is now on is not so open and shut. Though the story is well written and satisfying, the conclusion is expected and somewhat clichéd. What drives this title though is Freeman's character progression and Freeman himself. He is a well rounded character with a great back-story, and interesting enough that we want to see more of him. This is unfortunate because like I mentioned before; this is the only issue that DC is planning in the near future.  

Hamner and Donovan provide some amazing visuals in this book. After the first page turn there is a spectacular double-page spread that is used as a platform to display most of Freeman's origin. The art does become a little lacklustre when the artists are faced with more of a scripted path. The pages where characters are just talking, or there is not much going on, are just a little to plain and boring. Though that doesn't happen often, it does feel like it slows down the flow a modest amount.

My only real grievance with the first issue of National Comics - Eternity is that it isn't on-going. I would really like to see more of Christopher Freeman and his other cases. The book ends on to much of an emotional note to not continue it. Someone did also point out to me a few lettering errors, not that I noticed though. Apparently this is becoming a bit of a problem at DC with lettering errors being found in Green Lantern #11 as well. This was an enjoyable title, and definitely worth the read.     

3½ mysterious train travellers out of 5