This question is for all comic book/superhero fans. Did you ever wonder what Superman would do if he weren’t restrained? What would he do if the editors at DC just let the writers go crazy with their imaginations and really told some epic stories? If you have ever wondered those things, I invite you to check out the title “Mr. Majestic” or “Majestic” (in his current series).
Mr. Majestic is a Kherubim warlord. (For those scratching their heads, it basically means that he’s a super-powered alien with some serious fighting skills.) He first appeared in WildC.A.T.s #10 (volume 1), and after appearing for about twenty-five issues, he received his own series (the first six issues of which are collected in trade paperback format). Unfortunately, it only lasted nine issues. He made a few guest appearances after that, but eventually disappeared into the comic book nether-realms. However, a few years ago he was brought back in the Superman titles (of all places) for a three-issue arc that led into a miniseries (both stories are also available in trade paperback format) and then into his current ongoing series.
So why should you check out his series? Well, let me ask you this: do you like epic stories of heroes doing the impossible? Do you like smart-alecky cyborg sidekicks? Do you like to read comics that are fun (not just good, but FUN)? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, then stop reading this now and go back to the main page. But if you answered, “yes” to any of them, then I highly recommend that you check out “Majestic”.
So, just what kind of stories do you get? Well, so far, he’s re-arranged the solar system (in order to confuse a cosmic sun-devouring entity); handled a quantum crisis caused by a little girl; gone on a friendship date with a foul-mouthed, homicidal cyborg with a heart of gold; and created a new body for his son (who later, gave up his life to save the universe). And that’s just what happens in the first 4 issues (of the first series)! Writers Joe Casey & Brian Holguin pulled out all the stops and just wrote some wild and amazing stories and Ed McGuinness provided some wonderful illustration in his truly unique style.
In his more recent adventures, the writing team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have delved into Majestic’s past (millennia ago on his home world); sent him into deep space, chasing an interstellar ship that had “kidnapped” the entire human race; and sent him back in time to the present to stop a horrific future from occurring. Not to mention letting him save Metropolis from a temporal storm along the way. The pencilling responsibilities this time around belong to Karl Kerschl, whose art style is very…unique (and that’s really all I can say about it) and Neil Googe, who has a very clean but definitely anime-influenced style.
So how is he different from Superman? It’s a valid question. I mean, why buy a Superman comic and Majestic comic if one character is just a knock off of the other? Here’s why: Majestic is not Superman. In terms of personality, they are as different as night and day. Superman is in his mid 30s, friendly, hangs out with an average Joe like Jimmy Olsen and dated, then married Lois Lane, and has a secret identity. Majestic is a millennia old warlord. In addition to being a brilliant military strategist and an efficient warrior, he is also a highly intelligent scientist. He prefers isolation to hanging out with humans, but he respects our race and fights to protect it. Put short, Superman is like a firefighter, while Majestic is like a soldier. Both fight to save lives, but each has a completely different way of doing it.
Now the big comic question: do you need to read anything else before picking up this title? No. You can learn all that you need to know about the character by picking up the first trade (which is simply titled “Mr. Majestic”). Granted, if you pick up the trade “WildC.A.T.s: Gangwar”, you’ll get a little more of his back story and see more of his personality, but you really don’t need to pick it up to enjoy the character or his adventures.
I honestly cannot recommend this title enough. It is consistently entertaining and it’s a title that I look forward to every month (I mean this last issue (#10) had a surprise ending that completely blew me away!). If you like your heroes big and your adventures epic, then this is definitely the comic for you.
