As well as other stuff I've been reading of late over the last couple of weeks I've done a read of Brian Woods The Massive and have to say read as a whole it holds together really rather excellently. And while I enjoyed it a whole heap when getting the singles, it reads far better when read as one.
It serves as a creation myth, an examination of mass extinction events as a humanised story, and a retelling of Noah's Ark focusing on the evils man did before the great flood. Its both mythical and pseudo religious, while being agnostic and godless. Its both small and personal in scale, while also being... well if you'll excuse me Massive.
The bigger stuff, as exemplified by Mary and her earth mother (or daughter) presence is actually nicely played out and slowly and well introduced as the 30 issue series plays out and while it wasn't what I wanted the series to become when reading in real time it worked really, really well on re-read.
Most importantly and tellingly its smart and flexible enough to allow people to fit their own beliefs into the same story. It gives enough but trusts its reader to add what they want to find their own interruption. As such it does what the very best comics and indeed any imaginative literature does, it leaves you immediately looking forward to the next time you read it. Knowing full well when you do you'll draw more out and find a new way to explore it and new meaning in it.
Top stuff, if you haven't already check it out.
