Assigned by Anastasia Shy.

Written by Ted McKeever in 1991 and 1992, Metropol was originally printed by Epic Comics in twelve issues. Last year Image Comics imprint Shadowline collected those twelve issues as well as three issues of Metropol A.D. and other extras as part of the Ted McKeever Library. This collection was Book 3.

Metropol tells the story of an anyman named Jasper Notorchord who is having weird dreams, prophecies of things to come. While you might suspect his role will be that of prophet, it quickly changes as he is taken by Kafkaesque police officers who twist his words into confessions of things he doesn’t even know. While captive a plague breaks out, and the city becomes walled off from the rest of the world to keep the plague inside. That’s when Jasper’s role changes as he succumbs to the plague and is reborn, not as a zombie or demon, but as an angel.

The series follows Jasper now known as Enoch and three other reborn angels. We witness their transformation from human to angel, and discover that in these modern times angels use weapons and are made of steel. The destined to be five angels must overcome the Biblical reckoning that has fallen upon the city, as one of the angels delivers a Christ-child into this demon filled industrial landscape.

McKeever has crafted an insightful tale of modern day apathy as shop keepers continue selling their goods while the world collapses around them. The darkness of our own society can be felt throughout the series, leaving one to wonder if we are worth fighting for.

This book is not for the casual reader. It’s dense and wrought with philosophical musings that need to be reflected upon. While you can get the concept of the story by just looking at the pictures, you truly must delve into the text to find the true depth of the images portrayed.

The original source material was nominated for both a Harvey and Eisner Award. It definitely merited either at the time, and still does today. This isn’t your average comic book, and I don’t want the story to be over even though it came to a good jumping off point. McKeever has crafted a world though where the reader knows the story does continue as the angels who watch have an ongoing mission.

Thanks Anastasia for suggesting this title. I was excited to have it all collected in one volume, and the black and white collection is much better in my mind than the original colored comics.