Spotlight: The Movement #1

(w) Gail Simone     (a) Freddy Williams II

Unformed.

That's the main descriptor of Gail Simone and Freddy Williams II's The Movement #1. While there are moments of real and gritty excitement, a lot of what Simone is attempting to convey gets lost in the chaotic nature of this debut issue. There are so many plot elements and so many new characters all being introduced in 22 pages that it's difficult to process what exactly you just read by the time you're done.


** SPOILERS AHEAD **


The opening sequence focuses on the ethically challenged police force that exists in Coral City and their meeting with the Movement. It's really weird -- and out of character for her style -- but Simone's dialogue is rather clunky throughout these pages. It feels like the offhanded style is supposed to reflect a more natural conversation, but it mostly sounds unclear. I found myself reading the first page three times over before moving on because I wasn't sure who was saying what to whom. 

But the real flaw of The Movement #1 is how forced everything feels. The dirty cops, the neighborhood grassroots campaign, the heroes being young -- it's all supposed to be a cohesive concept wherein all the parts play off each other to create a thematic mood. Unfortunately, the jumpy writing style and distractingly messy art style cause this concept to fall flat. I have no idea why the rat-controlling kid, Mouse, popped up in the church while the possessed kid was raging out.

I want to stress that I'm going to stick with The Movement. Per my interest in Young Avengers on the Marvel side of things, I enjoy teenaged superheroes sticking it to the man, and that's basically what's going on in this series. It's just unfortunate that The Movement #1 is so frazzled. I feel like it's going to be an excellent series going forward because Gail Simone writes incredible team books, and her experience on Batgirl gives The Movement a darkness that's befitting to the theme.

GRADE

6.5/10