Orion by Simonson Book One!

New Gods was originally supposed to be titled "Orion of the New Gods". A bit unwieldy but accurate. Finally, after several revivals we get Orion. This revival is by Walter Simonson following on closely behind what John Byrne had done in Jack Kirby's Fourth World. Simonson famously revived The Mighty Thor over at Marvel some years before this series and now after rekindling interest in the "Old Gods" he takes on the "New Gods". The auteur style which Kirby originally brought to the franchise he created, Simonson both writes and draws the comic. The use of sundry talents to enhance the story with vivid back up tales falls right into line with what Kirby originally wanted for the Fourth World. 

This saga opens in Main Line, Nebraska where it seems the populace are under the deadly control of some bizarre force. Orion has just learned from his mother Tigra that Darkseid is not his father, something that had defined his existence to that point. He heads off to find his nemesis in Nebraska where the U.S. military has become engaged. 

We are introduced to the Newsboy Legion and Jimmy Olsen as they rebuild the "Whiz Wagon" and they head off to cover the tragedy in Nebraska. Tigra is attacked by Suicide Jockeys from Apokolips and mortally wounded. She uses a Boom Tube to head to Orion and arrives just as the same Tube whisks the Newsboys away to New Genesis. 

Tigra dies in Orion's arms and his rage swells to immense proportions. The battle in Main Line grows ever more desperate as we learn that Darkseid and Desaad are the evil behind the control of the town. They have used the Anti-Life Equation to enslave the town and use it as a testing site. Frank Miller draws a short tale which shows the birth of Orion. 

While the Newsboys discover the wonders of New Genesis, Orion plumbs the depths of the threat in Nebraska. He finds that Darkseid has cloned a giant from the cells of Billion Dollar Bates, a tyrannical billionaire who used the Anti-Life Equation to make himself rich and run a satanic cult. He faced the  Forever People but was killed and taken by Darkseid.  Dave Gibbons draws a tale in which Lightray tries to find enlightenment on Apokolips.

In an artistic tour de force Simonson brings the reader the long-awaited "final" clash between Orion and Darkseid on Apokolips. The fight is told sans dialogue and lasts the entire issue, one brutal blow following another. Simonson's ability to capture the kinetic force of a fight is in ideal form for his epic struggle. 

After Orion has defeated Darkseid he takes command of Apokolips and meets Darkseid's handmaiden Mortalla, who tells him a tell of woe about being taken from Earth and tortured by Desaad. She seems also to have the power to make things sleep by touching them. The New Genesis folks return home as do the Newsboy Legion where they try to sell video of the battle to raise money to save Suicide Slum from a predatory businessman. In the back-up tale drawn by Erik Larsen we find Desaad and Kalibak plotting to take over. 

Kalibak confronts Orion and is ultimately defeated. But Orion learns that Kalibak had a power belt from the Old Gods which increased his strength. After the battle he orders that the belt be destroyed. In the back-up tale drawn by Howie Chaykin we see that Mortalla interferes with that order and we discover her touch can also bring death. 

Next Orion finds himself battling the schemes of Desaad when he's up against the giant clones of Billion Dollar Bates, the human with the Anti-Life Equation. These enormous clones should have no consciousness but it turns out there's a surprise. We learn the origins of the firepits of Apokolips as well. In the back-up story drawn by Rob Leifeld, Big Bear and Mark Moonrider take on the deadly Mantis. 

Orion confronts Mantis who is continuing with his scheme to bring firepits to New Genesis. Big Bear and Moonrider foil that plot but it takes Orion to put down Mantis himself. Later Lightray journeys to Apokolips and finds a subtly different Orion and grows suspcious of Mortalla. 

Orion falls into a trap set by Desaad when he travels into the depths of Apokolips and confronts the monstrous Sirius. But it seems that Sirius is a more complex creature than he might at first appear. Lightray becomes aware that dangerous rumors are being spread on New Genesis. In the back-up story drawn by Art Adams we learn more about the back story of Sirius and how a young Scott Free impacted the monstrous creature for the better. 

The story shifts back to Main Line, Nebraska where Desaad chooses to make his last stand against Orion. He tries to bring the humans of the community back online to use the Anti-Life Equation to defeat his implacable enemy but it goes poorly. By the story's end Orion is a changed god. Lightray uncovers who is spreading the dangerous gossip on New Genesis but pays the price for his curiosity. 

There a goodly number of short tales gathered from various sources used to fill out this collection. The first from the first issue of Showcase 94 focuses on Metron and his ongoing research of the Source. In a dandy story written by Walt Simonson and deftly drawn by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez Orion pays the price for showing mercy and Metron nearly gets his answers. 

Next up is a light-hearted Christmas tale from one of those DCU Holiday Bash specials which has Highfather and Orion posing as good old Saint Nick and his helper. It's the usual charming Christmas yarn by Walt Simonson meant to lift spirits and warm hearts and it's elevated by the art of Sal Buscema. 

Then we get a trio of stories drawn by Simonson about the assassin Kanto, but those also appeared in the Tales of the New Gods collection which I looked at yesterday. 

In a story drawn by Jon Bogdanave for Secret Origins of Super-Villains we see into the past to learn something of how Granny Goodness got her start in the forces of Darkseid. It's surprisingly engaging story with a few surprises. 

In Legends of the DC Universe, Darkseid wants to stop the Hunger Dogs from celebrating but cannot find the means to do so. We learn that the reason for the celebration and the reason it's so hard to stop both have rather miraculous sources, if you follow my drift. 

The origin of Desaad is reprised in a two-page story from an issue of Countdown that frankly adds little to our understanding. 

The volume closes out with a cover gallery of Walt Simonson artwork for New Gods, Mister Miracle and  Jack Kirby's Fourth World, the series by John Byrne which preceded Orion. Simonson was tapped from the beginning to be the cover artist for that latter series, and he created some memorable images. 

The collection closes out with some pencil art by Simonson. If you're a fan of Walt Simonson (and I am) then this tome is an absolute feast. And the best news is there is a second volume. More on that next week. 

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