REVIEW: SPIRIT WORLD #1 (OF 6)

The Dawn of DC is in full affect as we now enter the Spirit World, the next story of Xanthe Zhou! In this first issue Xanthe is trapped, not able to return to the Spirit World. Xanthe traveled through a gate under the grave of Granny Lo’s which is no longer working.

Strange Magic ripped a hole in the veil between the Spirit World and Gotham City releasing baleful souls and including a collective, sucking Batgirl into the Spirit World where she remains today. Constantine is working with Xanthe to find another gate to return through and allow Batgirl to return to Gotham. This is all in the first few pages! So much more happens including an ending that’ a cliffhanger! You will want to get your hands on this first issue, the first in a six part series for The Spirit World. Spirit World is also one of three titles which also include City Boy and the Vigil that are being released in May as part of DC’s AAPI Heritage month celebration. All three titles, Spirit World, City Boy, and The Vigil have Asian led characters.

Spirit World has a long yet short history at DC. Fifty two years ago Jack Kirby created Spirit World which only saw one issue before it was cancelled almost immediately. DC dust off that one issue with a new story in the Dawn of DC Spirit World. We had seen the first appearance of Xanthe in Lazarus Planet Dark Fate issue 1 written by Tim Seeley. Don’t worry if you missed that issue because the Spirit World 1 story is written in such a way, by the time you get to the last page you feel you know the character Xanthe. Writer Alyssa Wong did a great job weaving in the current situation while building on who Xanthe the character is.

The artwork in this issue is incredible. Done by Haining and colored by Sebastian Cheng. The details of the art including the visuals of the Collective will leave you in awe. I strongly encourage you to pick up this first issue of Spirit World as I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Writing; 4.5 out of 5
Art; 4.5 out of 5
Colors 4.5 out of 5

Score 4.5 out of 5

Written by; Alyssa Wong
Art by; Haining
Colors; Sebastian Cheng
Letters by; Janice Chiang
Publisher; DC Comics