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Spirit World #1
- Writer:
- Alyssa Wong
- Artist:
- Haining
- Letterer:
- Janice Chiang
- Cover Artist:
- Haining
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2023-05-09
- Colorist:
- Sebastian Cheng
Behind the veil of the living world is another plane where unsung heroes keep the forces of evil at bay from attacking humans. East Asian culture considers death as nothing but the continuation of life, and the offerings made to their ancestors serve them in the afterlife. But DC's afterlife is aggressively encroaching upon the world of the living, with the Collective claiming souls as sustenance. Xanthe Zhou is a Spirit Envoy to prevent this from continuing, carrying out her sacred mission with her trusty sword by her side. Written by Alyssa Wong, with artwork from Haining, colors by Sebastian Cheng and lettering by Janice Chiang, Spirit World #1 revamps a forgotten Jack Kirby tale for a new world.
Continuing the events in Dawn of DC: We Are Legends Special Edition #1, Zhou and Constantine attempt to pry open the gates to the afterlife after Batgirl finds herself on the other end. Spirit World #1 opens with Xanthe Zhou helping a little girl before embarking on a mission to find a person who can help them rescue Batgirl. Constantine goes to an old associate, a necromancer, for help only to find him dead -- a victim of a Collective. Meanwhile, in the afterlife, spirits are after the living essence of Batgirl when a young man and his grandmother give her shelter.
Xanthe Zhou may be new to the scene, but they have enough confidence in their craft to take point in Spirit World #1. Writer Alyssa Wong gives the character enough weight to keep up with veterans like Constantine, matching his wry humor with their liveliness. The latter almost feels like a sidekick as Zhou shows off their knowledge as a Spirit Envoy and their general air of seriousness when dispatching vengeful spirits back to their realm. As the book picks up pace, the stakes are also raised, as both the human and the spirit worlds are in danger. Meanwhile, Batgirl diligently performs the role of the deuteragonist. Although connected to the main storyline, her branching narrative takes on a life of its own, filling the world with more good versus evil battles.
The art style of Spirit World #1 is highly stylized and flashy, which not only sets the tone of the book but also matches Wong's prose style. Illustrator Haining uses the panels in a variety of ways, such that the focus of the page is always on the central characters. Despite the size of their sword, Zhou moves acrobatically from page to page, with Batgirl keeping the same spirit alive in other parts of the story. The fluidity and weight behind their motion come from the intricate line work. Colorist Sebastian Cheng gives the issue its sparkling look. Almost everywhere one looks, bright colors pierce the muted background, which, at times, lacks details. From Constantine's magic circles to Po Po's jade staff, the glowing effects look nothing less than visual effects. Meanwhile, letterer Janice Chiang adheres to the Asian theme of the book and chooses a font that goes well with it, complimenting Cheng's colors.
Spirit World #1 is a plot-driven issue that incorporates Eastern Asian culture and utilizes multiple character perspectives. Much like the story's core theme of balancing the bittersweet aspects of death, this issue perfectly balances the grim reality of the afterlife with more heartwarming moments. It's nice to see lesser-known or newer characters finding agency within themselves while more established names support them when needed without overstepping their boundaries. Spirit World #1 starts off the series with heavy action and intrigue, but it also has an emotional quotient attached to it that makes the debut issue a well-rounded story.