Abducted at a young age and raised to be psychic killing machines, the teen heroes of Generation Zero have been operating in the background of the Valiant Universe for the last couple years. They’ve escaped their Project Rising Spirit captors and are trying to find their place in the world, and the new ongoing Generation Zero follows the team as they make contact with other youths in need to offer superpowered solutions to their adolescent problems. Generation Zero #1 hits stands this week, and it’s an excellent introduction to the series, focusing on new character Keisha Sherman as she reaches out to the team to solve the mystery of her boyfriend’s recent death.
Writer Fred Van Lente makes a smart choice in grounding the story in Keisha’s experience at the start, giving readers a strong impression of her friends, family, and recently rejuvenated Michigan hometown and bringing a personal perspective to the narrative. This preview of next month’s Generation Zero #2 reveals what happens to Keisha after the teen superheroes save her life, reinforcing the idea that her sheriff father is playing a part in the villainous scheme that took her boyfriend’s life. Something shady is going on with the adults in Rook, Michigan, and the presence of Generation Zero means that it’s only a matter of time until their plot is exposed.
Artist Francis Portela and colorist Andrew Dalhouse worked with Van Lente on Ivar, Timewalker, and the high level of detail in their visuals matches the richness of Van Lente’s concepts. That detail comes through in the costuming and environment in these preview pages, but that’s just a small taste of the expansive work Portela and Dalhouse do on this series. Readers can discover more when Generation Zero #1 hits stands on Wednesday, and if they like what they see, they can snag the second issue on September 28.