In 2008, writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Chris Weston introduced a twelve issue series entitled THE TWELVE. It starred The Blue Blade, The Black Widow (not THAT Black Widow), Electro (not THAT Electro), The Fiery Mask, Dynamic Man, Captain Wonder, The Laughing Mask, Mister E (not THAT one…he was a Vertigo character), Master Mind Excello, The Phantom Reporter, The Witness and Rockman. Basically, they are a dozen very obscure superhuman characters from Marvel’s origin days when they were called Timely Comics.

So, the book is four years old. Why are we talking about it now? In early 2009, Marvel pulled the plug after issue #8. They didn’t cancel the series, they just put it on hold because Straczynski, known to comic fans at the time because of his work on BABYLON 5, CRUSADE and JEREMIAH (and his work on MIDNIGHT NATION and AMAZING SPIDER MAN, specifically the controversial “One More Day” storyline), had become a hot movie property after writing Clint Eastwood’s CHANGELING film. Weston was becoming known as a storyboard artist. Therefore, neither creator had time for comics. They finally completed their work on the book at the end of 2011 and the final four issues ultimately appeared in earlier 2012. In actuality, there are 15 issues in the series, as there was a #0 issue and a #1/2 issue which reprinted eight exploits from Timely’s Golden Age, along with SPEARHEAD #1: a 36 page W.W.II exploit written and illustrated by Weston.

We begin the first issue at the end of World War II. During the Battle of Berlin, the dozen superheroes are ambushed by the Nazis and placed into cryogenic suspension. But the building gets bombed and the Nazis who knew of the heroes are all killed. The heroes remain frozen until a bulldozer reveals their crypt in 2008 and the heroes are freed from their icy prison. The U.S. Government, calling them The Twelve, takes care of the heroes, housing them in a mansion (think BIG BROTHER without the cameras and carnal activities!) where they receive counseling and support. The government offers them all roles as heroes in this century.

The Blue Blade becomes a celebrity while Dynamic Man goes to work for the FBI. THE DAILY BUGLE hires the Phantom Reporter where he gets to write a column about his experiences. Rockman has the most difficult time adjusting as he misses the underground kingdom he claims to come from. The daughter of the man who created Electro the robot shows up with paperwork that allows her to reclaim her father’s robot

In the midst of all of this, the Laughing Mask is arrested for a murder that occurred in 1940. And, if that wasn’t enough, a murder mystery is set loose as we see the Phantom Reporter, gun in hand, stands over the dead body of the Blue Blade. Over the course of the series, we get to see each of the character in the spotlight and see their past, previously unknown origins, along with their present day exploit.

Although reviews and this blog specifically tends to rely on spoilers, but I won’t given any here. This series is just too good to ruin it. You need to read this series. All I will say is that it comes to a satisfying conclusion. You will laugh at parts of it and you will certainly cry at least once before it is all over. Chris Weston’s artwork is tremendous. And what of Straczynski’s writing? Whether you love his work or hate it, you have to respect it. And this is possibly his finest hour. His love for these long forgotten characters is truly mesmerizing and the road he takes us on is tremendous.

So that is it: go buy this book The first six issues are available in a trade paperback. And the rest? Do some looking. This is truly a series that shows just how good comics can be.