Review: Edison Rex / Author: Chris Roberson / Artist: Dennis Culver / Publisher : IDW Publishing / Release Date: July 2nd

Lex Luthor has a lot to answer for. Superman’s arch enemy is almost as well known as the big S himself, and when people decide to create a superhero that has a huge toolbox of incredible powers, they tend to make at least one of his foes some sort of super genius. Edison Rex is the story of that sort of a villain; a brilliant mind who has made it his life’s work to defeat a creature with almost unstoppable abilities. However, this happens in the first few pages of the graphic novel, and this victory creates an epiphany for Edison; the genius decides to become a hero.

Though this isn’t a new idea, the creators of the book are well aware that they are retreading old ground. Rather than trying to make it grittier or some sort of dark mirror, they play it straight. The world of Edison Rex will be familiar to anyone who’s read a Marvel or DC comic book and the villains and heroes are the sort of thing either of those publishers would produce. Much like Invincible, it’s quite fun to work out what sort of DC or Marvel character inspired this or that villain. Unlike Invincible, the twists and turns of this book don’t stray from the path of heroic adventure; it bears more of a resemblance to Alan Moore’s Tom Strong than anything else – classic hero stories remixed for modern tastes but without any of the horrible darkness that is so common these days.

Edison Rex is an uncomplicated comic book; the artwork is straightforward and though a little bit blunt, it’s a good match for the story. If you like your hero books with overly involved back stories and complex meta-plot then look elsewhere; this is the uncomplicated story of a villain seeking redemption. If you loved the movie Mega Mind, or are simply looking for some straightforward (if not terribly original) superpowered action, then this may be for you.