I had the pleasure of getting a chance to read Eclipse #1, a Kickstarter-funded indie comic. Like The Mighty Titan, this one takes some of the familiar superhero tropes and turns them on their head. The main character, Keith Calhoun, (who I assume goes by Eclipse) opts to don tights and a mask for past transgressions one can only assume he endured at the hands of a man known as Raze. Keith’s story is fascinating, as his father had Autism. The reader’s given glimpses of Keith’s past and the ridicule he experienced as a child. He was bullied and often beat up.
Whether or not Keith becomes a hero through training or acquiring fantastic powers is yet to be seen, but considering the fact that he often speaks about his father in the past tense, one can only assume that something tragic happens.
Regardless, Eclipse is a tale where the villain stands out most. Raze, also known as Mr. Zahorik, is a fascinating figure. Like our hero, he once wore an outfit. Based Raze’s musings, it seems he was a hitman-for-hire. But was he something more? Was he a hero who fell into dark ways? As our story opens, Raze has climbed high in the criminal underworld and seems to be at the very top. Age hasn’t dulled his edge though, as Raze seems like he’ll be quite a challenge for Keith.
Art-wise, this comic has me torn. Some of the scenes and characters look amazing. The art has a distinct, gritty feel that makes it really stand apart from what’s out there. But some of the scenes portraying action are a bit rough, as it’s hard to discern what exactly is going on. The same goes for the characters.
The main cast (Keith and Raze) are often beautifully drawn. Both characters appear moody and tough. Some of the supporting characters look a bit underdeveloped though, often displaying expressions that seem comical (and not in a good way). I hate to say anything in a negative way, but that’s my feeling on the art. For the most part, it’s well done, certainly better than anything I could do. I particularly like many of the shots depicting the city-scapes as they give a good sense of grit and depth. The coloring is quite good, and in a few shots, I really loved the lighting with the colors, as it made the art just pop out.
From a narrative perspective, I felt things were fairly tight. We got a sense of who the hero was and a sense of motivation. It was a bit jarring hopping between past and present, but I understand the reasoning. There were enough crumbs to pique my interest as the protagonist and villain are both very unique. And as previously mentioned, the comic stands out with a character who has autism. Seeing Keith and the ridicule he endures by having a father with autism added a sense of realism that few comics have. I love the fantastic stories comics tell, but many are so fantastic that they divorce the reader from any kind of connection. Keith’s history has plenty of things many can identify with, and in my mind, that’s a good thing as it makes you identify with the character more.
All in all, Eclipse is a good read that’s worth your time. I’m interested in seeing where the story goes. I can’t think of a better compliment than that. 
This review was based off a copy of Eclipse # 1 provided by Trevor Talbott. You can check out more on Eclipse’s Official Facebook page.
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