INITIALLY, CONVERSATION AROUND Gerard Way’s The
Umbrella Academy centered on what business the frontman of My
Chemical Romance had writing comic books in the first place—but
the series’ first six-issue run, Apocalypse Suite, quickly won
praise even outside of Way’s guylinered fanbase. Joining the ranks of
Dark Horse properties now represented at Hot Topic, Way’s series
introduced the seven children collectively known as the Umbrella
Academy, whose unique powers and conflicted relationships marked them
as the next generation of superheroes.
But where many comics fans praised the energy and creativity Way
brought to an often torporific genre, Apocalypse Suite was, if
anything, too creative—the comics were confusing, with
characters and ideas crowding for space. The series was distinguished
primarily by its stunning artwork, courtesy of Gabriel Bá and
colorist Dave Stewart.
The second story arc, Dallas, collected in a trade paperback
just released by Dark Horse, is a significantly more polished offering.
Set some time after Apocalypse Suite, the Umbrella Academy’s
ranks have been thinned, their alliances thrown into question. Most
importantly, though, Way’s central conceit has been clarified: While
not all of the characters participate in Dallas‘ time-travelin’,
JFK-assassination-thwarting adventure, those that do are more fully
realized. As a standalone story Dallas might seem
slight—but as an episode in the development of an ongoing
mythology, it promises richer things to come.