High 10 (1999–2001)
Much more than Swamp Factor, probably the most stunning comedian run talked about in Gunn’s early batch of really helpful DC works is High 10, by Alan Moore and artists Gene Ha and Zander Cannon. Unsurprisingly, given Moore’s involvement, High 10 is a superhero deconstruction. Nonetheless, not like his most well-known works, there’s an optimism and playfulness to Moore’s strategy, which reveals a love for the style.
High 10 takes place in a megacity the place everybody—males, ladies, youngsters, pets, and the whole lot in between—has superpowers and wears loopy costumes. The collection focuses on the law enforcement officials who patrol this metropolis, marrying the banal realism of an Ed McBain novel to capes and cowls. As an imprint finished for WildStorm Comics earlier than DC acquired the latter (a lot to Moore’s chagrin), High 10 exists exterior of mainline continuity, so it’s onerous to see how precisely Gunn would use the fabric for the DCU.
The Authority (1999–2002)
Like High 10, The Authority was a WildStorm e book disconnected from the DC Universe, and it’s straightforward to see why. Created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, The Authority is a realpolitik tackle the Justice League. The place Superman and Batman attempt to encourage folks to be higher and reply to villain threats, Midnighter, Apollo, and their different ultra-powerful heroes take it upon themselves to construct a greater world.
The mixture of huge display visuals and amorality made The Authority electrical in its authentic run, and it solely grew extra related within the years of America’s Battle on Terror. But, the collection’ tendency to be mean-spirited, particularly when author Mark Millar took over with artist Frank Quitely, has not aged nicely. That stated, The Authority has discovered new life after being built-in into mainline DC, and Gunn has cited an adaptation as one of many first issues he desires to sort out in his DCU.
DC: The New Frontier (2004)
As with most of the books on this listing, DC: The New Frontier will possible by no means be instantly tailored, nevertheless it does inform Gunn’s strategy to the characters. Written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke, New Frontier retells the daybreak of the Silver Age as a single, coherent story. Whereas all the Silver Age heroes make appearances, it focuses totally on Inexperienced Lantern Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter, and Superman.
By means of these characters, Cooke approaches real-world issues like PTSD from the Korean Battle, McCarthyism, and increasing American interventions in international international locations. However Cooke’s retrofuturist stylings retain an optimistic gleam, particularly because the heroes come collectively to kind the Justice League. New Frontier’s mixture of unhappiness and hope completely captures James Gunn’s view on superheroes.
