COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Multiversity: The Guidebook #1 – Looking into the Abyss

OH MY GOODNESS!!! Grant Morrison did the impossible feat once again! In Multiversity: The Guidebook #1, he literally put this reader off-balanced on another thought-provoking issue of methodologically precise off-putting meta-narrative way of storytelling to stir his readers to complete amazement (or infuriation, if you really love-to-hate-to-love the Rock God of Comics).

I virtually expected a complete guide-book—maps and extensive profiles. But, instead he weaved a story within stories of multiple proportions! Two (actual) Batmen met unexpectedly and trying to make sense what’s happening; while Kamandi and others traveled to unknown territories to unearth the mystery of the chaotic order of MULTIVERSITY! True to Morrison-esque fashion, it began with a mystery and ended up with a chilling cliffhanging moment that greatly reminiscence on his mind-shattering sensing experiences that I felt years before from Grant’s equally hate-to-love-to-hate mega-event THE FINAL CRISIS!

So good his non-sequential, fourth-wall breaking barriers that he inserted the meat of the issue—the all-encompassing 52 Multiversity map! Drawn by each of DC’s resident artists around, true DC fans would surely find this guidebook a perfect way to know/grasp/comprehend/whet the superhero diversity of the majority of the DC Universes presented. Aside from one or two comic supreme scribes I know, only Morrison can pull this off without the hitch, and seriously, he’s the TRUE COMICS SHAMAN!

My only gripes on this stunning virtual standalone, non-sequential but equally essential connective chapter are the obvious complexities neophyte and average comic superhero readers must confront in reading Morrison (You are being warned in the beginning! Grant’s foreshadowing, not mine!). Second, sometimes, the various artists’ interpretations on several universes did not mesh well with Grant’s grandeur vision, particularly on, well, the like of Dan Jurgens’ art. And, seven unknown universes or Earths that remained to be explored… Oh, the suspense?! Could these mysterious dimensions be where Wildstorm and other Vertigo universes (and even The Watchmen???) fitted? Only Grant Morrison can answer that one!

Therefore, Multiversity: The Guidebook #1 is the beginners’ and/or continuation/read-alone issue of Morrison’s POV of his DC Multiversity. Beautifully crafted and enjoyably fun to be tempted to delve to the High Shaman’s remaining chapters of his (last?) superhero epic MULTIVERSITY!