Genius
Written by Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman
Drawn by Afua Richardson
Top Cow Productions
Cover price: $3.99; Available Now

The latest edition into the Top Cow pilot program, Genius, answers the question of what would happen if the mind of Genghis Khan was placed into the body of a teenage gangbanger. Seventeen-year-old prodigy Destiny was born on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Able to anticipate the moves of any individual before they make it, she does what any person would do with these abilities: declare war on the LAPD. Uniting the local gang members in the neighborhood, Destiny creates an army in an effort to take back her streets and possibly even Los Angeles itself.

The writing team of Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman fires on all cylinders with a kinetic, action-packed story that will definitely draw you in. Bernardin and Freeman let loose in this very mature Top Cow book and the end result is blood, explosions, and swear words. But don’t think that the violence is the only thing this book has to offer. The book is mired in shades of gray, provided mostly by the main character. Destiny is clearly a woman on a mission to clean up her streets by any means necessary. Whether the police are the problem of the neighborhood or Destiny is the solution remains to be seen and should definitely be explored, provided the series returns as a monthly book.

The book also takes out some time to analyze the situation from the LAPD’s point of view. Detective Grey seems to be the only one on the force who is aware of the slow ascension of Destiny and her army and he could be the key to stopping her. That is, if the police would take him seriously. I like how the scenes with the LAPD are utilized in moving the story along. It shows that the LAPD are not just a faceless enemy and also provides the book with much needed breathers in between all those action scenes.

Special close attention needs to be paid to artist Afua Richardson. This artist provides some seriously butt kicking artwork. It is hard to believe she taught herself how to draw. I would love to see her artwork in more comics in the future.

I highly recommend Genius to anyone who is willingly to give a great comic a chance. The writing is fantastic and the art is simply amazing. You will not be disappointed.