Anyone care to enlighten me?

As a story teller myself, I found the book a goofy satire on the superhero genre, that also demands that I take it seriously at the same time. Which doesn’t work. It has a trite backstory and no real character development so I don’t care about anyone as I read or feel any real connection. The idea that superheroes have daddy issues could prove interesting, but never really goes anywhere until the anti-climactic ending. It’s ending is Deus Ex Machina at its worst when it comes to amateur story telling. A terrible No No in the writing world.

So as just another take on a super heroes saving the world, I don’t see any real characters or story elements to hold on to here. All I see is solid art, solid editing. Nice covers and great product marketing. None of which make up for what counts: The Story.

So I read reviews of this book and all I can find from everyone is: “Well, other famous people who’ve made comics made vanity pieces but Way doesn’t do this – which is refreshing!” So I’m to like a book because it isn’t a vanity piece like other ones were? Hm. The book seems to scream “I’m hipper than any other comic out there.” the entire time without actually telling much of a story. To me that is a vanity piece – when the author is writing loose, wank off action scenes with little other core story elements involved. Even Japanese action comics for kids have more character development and story happening.

Now, I’ve tried to meditate on the idea that I simply don’t get it. I’m not hip. I don’t see how amazing and genius this story and its characters are. I don’t see the sharp writing that gave this a best new ongoing series Eisner Award. So I’ve read it a few times now. I still feel it is an annoying read. Jarring all the way up to the Deus Ex Machina ending and cheesy wrap up. For me, this book is overrated and somehow got put on the “cool” list because of the situation surrounding the books creator rather than true story telling merit. It was a way to once again draw attention to comics by potential new readers. It was a way to sell books and cute pins with Umbrellas on them. Or should I say that it’s not that and that the comics industry is so starved for original content that something different but poorly conjured like Umbrella Academy really does seem like an award winner to them?

Either way, I’ve been looking for a good explanation of why this story and the characters resonate with people and I have yet to find a reason why.

i mean i love me some my chem, but c’mon.