Chances are, if you’re reading this, you didn’t pick it up.  You might think of Prometheus as a bit of a joke or maybe even as a character with a good start but failed in later appearances.  You might not think of Prometheus at all.  Nevertheless, as Faces of Evil: Prometheus came out this week, you probably didn’t pick it up.  Mostly on a whim, I did, expecting to be disappointed.  So, I read it and I now tell you what I feel.

Go.  Go and pick up this now.

For a bit of context you’ll need, Prometheus was a villain created by Grant Morrison to be the “anti-Batman.”  He fought the JLA (like the 20-member strong one) and nearly defeated them.  Then, he joined Luthor’s Injustice Gang, attack the League and Batman unloaded a virus that gave him the biological blueprints of ALS (the illness Hawking has) into Prometheus’ helmet.  So if you’re wondering why Batman keeps yelling “Professor Stephen Hawking!” in the beginning, that’s why. 

The character later resurfaced though with decreasing threat level, easily beaten by the likes of Green Arrow and the Huntress.  So, how did this massively powerful villain become such a joke?  This issue explains it pretty well.  Here, Prometheus is back in his full, monstrous glory.  His methods are savage and precise.  He’s back on top of the world and ready for the next step.  If this is what Sterling Gates does, I must have to actually read Supergirl now.

Now, the art?  The art is GORGEOUS.  It’s detail and composition is just stellar beyond anything I could have expected  Look at that “Hotel Deacon” shot.  Just look at it.  It’s awesome.  Those faces he gives Prometheus when he screams are just great.  I don’t know who this Federico Dallochio is, but he needs more freakin’work, stat.

This was just an incredible book that was unexpectedly really well done.  This was nearly my pick of the week but a certain major event’s got get my pick.  Nevertheless, this was just an intensely phenomenal issue.  If you were a fan of the Grant Morrison era JLA or enjoy a good villain story or want to see what this artist does, pick this up now.