Over the last half a dozen years or so, Image Comics has really upped their game by releasing ground-breaking comics in almost every genre imaginable.  So why not a comic that merges superheroes with that of the labour unions, and while at it, set it back in the early 1960’s of Chicago?  That is exactly what writer Kyle Higgins has done and it is a fascinating tale that looks at the subject from multiple angles.  There have been stories before that would feature heroes, like X-Factor, that have been either government sponsored or corporately owned, or even some like Stormwatch PHD or Absolution, that have found their heroes working with local law enforcement.  But to have a bunch of heroes come forward and strike a deal with the city to protect it from all that would do it harm in return for a fair wage, benefits and a budget is something entirely new.  It is surprising that no one has done this before and In C.O.W.L. which stands for the Chicago Organized Workers League, Kyle Higgins creates a very captivating tale.

The main viewpoint of the book comes from its heroes, but they are not exactly presented as just that.  Instead, they are seen as the working man, or woman, like almost every other person in the world and the book is instantly relatable because of it.  Some of the heroes in this book like their job and some do not, but at the end of the day they head home and live their regular lives the same as anyone else.  What they do might be dangerous at times and it might occasionally have some perks, but it really is just a job and these heroes want to be fairly compensated for it.  The book also gives us an opposing point of view from that of the city of Chicago who wants to save money like any good city does.  Higgins even gives us a look inside the negotiations between the two organizations and it is a very compelling read as the two argue their positions, one trying to gain a foothold over the other as they bargain for what they think is fair.  Everyone knows what it is like to be either employer or employee and the stresses that come with it and it is great to see that Higgins gives this story as much of an authentic atmosphere as possible.

The glue that makes this book what it is, that which ties everything up in the end, are the characters and Higgins has assembled a wonderful cast of young and old, heroic and flawed people to give this book the best possible voice.  The former Grey Raven, Geoffrey Warner is the head of C.O.W.L., the man that keeps everything in line no matter what he has to do.  In addition, there is Blaze, Radia, Arclight, Eclipse and even two members that have no powers whatsoever in John Pierce and Grant Marlowe.  Each character has a unique voice in the book and plays a pivotal part, and Higgins does such a great job of fleshing them out that it is hard to pick a favourite, though Radia might just eke everyone else out.  She does so not simply for the fact that she is the only woman on the team, but she is easily one of the most powerful and she has some really great scenes within the story.

Reading this book, you can tell that Higgins has assembled it with a lot of thought and care.  Aside from the usual superhero look and feel, setting it in the Chicago of the 1960s, it gives the book a bit of a pulp and noir infusion, one that reflects the grittiness and hardships of the city during that time period.  And while it might seem a little cliché, the associating of organized labour with organized crime feels natural here and a logical progression of the story. Helping Higgins accomplish the goal of creating this most excellent story is Rod Reis who has created some of the best interiors ever seen on a book.  His work is very sharp and really brings this world to life with strong, clean lines.  It is literally a book unlike no other and grabs you from the first page to the last.  To say that C.O.W.L. is a truly amazing book is practically doing it a disservice, but it is that and more and one that should be on everyone’s shelf.

5 out of 5