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The World of Black Hammer #3
The Quantum Age
Black Hammer creators Jeff Lemire (Essex County) and Wilfredo Torres (Legion) in illustrating and Dave Stewart (Hellboy) providing his colorist skills to the mix. Collects The Quantum Age #1-6.
In the world of the Eisner Award-winning Black Hammer series--but a thousand years in the future--a collection of superheroes, inspired by the legendary heroes of Black Hammer Farm, must band together to save the planet from an authoritarian regime. A young Martian must find a way to reform The Quantum League to save the world, while solving the riddle of what happened to the great heroes of the twentieth century.
In the world of the Eisner Award-winning Black Hammer series--but a thousand years in the future--a collection of superheroes, inspired by the legendary heroes of Black Hammer Farm, must band together to save the planet from an authoritarian regime. A young Martian must find a way to reform The Quantum League to save the world, while solving the riddle of what happened to the great heroes of the twentieth century.
Hardcover
First published April 23, 2019
9 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lemire
1,393 books3,872 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
March 8, 2021
In Lemire's desire to pay homage to all the comics of yesteryear, Lemire presents us with his version of the Legion of Super-Heroes. I like how he was able to make this a Legion story while still tying it well into the Black Hammer mythos. I do have to say I liked this much better upon a second read.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
July 21, 2019
“Whatever happened to the heroes of the 20th century?”
And, the spin-offs from Jeff Lemire’s Black hammer series just keep a’ comin,’ enough to male your head spin. Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows and Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil are two other recent volumes that are really terrific; you see the nature of the worlds from the titles, throwbacks to pulpy sci-fi superhero daze. When it is all done there will have been a small empire (think: double omnibus) including the base series and several sub-series, all done in different styles and tones and by different artists. The basic overall point, I take it, is a kind of homage to every obscure superhero comic Lemire has ever read (and mostly I have not, though I still get the point).
This one would seem to be focused on a version of The Legion of Superheroes. We are 1,000 years into the future, featuring all the characters from the original Black Hammer series. We need to save the world, and so on. The art of Wilfredo Torres is “younger” and less “experimental” than other artists’ work in the Black Hammer world, but in part thanks to Dave Stewarts’ lively coloring, it is lively and fun. A first volume, set-up for something to come. My least favorite one so far, but I love being in this BH multiverse, so I expect it will just get better. We’ll see.
And, the spin-offs from Jeff Lemire’s Black hammer series just keep a’ comin,’ enough to male your head spin. Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows and Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil are two other recent volumes that are really terrific; you see the nature of the worlds from the titles, throwbacks to pulpy sci-fi superhero daze. When it is all done there will have been a small empire (think: double omnibus) including the base series and several sub-series, all done in different styles and tones and by different artists. The basic overall point, I take it, is a kind of homage to every obscure superhero comic Lemire has ever read (and mostly I have not, though I still get the point).
This one would seem to be focused on a version of The Legion of Superheroes. We are 1,000 years into the future, featuring all the characters from the original Black Hammer series. We need to save the world, and so on. The art of Wilfredo Torres is “younger” and less “experimental” than other artists’ work in the Black Hammer world, but in part thanks to Dave Stewarts’ lively coloring, it is lively and fun. A first volume, set-up for something to come. My least favorite one so far, but I love being in this BH multiverse, so I expect it will just get better. We’ll see.
February 1, 2019
This was another good Black Hammer spin-off, although I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the others.
Part of the reason is probably that I felt it was fast-forwarding to the final chapter in the Black Hammer saga, rendering all future issues of the main book an exercise in filling in the blanks.
Perhaps I'm wrong, though; this could turn out to be a fake-out or a possible future, like the millions of possible futures in the X-Men books. I suppose we'll have to wait and see...
Part of the reason is probably that I felt it was fast-forwarding to the final chapter in the Black Hammer saga, rendering all future issues of the main book an exercise in filling in the blanks.
Perhaps I'm wrong, though; this could turn out to be a fake-out or a possible future, like the millions of possible futures in the X-Men books. I suppose we'll have to wait and see...
May 25, 2019
Twenty five years after the Quantum League disbanded, it's up to what's left of the League to set things right...
I'm a big fan of Black Hammer and the bronze age Legion of Super-Heroes so this was like Reese's Peanut Butter cups for me.
The Quantum Age is told in two threads: one in the past, during the final days of the Quantum League, and one 25 years later, when a Martian boy looks to what's left of the League for help in setting things right. Aspects of the Legion of Superheroes are woven into the Black Hammer's already impressive universe, making for an interesting final product.
Honestly, a part of the fun is matching the analog characters to their originals, like Furnace Lad: Sun Boy, and Archive: Braniac 5, for instance. It was also interesting learning the origin of Hammer Lass and seeing what happened to some Black Hammer characters after two centuries.
Learning the truth behind this universe's Time Trapper was a fantastic revelation.
The story itself is dark without being too dark. The Earth has been wiping out alien races with a former Leaguer at the helm. Barbali-teen rounds up what's left of the League to do what must be done.
It was a fun time seeing the Legion of Super Heroes through the Black Hammer lens. My only gripe with the Quantum Age is that this is only the first installment. Four out of five stars.
I'm a big fan of Black Hammer and the bronze age Legion of Super-Heroes so this was like Reese's Peanut Butter cups for me.
The Quantum Age is told in two threads: one in the past, during the final days of the Quantum League, and one 25 years later, when a Martian boy looks to what's left of the League for help in setting things right. Aspects of the Legion of Superheroes are woven into the Black Hammer's already impressive universe, making for an interesting final product.
Honestly, a part of the fun is matching the analog characters to their originals, like Furnace Lad: Sun Boy, and Archive: Braniac 5, for instance. It was also interesting learning the origin of Hammer Lass and seeing what happened to some Black Hammer characters after two centuries.
Learning the truth behind this universe's Time Trapper was a fantastic revelation.
The story itself is dark without being too dark. The Earth has been wiping out alien races with a former Leaguer at the helm. Barbali-teen rounds up what's left of the League to do what must be done.
It was a fun time seeing the Legion of Super Heroes through the Black Hammer lens. My only gripe with the Quantum Age is that this is only the first installment. Four out of five stars.
March 19, 2019
A third spin-off from the world of Black Hammer and so far the weakest one (but still pretty good).
After past (Doctor Star) and present (Sherlock Frankenstein) we are getting a Black Hammer story from a future. The story is set 1000 years after the events of the main series. The Earth is under the totalitarian regime of some dude, former member of The Quantum League (a superhero team). Shit is getting serious and young Martian is trying to change that and he believes that the key to the victory is connected to the heroes from "The Farm". He's trying to assemble what has left from The Quantum League (incl. Black Hammer's successor) and defeat the tyrant.
The story is still entertaining but none of those characters is really interesting and I didn't really care about them as I care about the heroes from The Farm. The art fits the setting in the distant future but not really my cup of tea.
If you are a huge BH enthusiast you will probably enjoy this one but I think it's safe to say that you can skip this one without missing anything important for the rest of the "Hammerverse".
After past (Doctor Star) and present (Sherlock Frankenstein) we are getting a Black Hammer story from a future. The story is set 1000 years after the events of the main series. The Earth is under the totalitarian regime of some dude, former member of The Quantum League (a superhero team). Shit is getting serious and young Martian is trying to change that and he believes that the key to the victory is connected to the heroes from "The Farm". He's trying to assemble what has left from The Quantum League (incl. Black Hammer's successor) and defeat the tyrant.
The story is still entertaining but none of those characters is really interesting and I didn't really care about them as I care about the heroes from The Farm. The art fits the setting in the distant future but not really my cup of tea.
If you are a huge BH enthusiast you will probably enjoy this one but I think it's safe to say that you can skip this one without missing anything important for the rest of the "Hammerverse".
September 21, 2019
I love the Black Hammer stories, and the oddball but recognizable superhero aesthetic. This story has that in spades, but it also has a somewhat confusing storyline, set many years after the events at the farm with the original group. This story picks up with a new group of superheroes in the Quantum Age, with a Black Hammer descendent, Hammer Lass, to keep us grounded, so to speak, in a new galaxy of many new superheroes, many of them alien.
The story then begins moving back and forth in time, within the Quantum Age, and we find out that things are not good, with a President actively tracking down and eliminating aliens everywhere.
I was a little confused, initially, as Lemieux gave us background on the present-day situation with frequent time jumps, but once that was established, the story finally began moving forward and the Quantum Age supes were able to begin tackling the problem. And I was thrilled to see the return of a particular character from the past.
This story didn’t work quite as well for me as the earlier time period Black Hammer stories, but I still liked it. I love the Black Hammer world and its goofiness, and hope to see more in this part of its time.
And a telepathic, alien armadillo named Erb—awesome!!
3.5 stars.
The story then begins moving back and forth in time, within the Quantum Age, and we find out that things are not good, with a President actively tracking down and eliminating aliens everywhere.
I was a little confused, initially, as Lemieux gave us background on the present-day situation with frequent time jumps, but once that was established, the story finally began moving forward and the Quantum Age supes were able to begin tackling the problem. And I was thrilled to see the return of a particular character from the past.
This story didn’t work quite as well for me as the earlier time period Black Hammer stories, but I still liked it. I love the Black Hammer world and its goofiness, and hope to see more in this part of its time.
And a telepathic, alien armadillo named Erb—awesome!!
3.5 stars.
July 10, 2019
Black Hammer has made it obvious that Jeff Lemire and I read a lot of same comic books growing up. This spin off is just a big homage to DC's Legion of Super-Heroes, throwing in the Brainiac/Supergirl romance, the Time Trapper, the alien telepath Tellus, and even Keith Giffen's Five Years Later storyline. I'm happy to wallow in the nostalgia, but once again I have to wonder what a young reader without a giant stack of old comic books in his basement gets out of this series?
Also, I can only feel there is a fundamental flaw in a franchise where there are as many spin-off volumes as there are volumes of the mother series.
Also, I can only feel there is a fundamental flaw in a franchise where there are as many spin-off volumes as there are volumes of the mother series.
June 13, 2019
Další díl do skládačky světa Černé palice.
A za sebe můžu říct, že mě to pořád baví. Příběh je tu posunutý hodně do budoucnosti, ale pořád se tu zvládá objevit návaznost na hlavní řadu. Sice si k novým postavám člověk na tak krátkém prostoru nevytvoří snad žádný vztah, ale přijde mi, že to Lemire správně vyvážil dávkováním starých známých a minimálně jeden posun mě hodně potěšil.
Kresba tu funguje skvěle, ale musím říct, že mi jednotliví kreslíři takhle vždycky s odstupem už začínají splývat a tak se těším na nějaký re-read, až to celé jednou skončí a na nějaké krásné porovnání.
Celkově je to zatím nejslabší z dosavadních jednorázovek a přijde mi, že jediný důvod tohle číst je v jedné z postav, ale začínám se bát, že jsem už beznadějně Lemirův fanboy, takže rozhodně zůstávám nad průměrem.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
- chcete další dávku ze světa Černé palice
- toužíte vědět, jak to dopadne s některými postavami o tisíc let později
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- jste nečetli ostatní díly z BH univerza
- až tak moc nemusíte doplňkové příběhy, které nepřináší moc nového/důležitého
A za sebe můžu říct, že mě to pořád baví. Příběh je tu posunutý hodně do budoucnosti, ale pořád se tu zvládá objevit návaznost na hlavní řadu. Sice si k novým postavám člověk na tak krátkém prostoru nevytvoří snad žádný vztah, ale přijde mi, že to Lemire správně vyvážil dávkováním starých známých a minimálně jeden posun mě hodně potěšil.
Kresba tu funguje skvěle, ale musím říct, že mi jednotliví kreslíři takhle vždycky s odstupem už začínají splývat a tak se těším na nějaký re-read, až to celé jednou skončí a na nějaké krásné porovnání.
Celkově je to zatím nejslabší z dosavadních jednorázovek a přijde mi, že jediný důvod tohle číst je v jedné z postav, ale začínám se bát, že jsem už beznadějně Lemirův fanboy, takže rozhodně zůstávám nad průměrem.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
- chcete další dávku ze světa Černé palice
- toužíte vědět, jak to dopadne s některými postavami o tisíc let později
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- jste nečetli ostatní díly z BH univerza
- až tak moc nemusíte doplňkové příběhy, které nepřináší moc nového/důležitého
May 27, 2020
(2,8 of 5 for yet another superhero boring universe)
The Black Hammer universe should be something bigger. It should be a new superhero universe, which takes inspiration, playful parallel and bit of mocking from the superhero genre. Pretty big shoes to fill and The Wold of Black Hammer is not particularly successful in filling them. There are better and worse tries, but Quantum Age is just... crap. It was annoyingly boring hotchpotch reading and the art wasn't helpful a bit. I just wanted to be done with this book and with two more books to go I strongly feel this is the inglorious end of the BHU for me. So far the Doctor Star, Sherlock Frankenstein and ones hot of Cthou-Loise were only enjoyable things. But the rest stumbles and this book was stumbling with fall right to the face.
The Black Hammer universe should be something bigger. It should be a new superhero universe, which takes inspiration, playful parallel and bit of mocking from the superhero genre. Pretty big shoes to fill and The Wold of Black Hammer is not particularly successful in filling them. There are better and worse tries, but Quantum Age is just... crap. It was annoyingly boring hotchpotch reading and the art wasn't helpful a bit. I just wanted to be done with this book and with two more books to go I strongly feel this is the inglorious end of the BHU for me. So far the Doctor Star, Sherlock Frankenstein and ones hot of Cthou-Loise were only enjoyable things. But the rest stumbles and this book was stumbling with fall right to the face.
May 14, 2019
For some reason these black hammer titles have quickly become one of my faves. Defs a fanboy.
November 28, 2019
Awesome! A great comic in the Black Hammer universe. We go through a couple of time period here but all is well place and it also have great «punch» that we don't see coming and good «apparition» from our favorite heroes!
June 9, 2019
As with all the Black Hammer comics, this one is an homage. To be precise, it's an homage to the Legion of Super-Heroes that offers a fun variant of the classic team.
However, like the best Black Hammer comics, this one takes its premise and twists it. To start with, we have a five-years-later (actually: twenty-five-years-later) scenario where everything has gone bad and the universe has gotten very dark. Then, we get some very unexpected connections to the regular Black Hammer comic that may reveal how things go down the line, but if so do it in quite murky ways
Overall, a fun comic that takes a look at Black Hammer from a very different direction.
However, like the best Black Hammer comics, this one takes its premise and twists it. To start with, we have a five-years-later (actually: twenty-five-years-later) scenario where everything has gone bad and the universe has gotten very dark. Then, we get some very unexpected connections to the regular Black Hammer comic that may reveal how things go down the line, but if so do it in quite murky ways
Overall, a fun comic that takes a look at Black Hammer from a very different direction.
August 23, 2019
Well, I wasn't expecting this sort of step-down, but I guess all good series have their clunkers.
I felt none of the character, wit, heart or ennui of the other BH series here. The characters were dull, the dialogue was super-explanatory and the art is entirely unremarkable - like a children's Marvel series, but without the action and movement.
The aspect of BH I've loved is the mix of knowing homages to pulp/classic comic tropes combined with great character work and sadness. There's none of that depth here.
Very disappointing.
I felt none of the character, wit, heart or ennui of the other BH series here. The characters were dull, the dialogue was super-explanatory and the art is entirely unremarkable - like a children's Marvel series, but without the action and movement.
The aspect of BH I've loved is the mix of knowing homages to pulp/classic comic tropes combined with great character work and sadness. There's none of that depth here.
Very disappointing.
April 24, 2019
Wow! This book only has a 3.73 rating. Let me tell you something, if you’ve been reading black hammer and doctor star and Cthu-Louise and Sherlock Frankenstein, then you will absolutely love this book. In fact it will make all the other stories even better. Jeff Lemire is the most talented writer in comic books today and this is his best work. Highly recommend this! 5 stars.
November 8, 2019
No... tak tohle je pořádná sračka.
February 26, 2021
Сьогодні хочу розповісти вам про ще один мальопис із всесвіту «Чорного Молота», а саме «Квантовий вік» («The Quantum Age»), де сценаристом є Джефф Лемір, а художником — Вілфред Торрес.
Якщо коротко, то це такий собі «Future State» у всевіті «ЧМ», де розповідається про майбутніх супергероїв, деякі з яких є реіркарнаціями оригінальних, а інші взагалі нові.
Події відбуваються через тисячу років у майбутньому, група супергероїв, натхненних легендарними героями ферми «Чорний молот» об'єднуються, щоб врятувати планету від авторитарного режиму. Молодий марсіанин повинен знайти спосіб реформувати Квантову лігу, щоб врятувати світ, одночасно розгадуючи загадку того, що сталося з великими героями ХХ століття.
Дуже сумнівний комікс, який ще й применшується через малюнок. Якщо ми говоримо про гіпотетичне розширення всесвіту, то не знаю чи справді нам потрібно знати про якісь там події за 1000 років. І сюжет такий собі вийшов у Леміра.
Якщо коротко, то це такий собі «Future State» у всевіті «ЧМ», де розповідається про майбутніх супергероїв, деякі з яких є реіркарнаціями оригінальних, а інші взагалі нові.
Події відбуваються через тисячу років у майбутньому, група супергероїв, натхненних легендарними героями ферми «Чорний молот» об'єднуються, щоб врятувати планету від авторитарного режиму. Молодий марсіанин повинен знайти спосіб реформувати Квантову лігу, щоб врятувати світ, одночасно розгадуючи загадку того, що сталося з великими героями ХХ століття.
Дуже сумнівний комікс, який ще й применшується через малюнок. Якщо ми говоримо про гіпотетичне розширення всесвіту, то не знаю чи справді нам потрібно знати про якісь там події за 1000 років. І сюжет такий собі вийшов у Леміра.
July 10, 2019
I'm not entirely sure what to make of this series. I'm a big fan of the main series, and have liked the spin-offs, each of which works to bolster the main series or at least tells an interesting side story. Quantum Age is basically a lot of set-up for a possible second volume, and I'm not sure it actually adds all that much. Guess I'll have to wait and see.
(Read as 6 single issues.)
(Read as 6 single issues.)
February 13, 2019
While not quite as engaging as the main Black Hammer series, this provides a nice insight into the Black Hammer universe. Although set in the future of Black Hammer, it ties directly into the Black Hammer continuity, with several Black Hammer characters referenced. The Quantum League is essentially DC's Legion of Super-Heroes in all but name, and the villain they face is truly unstoppable, making for an exciting conflict. There are some nice twists along the way, and I suspect even though it might seem that the events here could overshadow the events of the main series, I think Lemire is a good enough writer to ensure that there will be plenty more surprises to come. This volume ends somewhat abruptly, so I hope a second volume is not too long in arriving. The artwork by Wilfredo Torres is good, if a bit cartoony.
I read this as individual comic book issues.
I read this as individual comic book issues.
February 27, 2019
"Hello my friends...it is time to save the Universe."
So this is a spin-off of Black Hammer, and with it happening 1,000 years in the future I really did not expect it to have any real connections to the main comic, just the odd Easter egg. How wrong was I?! With the Black Hammer comic still ongoing, I wonder where they will connect, if what happens in that effects this, it could go anywhere but I am loving it. The artist is different, its OK, reminds me of Saga (another comic, great, give it ago), but the art in the main comic suits this comic wonderfully. Lemire really is buildings a captivating universe here...4 🌟
So this is a spin-off of Black Hammer, and with it happening 1,000 years in the future I really did not expect it to have any real connections to the main comic, just the odd Easter egg. How wrong was I?! With the Black Hammer comic still ongoing, I wonder where they will connect, if what happens in that effects this, it could go anywhere but I am loving it. The artist is different, its OK, reminds me of Saga (another comic, great, give it ago), but the art in the main comic suits this comic wonderfully. Lemire really is buildings a captivating universe here...4 🌟
May 27, 2019
4.5🌟
The Quantum Age is a meaty series opener that looks like it will be riding shotgun for the main Black Hammer books. Lemire lays the foundations in this volume. I was a little caught off guard since I was thinking this was only a mini series or a spin off. Boy was I wrong the plot is woven seamlessly through future, and heroes of yesterday. Lemire is absolutely brilliant. I feel very rewarded after wading through 6+ volumes of Black Hammer universe. Their is a big time pay off with this series IMO.
Quantum Age is chronicled by a cyborg appropriately named archive. Told through dual timelines that are set 100, and 125 years in the future to the current BH title.The original heroes of Spiral city have inspired Archive and his team to found a 22nd century version named the Quantum League made up of super powered teenagers. It turns out they experience a cataclysm similar to that of their predecessors, and the story bounces back and forth from dealing with the power shift in spiral city.
We get a whole new host of characters to explore. Don't worry some familiar faces pop up also, and some are like reincarnations of the original BH cast.Lemire doesn't shy away from getting in their heads, and getting down to business with the tragic backstorys. Just another layer on the onion right. I personally like Hammer Lass, Barbaliteen, Modula who is kinda like a female professor X, and Erb who is some sort of floating space Armadillo. Obviously Erb is my favourite new character.
The art is good, but not exactly eye popping. It has a 'Saga' like colour palette. I'd say the main title has a one up on Quantum Age on the artists end.
Recommended for Black Hammer junkies and fans of futuristic capes, and mystery yarns.
The Quantum Age is a meaty series opener that looks like it will be riding shotgun for the main Black Hammer books. Lemire lays the foundations in this volume. I was a little caught off guard since I was thinking this was only a mini series or a spin off. Boy was I wrong the plot is woven seamlessly through future, and heroes of yesterday. Lemire is absolutely brilliant. I feel very rewarded after wading through 6+ volumes of Black Hammer universe. Their is a big time pay off with this series IMO.
Quantum Age is chronicled by a cyborg appropriately named archive. Told through dual timelines that are set 100, and 125 years in the future to the current BH title.The original heroes of Spiral city have inspired Archive and his team to found a 22nd century version named the Quantum League made up of super powered teenagers. It turns out they experience a cataclysm similar to that of their predecessors, and the story bounces back and forth from dealing with the power shift in spiral city.
We get a whole new host of characters to explore. Don't worry some familiar faces pop up also, and some are like reincarnations of the original BH cast.Lemire doesn't shy away from getting in their heads, and getting down to business with the tragic backstorys. Just another layer on the onion right. I personally like Hammer Lass, Barbaliteen, Modula who is kinda like a female professor X, and Erb who is some sort of floating space Armadillo. Obviously Erb is my favourite new character.
The art is good, but not exactly eye popping. It has a 'Saga' like colour palette. I'd say the main title has a one up on Quantum Age on the artists end.
Recommended for Black Hammer junkies and fans of futuristic capes, and mystery yarns.
August 9, 2019
The world of Black Hammer expands yet again with a new set of heroes fighting evil 100+ years after the time of the main Black Hammer series. So, this makes three spin-offs for...three actual volumes of Black Hammer. Hmm. Odd ratio.
I can't complain, though, when the quality is so consistent. Jeff Lemire tells a lean, exciting story in The Quantum Age. The galaxy is under the control of a cruel, despotic president, and the only way to stop him is to get the old Quantum League back together. Cliche, sure, but well done cliche. There are more callbacks to the main Black Hammer series than in other spin-offs, making The Quantum Age essentially a continuation of the main series. It both solves some riddles and adds new ones to the mythos. Wilfredo Torres' art is easy on the eyes, although nothing to really write home about. Overall: quality read. Keep the Black Hammer coming, in whatever form it takes.
I can't complain, though, when the quality is so consistent. Jeff Lemire tells a lean, exciting story in The Quantum Age. The galaxy is under the control of a cruel, despotic president, and the only way to stop him is to get the old Quantum League back together. Cliche, sure, but well done cliche. There are more callbacks to the main Black Hammer series than in other spin-offs, making The Quantum Age essentially a continuation of the main series. It both solves some riddles and adds new ones to the mythos. Wilfredo Torres' art is easy on the eyes, although nothing to really write home about. Overall: quality read. Keep the Black Hammer coming, in whatever form it takes.
July 11, 2019
While continuing to expand the world of Black Hammer into a distinctly expansive and impressive universe, this is admittedly not the strongest spin-off to come from the Black Hammer storyline. But while the first half of this volume is a little slow and more traditional it its storytelling, the second half delivers some dramatic twists and continues to point toward a strong future for this series.
And when I say "not the strongest"--The Quantum Age still showcases Lemire's abilities as a character-driven writer who also tells a great story--and showcases bold art from Torres and the rest of the creative team.
And when I say "not the strongest"--The Quantum Age still showcases Lemire's abilities as a character-driven writer who also tells a great story--and showcases bold art from Torres and the rest of the creative team.
May 21, 2019
Not quite as essential as some of the other Black Hammer spinoff books, this one was interesting, but I really had to work to stick with it. Very easy to put down and not come back to for another week or so. So much of Black Hammer has just been pastiche, pastiche, pastiche and this is more of the same (although I do have to admit that things really came together with a bang in the most recent arc of the main series). The artwork is good but doesn't really grab me.
October 24, 2021
This book is on the line between homage and plagiarism. Lemire's ode to the Legion of Super Heroes hews way too close to the original series, even down to some of the powers and leaders, and ultimately it doesn't seem to add much to either the Black Hammer universe or conversation about the original Legion. Super Hero teens of the future wonder about their past, and characters manage to travel back and forth. It's been less than two weeks since I read it and it's almost completely slipped from my mind. Of all the Black Hammer expansions I've read, this is the one I would least recommend.
August 14, 2019
Jeff Lemire carries his Black Hammer band of strange super-heroes into the future successfully with this book. There is a brief happy time with a quick look-alike of the Legion of Super-Heroes, easily the longest-running super team set in a future world. That bright world DC dropped on the super-hero future is invoked only for a short time, and then it all falls apart as it often does in the Black Hammer universe. The story then takes a cosmic turn. Colonel Weird accompanied by Madame Butterfly (both original Black Hammer folks) lead the way with an unexpected plunge into the far future. The lively, cosmic story line will leave you waiting for the next events, as most lack Hammer books do. (I see Black Hammer also has a crossover with Justice League of America, but haven't had a chance to read it yet.)
February 23, 2020
Slow start good finish
March 3, 2020
As a big fan of Lemire this was the weakest link in his chain of comics. I think there were really no need for this book in Black Hammer serie. So sad - so disappointed.
February 21, 2021
I love this universe so much more than Marvel.
March 21, 2021
Not the best Black Hammer story, but still a nice read. 3.5 rounded down.
May 7, 2019
This was fairly disappointing for me, somewhere between 2 and 3 stars. I enjoy Black Hammer a lot, but this spin-off mini-series didn't do it for me.
The Legion of Superheroes premise where you leap far into the future is okay, but I don't feel like we've had enough time with the regular Black Hammer characters to get the satisfaction of seeing their future iterations. I'd have preferred a backwards looking series focused on old adventures for the heroes of Black Hammer. When you do start to buy in a little to the new characters, Lemire brings in several characters we've seen before and it really stalls the momentum.
Then we've got some time travel, dimension hopping, and so on until we reach a conclusion I ultimately found to be pretty unsatisfying. I think I'd have enjoyed this more if it had come after we'd seen a lot more Black Hammer proper. But it's still kind of fun.
The art is good here. Torres and Stewart make a good match and out together a feel very similar to Black Hammer. It's visually pleasing even if the story is sometimes lacking.
If the Black Hammer spin-offs, this has been my least favorite so far. It seems like Lemire might be getting a bit ambitious with the sheer amount of content coming out of this universe so soon after its creation, but you can't really fault a creator too much for trying to take something good and make more of it.
The Legion of Superheroes premise where you leap far into the future is okay, but I don't feel like we've had enough time with the regular Black Hammer characters to get the satisfaction of seeing their future iterations. I'd have preferred a backwards looking series focused on old adventures for the heroes of Black Hammer. When you do start to buy in a little to the new characters, Lemire brings in several characters we've seen before and it really stalls the momentum.
Then we've got some time travel, dimension hopping, and so on until we reach a conclusion I ultimately found to be pretty unsatisfying. I think I'd have enjoyed this more if it had come after we'd seen a lot more Black Hammer proper. But it's still kind of fun.
The art is good here. Torres and Stewart make a good match and out together a feel very similar to Black Hammer. It's visually pleasing even if the story is sometimes lacking.
If the Black Hammer spin-offs, this has been my least favorite so far. It seems like Lemire might be getting a bit ambitious with the sheer amount of content coming out of this universe so soon after its creation, but you can't really fault a creator too much for trying to take something good and make more of it.
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