Kyle Higgins NO/ONE Brings Grit and Political Drama to Massive-Verse

By: Mithrandiel

Mr. Higgins has had a very busy couple of years.

If you haven’t been keeping an eye on Image comics lately (and really, you should always be keeping an eye on them) - since the launch of Radiant Black in February of 2021, the acclaimed writer who made a mark on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers has built out an entirely new universe of superheroes known as the Massive-verse.

With the help of a diverse and equally talented roster of writers, including Ryan Parrott, Mat Groom, Cherish Chen, Melissa Flores, Meghan Camarena, and now Brian Buccellato, the Massive-verse has expanded across 5 additional comics (as well as two issues of the Supermassive one shot series), with the upcoming publication of NO/ONE being the sixth.

With each new series, a new hero is introduced, with plot-threads that tie into one or more of the other heroes to help make the shared universe feel that much bigger. From Inferno Girl Red to Rogue Sun, Dead Lucky and more, these characters have impressively detailed motivations, with struggles and challenges that will likely be all too familiar to the reader.

While previous stories within the Massive-Verse did not shy away from political commentary, Higgins and Buccellato’s latest work leans into a more politically nuanced and motivated hero: Richard Roe.

After killing two people and attempting to assassinate a Senator in a series of attacks known as the “Accountability Murders”, Richard Roe has started a movement. Now, copycat attacks are springing up and the police are scrambling to stay ahead of the threat.

Further complicating things is the fact that Richard Roe is the son of one of the city’s two police chiefs: Ben Kern.

When a former target of the “Accountability Murders” turns up dead, and an intimidating note is left behind, pressure mounts on Chief Kern to retire as media outlets, the police, and the social elite all engage in a game of political chess.

Higgins shared in a recent newsletter where this inspiration came from:

“This series is BATMAN meets ANONYMOUS. A gritty noir superhero series perfect for the true crime junkie set in the world outside your window, centered on a digital hacktivist turned vigilante who incites a dangerous accountability killing movement in Pittsburgh. Brian Buccellato, Geraldo Borges and I all met during our time in the Bat office— Geraldo and I first worked together on Nightwing— and it was our shared love of Batman, crime fiction, and both political and cinematic thrillers that drew all of us to work together then, and to reunite now. We have a great team working with us across so many different mediums, including former Chicago Tribune and CNN crime reporter, Peter Nickeas, as our creative consultant.”

It’s not terribly surprising: the architecture, dialogue, even the character designs all echo of a proper Batman narrative.

Yes - NO/ONE is very reminiscent of a certain Caped Crusader, and that’s the reason it’s such an exciting addition to the broader Massive-Verse. There’s no exposition on NO/ONE’s power set in this opening issue. No stumbling upon a suit or awakening powers at a convenient moment. The suspense and mystery of the ongoing murders is only heightened in the closing pages, and it leaves the reader wondering where this new hero fits into the rest of the Massive-Verse team.

One thing is for sure - you’ll likely find yourself reflecting on our own world - where accountability for the social elite seems like fiction. Higgins offers an opportunity to look in the mirror, even if we don’t like what we see.

In short - I’m certainly intrigued by this opening issue, which offers up an impressive foundation for the story to come. I’m interested to see how Richard Roe/NO/ONE is introduced to the other Massive-Verse heroes.

Keep an eye out for this one at your local comic shop and add it to your pull, pronto!