By Trey Nevard |Contributor
“Heroes in Crisis” is the latest Detective Comics (DC) event miniseries, though saying it is similar to others feels like an insult to what this book is trying to accomplish.The “Crisis” title has been utilized by DC multiple times throughout the years, originally being used to describe multiverse crossovers between the Justice League and other DC teams (Justice Society, Freedom Fighters, etc.). DC’s 1986-87 miniseries, “Crisis on Infinite Earths” was the first miniseries that DC used the title for; since then DC has primarily used it for events like “Infinite Crisis” and “Final Crisis”, most of which incorporate the multiverse as a plot point.“Heroes in Crisis,” on the other hand, does not do this. Instead, writer Tom King (“Batman,” “Mr. Miracle”) and artist Clay Mann (“Magneto: Not a Hero,” “Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death”) craft a much more personal story, focusing on the heroes of the DC Universe from a different, almost intrusive angle. “Heroes in Crisis” is not about saving the multiverse, but rather suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.The book is set at Sanctuary, a crisis center for superheroes. Set up in the outskirts of Nebraska by Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, Sanctuary is only available to (and known by) members of the superhero community. Members of the superhero community range from members of the Justice League and Teen Titans to no-name C-listers like Bluejay and Citizen Steel. Sanctuary is meant to give refuge to and support (both physically and psychologically) superheroes who have been through or are going through trauma, something that happens often in their line of work.The first issue has Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman responding to recent reports of a mass shooting at Sanctuary. Superman is first on the scene and serves as our POV as we see over a dozen dead bodies. All of the bodies belong to superheroes and six of are identified in the book (no spoilers).While this is happening, reformed-villainess Harley Quinn and glory-hound Booster Gold are fighting at a local diner, with Harley trying to kill Booster. At the end of the fight, we are given conflicting explanations of the fight: Booster says that he saw Harley kill the superheroes, but Harley says that she saw Booster kill them.The book does a marvelous job at showing the traumatic appearance of a crime scene like this. Once Superman appears over Sanctuary, we see the bodies scattered across the field of a barn via a bird’s-eye view, as well as a look through Superman’s telescopic vision to help us I.D. some of the superheroes. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman do not have huge emotional reactions at this point, but there is an intense, underlying feeling that they will have one soon.As the investigation and Booster and Harley’s fight both continue, the book shows us five different interviews, each one a single page long and with nine panels. The first and last interviews are of the suspects, Booster and Harley, while the three in the middle are done by various heroes that had just been confirmed dead. Each of those three interviews establish why they were at Sanctuary. Harley’s and Booster’s are more ambiguous, showing that Harley is dealing with trauma and that Booster needs some help.This issue is completely solid, though slightly underwhelming in terms of clues. It mainly serves to set the tone for the rest of the series. It also serves the purpose of creating the tension between Booster and Harley, both of whom will be launching their own investigation of the murders. There are very few answers about what Sanctuary is like outside of interviews with King online, though that information will more than likely arrive as the series continues.If an issue is going to be used exclusively for setting the tone for the rest of the series, then that tone should be very intense. This issue’s tone does exactly that. The setup for this mystery is unlike most DC “Crisis” books, with the only one remotely close to it. However, unlike “Identity Crisis,” “Heroes in Crisis” is not about love interests and family members; it is about the heroes themselves.I give “Heroes in Crisis #1” a 9/10.“Heroes in Crisis” is available at 2nd& Charles, Top Dawn Pawn, and the Augusta Book Exchange. Issue #2 will be out in late October.