Solar Man of the Atom #12: Solar Must Die!

 

Continuing my Unity read-through...

In Magnus Robot Fighter #15, we saw how Erica Pierce organized the cult of the Mothergod, and transported an entire city from 4001 A.D. to her pocket of reality that exists out of normal time and space. Finally, in Solar, Man of the Atom #12, we finally learn why she did this.

This issue returns us to the beginning. We see Solar and the young geomancer Geoff investigating the death of Erica Pierce. This time, we also witness events from the perspective of Erica Pierce, and her son Albert.

Erica and Albert enjoy one of the longest mother-and-son relationships ever. Theirs is also a complicated one, given that Erica has used the power she gained (through Solar's earlier actions) to retard her aging. She also halts young Albert's aging process, only gradually relaxing her hold on him, to allow him to age extremely slowly. 

This issue also portrays Shadowman's attempt to protect the Mothergod from what he sees as Solar's attack, and what takes place afterward. While Shadowman #4 cast his future in doubt, Solar, Man of the Atom #12 practically seals his doom. He must die, as only Solar can endanger everything Erica has built over the last two thousand years.

In Archer & Armstrong #1, Albert agreed to help Armstrong free Archer, but only if Archer killed his mother. In this issue, we learn why the "young man" would want to do that. If, like me, you found Albert's behavior mystifying up to now, Solar, Man of the Atom #12 helps you feel for this seemingly spoiled brat.

Solar, Man of the Atom #12 reveals Jim Shooter's grand design for his Unity series. It's so densely written it'd take four or five contemporary comics to give you anywhere near as much story. More than once, I had to flip back to the first page, and recheck that it was Don Perlin and Stan Drake that provided the art, instead of the incomparable Barry Windsor Smith.

This issue takes us to the end of the first half of Unity. It neatly questions all the previous issues raised. After the prologue, and the nine numbered chapters, I'm now halfway through my Unity read. And I haven't tired of it one bit!

Dragon Dave