The umbrella academy is one of the most important comics of my life. After hearing that Gerald Way was a writer, I read my first volume in college, the Apocalypse Suite (I grew into my chemistry romance as a teenager). Mixed with Way’s wild and imaginative script, Gabrielba’s unique artwork, it was my gateway to indie comics, unlike the comics I read. So I say I’m excited about the umbrella academy. Plan B#1 is modest.
Plan B#1 starts by rewinding the clock on the day 43 extraordinary children are born. Fans of the umbrella academy probably know the story. Iss Reginald Hargreaves, known as Monocle, hired seven of these children under his umbrella. What they didn’t know was that Hargreaves recruited seven more children and secretly trained them. Now these children have become Sparrow Academy. And they replace the umbrella academy and call it “outdated.”
Fans of Umbrella Academy’s Netflix adaptation may know about Sparrow Academy. Because they were the main parts of seasons 3 and 4. However, the method gives these characters a unique twist and gives them the ability to confront their siblings. When rumors attempt to defeat the sparrow using her real-life arching power, one of them proves to have the ability to counter it. Another sparrow almost drives Kraken to the brink of madness with her words alone.
Dark Horse
The biggest difference between umbrellas and sparrows is in their interactions, and that’s how the script shines. For all their ups and downs, the academy of umbrellas is a family – they have each other’s backs. Meanwhile, the sparrow behaved more like military units than its siblings, and the actions he committed in his youth sent chills down my spine. I’ve read a lot of comics that “superheroes” seem to be worse than the evil they fight, but I’m really worried about Sparrows.
Bá continues to portray a superhero universe that doesn’t fit traditional modes, further highlighting the different dynamics between umbrellas and sparrows. Apart from domino masks, umbrellas are completely different. Spaceman’s Giant Gorilla Body, Kraken’s Striped Shirt and Knive, and Five’s school uniforms will make unique characters. In contrast, sparrows are sports that match red and black uniforms, except for members, which are perceptual cubes. (Writing the word “sensory cube” convinces me that I am reading Umbrella Academy.)
The best moments happen when Bá shows us how it looks when Klaus Hargreeves (aka The Seance) gets hit in the face with a seemingly harmless slime. We see that this slime has a very psychedelic effect as Bá’s artwork begins to resemble Salvador’s Dali’s painting. But what really makes it trippy is Dave Stewart’s brightly colored art. Stewart effortlessly switches the palette of Umbrella Academy: Plan B #1, whether it’s the grey sky of an umbrella or the untouched white of the Sparrows sanctuary. He also works with Nate Piekos to provide unique word balloons for certain characters, and the end result is fantastic.
In Umbrella Academy: Plan B#1, seeing the revival of the classic indie comics, Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá are determined to keep it as odd as ever. Newcomers may be confused by what’s going on on the page, but other fans are highly encouraged to check out past comics.
“Academy under the umbrella: Plan B” #1 is a revival of classics
Subsidiary Academy: Plan B #1
In Umbrella Academy: Plan B#1, seeing the revival of the classic indie comics, Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá are determined to keep it as odd as ever.
Geraldway and Gabrielva have decided to keep the comic as weird as past installments.
A clear distinction is depicted between an umbrella and a sparrow. I hope this will be explored in future issues.
A seriously eccentric panel courtesy of Dave Stewart, backed up by intensely colored art.
To understand the beginning of this issue, you will need to revisit past Umbrella Academy comics.
