Even though Wednesdays are typically the day of the week we all look forward to because it's "new comics day", we thought it'd be nice to reserve one Wednesday a month to look back on those issues, series, iconic runs and graphic novels that have cemented our undying devotion to graphic storytelling. After all, these are the stories that are the reason you plan your Wednesdays around the hours of your nearest comic shop.
Welcome to Tranquility is a strange beast, in many ways. Since the last issue came out in early 2008, I had not taken the series out of my long box until this week, to prepare for the release of the new mini-series and to write this retrospective. I loved the series when it was coming out, and was always eager to attend the WildStorm and/or Gail Simone panels at any cons to get any tidbits of info on a new series. But never once did I take the issues out to re-read them, and now I know why.
Gail Simone and Neil Googe’s original 12-issue run of Welcome to Tranquility is so brilliant in its presentation and multi-tiered depth, that there was no need for me to re-read, even three years later. As soon as I finished issue #1, I realized I recalled pretty much all of my favorite moments. Of course, I spent the evening re-reading anyway. At that point, I was a lost cause.
The series is a strange one, beginning its life cycle during a point of change for WildStorm. It launched with the intention of being an ongoing series, set within the WildStorm universe. Throughout the series there are references and even appearances by Gen 13, Stormwatch, and The Authority. However, by the time issue #12 rolled around - the final issue of the original Tranquility - the WildStorm Universe was in the midst of WildStorm: Armageddon, an event that was line wide and ultimately wound up rebooting or cancelling most of the WSU books. Unfortunately, Tranquility, though included in the Armageddon event, was not given another series. At least, until this week.
Welcome to Tranquility is a story about a quaint and (usually) quiet town in which former superheroes and villains (known as maxis) go to retire, usually putting their differences aside and agreeing to live in peace. In the original 12-issue series, the murder of one of Tranquility’s most well-liked residents sets off a chain of events that stems back decades and unveils some twists and turns along the way. Thinking about that summary, the generalized plot of Tranquility isn’t that far off from Watchmen, thought its presentation and characters couldn’t be more different.
Perhaps what sticks out most about Welcome to Tranquility is that despite its murder mysteries, betrayals, and demonology, the tone is actually quite light-hearted. The community is tightly knit, and before anything else, they love, care, and protect one another, no matter the cost. As such, Simone creates wonderfully memorable characters - some a takeoff on classic heroes, others completely original - and plays with such a large cast, that it’s no wonder she’s currently nailing a team book like Secret Six issue after issue. All the clever, patented Gail Simone snark that we’ve come to love in a book like Secret Six is laced through Tranquility, adding to its charm.
An interesting aside to discussing the book’s tone, is that even though Tranquility is part of the mature-readers WildStorm imprint, there’s no cursing to be found. In fact, the entire book, at worst, is PG-13. There’s some risque content and some choice dialogue throughout, but nothing so outrageous that it couldn’t feasibly just as easily be a part of the DCU. I think this plays into both the smarts of Simone as a writer and the appeal of these characters; a lesser writer could have used a WildStorm superhero book for shock value, but instead she delivers thoughtful, appealing characters that anyone can latch onto.
One of my favorite things about Welcome to Tranquility, which I certainly hope will be present in the new mini-series, is Simone’s unabashed commentary on the comics medium, through both the main narrative and fun comics-within-the-comic asides. Again, not unlike Watchmen. Using the retired characters of the Tranquility community in Golden and Silver Age style short story comics throughout the issue, Simone sends up everything from Sgt. Rock to Scooby-Doo within these 12 issues. There’s also frequent references to comics in pop culture, like a blatant Robert Kirkman/The Walking Dead reference. She points out the follies, triumphs, quirks, and criticisms of comics through fun in-jokes and clever mockeries of some of the medium’s most well known cliches.
Though he won’t be providing interior artwork to Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave, Neil Googe’s work on the original series is stellar. His character designs are fun, his action kinetic and his figure work top notch. Though some pages suffer occasionally from confusing layouts, Googe adapts his style so well to the many different eras of comics that Simone throws him into.
Gail Simone’s superhero tale is a weird mix of a unique creator-owned universe set within the WSU, but without the overbearing consequences that usually come with the distinction of playing in someone else’s sandbox. While the WSU characters exist around the town of Tranquility, they certainly do not rule it. This too, is also the series’ biggest downfall.
Because, I assume, Tranquility was meant to be an ongoing series, and not just 12 issues, the latter half suffers from some series pacing issues. Issues #1-6 are perfectly plotted and tell the story of Mr. Articulate’s death, introduce the many cast members, and establish the tone. Issues #7-12, while they still have a great overarching narrative, start to feel more disconnected as Simone takes pages out of each issue to devote to a short story featuring various characters. It’s not uncommon to see this in an ongoing series; Vertigo and WildStorm comics do it all the time, in fact. The problem is that it feels like the series was cut short without notice, and the pacing was thrown askew accordingly. Interestingly, rarely do we see many new WildStorm ongoing series nowadays; most begin as 5 or 6 issue minis and if it proves successful, a chance for further stories down the line. I can’t help but think that had the original run of Tranquility taken the same approach, the second arc of the story may have been handled differently.
Ultimately, Gail Simone, Neil Googe, and WildStorm debuted a rich, fully realized little section of the WSU that never got the chance it deserved. While it can admittedly bear many similarities to some of Alan Moore’s works (notably Watchmen, and Tom Strong for its approach to celebrating comic book history through its fluctuating art styles), it’s a unique little slice of comic-dom that will hopefully be getting a second shot with the upcoming mini-series. If you’re a fan of superhero comics (which is everyone), Gail Simone (which is most people), or are just looking for something you may have missed (who isn’t?), Welcome to Tranquility is a quirky, worthwhile read that will strike a chord with even the most jaded comic fans.
