This week, I have decided to take a look at Geiger, published by Image Comics. Geiger is unique in that it is essentially the start of a new independent comic universe united under the Ghost Machine label. The series was created by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, two well-known names within the comic industry, who started this universe in 2021. The basic premise of this first arc follows The Unnamed, a group of fantastical characters with supernatural abilities inspired by American folklore and culture throughout various eras of history.

The story of Geiger takes place in the near future of 2030, when an Unknown War erupts, transforming America into a wasteland plagued by lawlessness and mutant animals. It’s very reminiscent of something like Fallout or Mad Max. Amid this desolation, we meet Tariq Geiger, a man who was caught in a nuclear blast that transformed his body into a living reactor. He is now known as the Glowing Man, a local myth who wanders the Las Vegas desert protecting the bunker where his family shelters, hoping to one day release them into a safer world. Johns and Frank really sell the idea of this character as a mythological hero by presenting the story as a frame narrative told by two survivors camping in the desert.

Issues 1-6 follow Geiger as he encounters two orphans on the run from a local warlord on the hunt for a powerful item in their possession. While the overall writing quality is decent and the storyline was entertaining, I found the similarities to Mad Max: Fury Road a little too close for my liking. While Geiger certainly still has unique aspects and well-defined characters, the story beats in certain issues are virtually the same, and as a huge fan of Fury Road, it hindered my enjoyment.

Nevertheless, I can see the potential for growth. The teasers for other storylines, as well as the introduction of other characters like Junkyard Joe certainly piqued my interest enough to continue on past this arc. The Ghost Machine universe is said to contain many different types of stories, with some (like Geiger) being your more typical action adventure focus while others such as Hyde Street or The Rocketfellers are focused more around horror or science fiction.

The artwork is colored and drawn by Brad Anderson. It’s nothing especially unique, but it is perfectly serviceable for the story. I did quite enjoy the way scenes and panels were constructed with a very cinematic feel. It’s clear both writers and artists understand what makes a compelling page, and they know just when to let the art take over and punctuate key moments with wide shots and spread pages. The overall character design in this book is also just plain cool.

Geiger himself looks awesome while his two-headed wolf companion, Barney, along with the various warlords such as The King of Las Vegas and his Nuclear Knights or Safari Bob, immediately ingrain themselves into your mind. Though Geiger was lacking in originality for me, I could see others enjoying it more, especially if you love the post-apocalyptic Fallout-style setting. The story is certainly told well enough and there is potential for some more interesting storylines in the future.

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Geiger

9.99

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• Great Character Design
• Good paneling
• Teases for future works within universe

Cons

• Setting lacks originality
• Art isn't super distinctive