Fans of old time Hollywood serial adventures, pulp fiction and the unexpected hero can sink their teeth into this collected trade paperback. The hero is a director's assistant, Joshua Jones, a young black man worried about the state of the world in late 1939. He received a gift when he handled a circular transparent stone in a sealed room in a Mayan ruin. The mysterious Element 115 gave him the power of flight. He has since had some adventures as Captain Gravity, a costume reminiscent of THE ROCKETEER, which disguises him and his skin color. The character he is portraying is also the subject of a movie he is working on, with no one knowing the real hero is in their midst.

The plot of the story revolves around the swastika, symbol of Nazi Germany. But as our hero, Joshua Jones, learns it is also seen in various cultures through history, from Africa to the . At a dinner with actress Chase Dubouis and her new boyfriend Jan Gunther he learns of Gunther's interest in the symbol and many of the varied occurrences of the symbol are displayed in his private collection. He knows that the symbol means a lot to Gunther - and so do the government operatives who have been watching him, with Chance's help.

Whether out of affection or concern, Joshua returns as Captain Gravity to watch out for Chance from high above and follows her to her rendezvous with the G-men. Now he knows the risk she is taking to learn the Nazi plans and makes a decision that will affect both their lives. The chase leads around the world from Hollywood, to Berlin and to the remains of a lost civilization. What seems like it might be a straightforward action plot, good versus evil as in THE ROCKETEER, turns out to be a much deeper story with an interesting revelation about where the powers stem from and a big secret regarding those Nazis who have the same gravity powers as our hero. It is told from the perspective of the sixties as a reporter learns the story bit by bit. It is all weaved together with a fast pace keeping you on the edge of your seat. Like those old serials there is action and fighting and surprises and of course another twist at the end of each chapter to make us wonder what is next.

This is not just about a damsel in distress as it first seemed. It is a mix of action, intrigue, supernatural, science fiction and spy adventure all rolled together. The villains are worthy ones as the story builds we see the lengths they will go to just to get what they want. At times it seems our hero can't possibly prevail but then help arrives to counter even stronger enemies.

Joshua faces images of his hopes and fears, his relation with his father, and with his mentor. He is pushed to the limits of his ability to fight the good fight. This is heroic fiction at its best.

I enjoyed this story first as a series. Like other projects from Penny Farthing the art is tight and perfectly executed. I did not expect much after the first issue, though it was enough to keep me going. You can see the attention to detail right down to the coloring and lettering on the strong base of Sal Veluto and Bob Almond's art. The art has a freshness to it that is unlike most other comics. There is a tone in the colors and a softness in the lines that fits the period of the story. The old costumes and trappings of that period are done well. The clandestine meetings are in moody shades while a revelation at the end of a chapter is a sharp contrast to the rest of the book. The characters are interesting as is the plot. Like the rest of the work from Penny Farthing Press this title is a quality entertaining product. The team has it all together with composition, shading and hues just right in every panel. This one has everything you need - mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance and action.

Writing Rating: (9/10) Artistic Rating: (9.5/10) Overall Rating: (9/10)

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