Fletcher Cross: The Multiverse Awaits is a request review for a Kickstarter campaign starting August 3. This anthology series takes influence from Golden Age science fiction comics. At first there is plenty of camp to go around, that is until it allows for character development. Which in turn leads to why multiverse/reinterpretations are so popular.
The Fletcher Cross Idea
At its most basic, Fletcher Cross is a simple story about a wannabe mad scientist. The titular character is brilliant, but ultimately selfish. In just the first few segments, Fletcher displays his immaturity when he puts his needs before others. Doing so puts himself and others at risk, like when he dooms a civilization by messing with an algorithm. Sometimes he was better off just leaving some worlds at the first instance like when he encounters a Nazi. Other times, his encounters lead to some maturity like when he finds sympathy to help a pirate save his husband.
Maturity Via Genre Art
With each chapter of Fletcher Cross featuring a different creative team, there can be some inconsistencies of investment. Like in some chapters, Fletcher has a hat despite not ever bringing it with him. Some of the art also doesn’t properly convey what they’re supposed to show either. Like when meeting some lizard person, it doesn’t look very threatening, it looks funny. Some of the best art comes in very creative forms; as is the case with pulp tribute “The Crystal Tomb” where the brindles and anticipatory art gives a sense of action. Others evoke the stylizations famous of genres like the misty Cosmic Horror, to the height perspectives of newspaper comics. All of which challenge Fletcher to consider his actions and sense of self.
Impressions Of and On Fletcher Cross
On a whole, this anthology is a good use of showing character development. By getting Fletcher out of his comfort zone, he becomes more mature. It’s a feeling the creative teams relate with Fletcher as well. A lot of them look like they’re having a good time with the scenarios they create. Even if some of them feature the tropes that don’t age well like the traditional femme fatale. The ones that make a better impression also give rise to the creative teams with their own ideas. But there just wasn’t enough to fit in one collection. Hence why some of the chapters feature Fletcher with a hat and without one, they’re going off in their own direction.
Have Something To Latch Onto
Fletcher Cross: The Multiverse Awaits is full of creatives wanting to have a good time in an infinite canvas. It’s hard not to enjoy the campiness in some of these segments as a character develops. Because in its own way, it’s like the creators are developing with him. Overall this anthology gets a 7/10.
