Ever wonder how a world where its entire population would be folks with different powers, different personalities and different races? Immigrants to this place would consist mostly of aliens from another planet, household pets have powers and where everyone has an alter-ego? So how can one police such a city and maintain order? Well, critically acclaimed writer Alan Moore (Watchmen) and artists Gene Ha with Zander Cannon tries to answer these questions as they take us to the day-to-day lives of the police officers of Precinct 10 with the comic book titled “TOP 10” (1999). Published as a 12-issue mini-series by “America’s Best Comics” as part of Wildstorm productions (an imprint of DC Comics). This is a review of issues 1-7 of the multi-EISNER award-winning series that is collected in “Top 10 Book One”.
Robyn “Toybox” Slinger is fresh from the police academy and she is eager to do some good in the precinct of Top 10. She is partnered with a superhuman heavy hitter called “Smax” and despite his frosty personality, Robyn manages to join the investigation of a homicide in the robot ghetto. Clues lead to a drug factory headed by Gromolko, one of the original architects in the city of Neopolis. Before the police-telepath interrogator can get information, Gromolko commits suicide.
The next day, a body is discovered that seem to be the work of the LIBRA killer; a serial murderer who preys on hookers and they mobilize to find the resurfaced killer. As if that wasn’t enough the precinct has to deal with drunk 60-foot monsters and Gods who have been murdered. How can the cops deal with all this chaos? Well, they just clock in and clock out for a daily 8-hour shift.
Alan Moore has the uncanny ability to take his readers to a brand new world that may seem familiar and yet appear so different to his readers. There is a lot of detail to be had with “Top 10” and the art by Gene Ha and Zander Cannon brings those details to life as imagined by Moore. The layouts are just so full of life as the reader has to pay attention to the details in the comic panels, they tell their own story; seems like in the city of Neopolis, there is always something going on and there is a story to be told (look for the samurai sushi cook). The series carries several references to established comic book elements such as using heat vision to cook a hotdog, a store that sells “signal watches” (Jimmy Olsen anyone?), a clothing store called “the phone booth” and the billboards and graffiti are also comic book heavy in references. The world of Neopolis is so similar and yet so different to the world we see today. Moore and Ha brings a lot of colorful life to the pages of “Top 10”.
The cultures and practices of this world are brought into exposition with a lot of breathing room. Seems like these super-powered populace has the same flaws and needs as those who have no powers. They also need several goods and services that are illegal; their drugs are different and they even have super-powered hookers called “Immune Girl” (resistant to all known STD’s). Immigration is also a problem as well as pests (rodents here have powers and can only be chased by atomic cats). Moore brings a subtle commentary that when something is abused, something gives way so despite their powers, a new sexually-transmitted disease develops called S.T.O.R.M. (God, you’ll have to see this to believe it). I commend the writing and the art that both forms of artistry seemed to have been able to complement each other.
The city of Neopolis truly is a breathing entity in the pages but what really made it successful is its dialogue-heavy storyline that develops its characters. The characters in “Top 10” are very different and yet so interesting with their personalities. This is a character-driven story so expect the interactions between cops, crooks, lawyers, gods and monsters tell the story. The series plays more like a cop drama with the investigations of a crime taking center stage (action fans may be a little disappointed) and the development of the story. Moore also makes the reading experience a bit of a comical one, as there is a lot of subtle black humor dispersed throughout the story.
There’s a cop who runs around naked, there’s phantom-like one, there’s a dog who is the sergeant of the precinct, and much more. The supporting cast is made up of a lawyer-shark (literally), a drunk monster who talks too much, a 10-foot hooker, a two-faced dispatcher, gods and many others. The characters are like us, some are born-again Christians, some are devil-worshippers, others are lesbians, there are perverts and some are even bigots. The super-powered beings in the series aren’t heroes, they’re regular “Joes” with regular needs. The amazing thing is these problems are normal for even ones with powers. I was really impressed with the “zen cabdriver” and the psycho-kinetic Santa Claus; the negotiator with powers of persuasion, a shrinking pathologist and a ‘volcano cook‘. God, I can go on and on about the series’ characters, they were just so brilliantly thought-out. Heck, Moore even included references to the Norse gods.
“TOP 10” is an ambitious series that may feel a little unorthodox to the casual comic book fan but this is actually its strong points. It was ingenious for Moore and company to think of things that apply to our everyday routine and yet so different to our eyes. The characters of the series have the same wants and needs, the same (ahem) fetishes, and even the same problems. Moore makes “Top 10” a live, breathing series and assisted with the fantastic art by Gene Ha it gives its characters a lot of personality. It’s only flaw may be it may be too simple for its own good. But simplicity is brilliant when done right; and Alan Moore does get it done really well.
Highly Recommended! [4 ½+ Stars]
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