The Terrifics Annual #1 is Full of Backstory

Writer: Gene Luen Yang, Mark Russell, James Asmus / Artist:Joe Bennett, Evan “Doc” Shaner, José Luís / DC Comics Night of the Plastic Men! Annuals are always a fun collection of random odds and ends that let us appreciate the characters we have come to know and love over the course of the year in stories that highlight some of their best attributes. The Terrifics Annual ups the ante by bringing in a wide range of creative talent to the table and letting them expand on character dynamics and some illuminating backstories. The first story, Masquerade authored by Yang and penciled by Bennet, shows the Terrifics in a typical Halloween-esque company function as dastardly corporations run a malicious experiment upstairs. Yang is one of my favorite writers, as exemplified by the opening panel of a scientist correct Mr. Stagg’s mispronunciation of his last name. Furthermore, Yang texturizes the cast with some great lighter moments, whether it’s Mr. Terrific reciting math equations to stay calm at a party (and I mean, who among us hasn’t done that before) or Phantom Girl adorned with the Phantom Mask awkwardly flirting with a Phantom Boy. Bennett’s artwork captures the hecticness of parties, and the science experiments gone wrong. Masquerade captures the happy go lucky spirit of the opening arc of the series.

Origin of the Specious, penned by Russell with art by Shaner, takes the story in a drastically different direction by expositing on the origins of Java the Caveman. It comes fr…