Shanghai’s superhero protector is also a very successful architect. She’s also in over her head on a major threat involving giant jade monsters in the latest issue of Aero. Writer Zhou Liefen opens a new threat to the young superhero that is brought to the page with an explosive action and an ominous sense of scale by artist Keng. Liefen and Keng are granted their first issue-length chapter in the life of the architect hero who can manipulate the air. The graceful integration between art and story expands to fill a full issue quite well in a welcome departure from the two-feature format of the first six issues in the series.

Madame Huang has entered the office of Lei Ling. Huang knows of Ling’s secret identity as Aero. Things may be difficult between the two women. Still, Ling has more significant conflicts ahead as giant towers of jade that have been popping-up around Shanghai are now animating into great, monolithic monsters that pose a genuine threat to the city of 24 million. The jade giants seem reluctant to move, giving Aero a rather unique opportunity to rely on the expertise of those in the city who might be able to figure out a solution to their presence. 

Pulled away from the long and winding history of the Marvel Universe (that seems almost exclusively centered around Manhattan), Aero has a whole lot of room to move around in. Liefen takes advantage of this distance from the characters, organizations, and corporations clustered in the US to place Aero on a pedestal as the primary hero of a massive city. Her unique position of power and heroism in the second most populous city in the world. There’s an epic feel to the action as she serves as the sole super-powered authority in a city beset by impending danger from giant jade creatures, which will only defend themselves if approached. It’s a very refreshing look at super-heroism on the other side of the world. 

Keng’s sense of scope is impressive. The giant crystalline creature tower over everything, giving a stark contrast to the tiny goddess hovering in the air to defend the city. Elsewhere there’s a sense of stylish dark magic in the interaction between Ling and Huang. The visual impact of uneasy darkness is clearly present in the clean white curves of Ling’s domain. Keng lends very sharp visuals to the dramatic end of Ling’s professional life in those moments out of costume as well. 

It’s cool to get a look at traditional super-heroism done in a more classical golden-age sort of a milieu. As refreshing as it is to return to that in a more of a modern style of storytelling, it’s still very firmly rooted in a version of the superhero concept that’s pretty much-been played-out over the decades. The blend of US and Asian styles of super-heroic storytelling is going to need to be more of a focus on future issues if Aero is to remain aloft for months and the year to come. 

Grade: B+