It's all one big conspiracy.
With Cryptocracy, Van Jensen and Pete Woods set out to prove that writer Jonathan Hickman doesn't have a monopoly on science fiction comics revolving around vast, intricate conspiracies and complex charts breaking down said conspiracies. This new series definitely scratches a similar itch as books like East of West, though like many first issues it makes the mistake of focusing too much on world-building and not enough on characterization.
The conceit in Cryptocracy is that the world is and has long been ruled by a network of shadow governments, with society being divided into nine different "Circles" depending on status and proximity to power. If this sounds very "been there, done that," know that Jensen and Woods inject enough flavor into this universe to make it stand out from the familiar crop of Illuminati tales. It's clear a lot of thought went into the structure and history of this universe, one that unites pretty much every popular conspiracy theory into a giant web. And yet the book never takes itself entirely seriously, as evidenced by the rooms of mind-altering aliens and the genetically engineered "bugbear" named Jason that accompanies main protagonist Grahame on his missions.
That blend of conspiracy-laden drama and irreverent humor is the book's strongest asset, and it's where Wood's art style comes in especially handy. Woods' style has evolved a bit from his more traditional superhero work, and for the better. His figures are more angular and his general approach to the page a bit more surreal and off-kilter. There are some panels where Woods zooms away from his focal characters unnecessarily, but other than that this series represents some of his strongest work in recent memory.
The problem, again, is that this first issue attempts to take on too much. There's too strong an emphasis on world-building, which creeps into the dialogue and causes characters to explain things for the benefit of the reader rather than speaking in a natural, believable way. This issue serves as yet another reminder that it's better to dole out these details sparingly and organically. The exposition-heavy approach is all the more perplexing given that the opening page and its intricate chart do a perfectly fine job of laying out the basic structure of the Nine Circles and who falls into each category. Some of the dialogue becomes pointless and redundant in light of that page.
The good news is that all of this story material is generally interesting, even if it's piled on too thick at times. Future chapters will need to focus less on world-building and more on character development if Cryptocracy is going to truly stand apart.
The Verdict
Cryptocracy is hardly the first comic to make the mistake of prioritizing world-building and exposition over providing a clean, easy gateway for readers. Even so, this issue showcases an interesting, complex new sci-i universe, one that clearly won't be guilty of taking itself too seriously. That certainly warrants sticking with the book for now.
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