I’ve resisted reading The Umbrella Academy because it was created by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, a band I do not find pleasing to my ears. However, one of my favorite comic blogs, Living Between Wednesdays, and the respectable iFanboy Podcast have listed it as one of the best comics to come out in the past year. You must imagine my shock when I discovered while reading Grant Morrison’s introduction to the story that Gerard Way is a total comic book geek who can school you with the best of them.

The Umbrella Academy is a disbanded group of superheroes, who were all born on the same day at the same time by women who didn’t know they were even pregnant. What a weird way to start a life. Shortly after they were born they were collected and adopted by the eccentric Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who is really an alien disguised as a well-known well-to-do. Hargreeves trains the UA to save the world from an unknown threat, but eventually the group disbands. They are united when Hargreeves dies and reclaim their task of saving the world.

It’s a beautiful adventure.
You should read it.

Aside from being in the band My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way is a total comic book nerd, who has been drawing and writing comics since the age of five. Before his success as a musician he attended the School of Visual Art in NYC, which is where he cut his teeth as an artist and creative writer. He has stated in interviews he was influence by Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol along with ZombieWorld by Pat McEown.
Gabriel Ba has previously collaborated with his twin brother Fabio Moon. His first US release, De: TALES is available at Moore Memorial Public Library.

I would also like to acknowledge Dave Stewart did the colors for The Umbrella Academy because they are lovely and deep. Stewart is known for his color contribution to Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier, Loeb and Sale’s Catwoman: When in Rome (We have it at the library.), Joss Whedon’s Fray, and numerous other comics from Dark Horse, DC, and Marvel. It’s luscious stuff.