10 Reasons Why 'The New Frontier' Will Always Be DC's Greatest Graphic Novel
6. Every Character Is Given A Genuine Voice
It's not as if all of these aforementioned characters are voiceless apparitions either. Throughout the six-issue course of the plot's events, Cooke spotlights multiple DC heroes and nails each and every one of their respective voices flawlessly. No one feels out of place; every character is compelling, and for a tale that features a breathtaking amount of protagonists that's a pretty impressive achievement.
Though many costumed tales these days fall victim to over-saturation and an over-reliance on popular characters, The New Frontier broke away and tried its own thing. Sure, some heroes (Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, The Flash) receive more panel-time than others, but the preeminent impression that is left upon the reader by the time they depart Cooke's captivating comic book isn't one of disappointment, but one of amazement.
The story concludes with multiple believable and satisfying character-arcs that only further add to the sheer genius of the book's premise. We see Batman evolve from the grim vigilante of the Kane and Finger days into the Silver-Age champion of the '60s because he "set out to scare criminals, not children," offering a coherent explanation as to why Bruce took up a ward and advanced a stark tonal shift in his once sullen demeanour. Wonder Woman comes to terms with her relationship between Themyscira and her adoptive homeland of America, Martian Manhunter becomes a vessel through which Cooke can illustrate the dangers of bearing reactionary and demonising attitudes, and Hal Jordan overcomes the fear wreaked upon him by his time in North Korea. To handle just these characters with unbelievable levels of complexity and intrigue would've been enough to secure The New Frontier as a 'must read' for fans the world over, but Cooke treats all his actors with equal quantities of depth - it's absolutely incredible.
Even those with only minor roles feel genuine, cementing the tale as a truly heterogeneous work that accounts for all its protagonists with corresponding levels of intensity.