Warren Ellis tried to figure out how adventure comics would have developed without sixty-odd years of super hero comics. The result is a series of one-shots that follow some of the classic themes of the old action comics. This volume collects the first four.

Science Fiction is up first with a very bizarre tale and amazing graphics (you really have to pay attention to all of the little details in the graphics).

Detective fiction takes an interesting turn with a detective who has a tendency to sleep in dumpsters. He and his new partner have a murder to solve.

The wonder of Pilot heroes follows as a flying ace retires from a team of hero pilots. This one is a little strange as well as being a pilot has little to do with the story. Also the art was unstable with characters looking young one moment and beyond middle age the next and vice versa.

The final story takes the mantle of Doc Savage, The Shadow and The Spider with a different eccentric millionaire fighting crime with the help of strange substances. I felt this was the best overall considering both story and art.

Readers will be a little disappointed to find out how long we might have to wait for any more of these stories and there is also a tendency to want to see more stories about some of these characters (I really liked the detective). Check it out.