Writer Jeff Lemire is one hell of a storyteller, and most importantly, a story-setter. 

He's aided by one hell of a creative team on this tale that tantalizes emotions at a level unknown to mankind. (Sorry, we've been doing Jim Harbaugh thingsin reviews this week.) We've got Lemrie, of course, and Dean Ormston (The Sandman) and Dave Stewart (Hellboy).

With a top-billing group like that, this story, art, colors and tone do not disappoint. 

Black Hammer No. 1 from Dark Horse Comics isn't breaking the mold, but it doesn't have to when it comes to this story centered on a group of heroes "forced" retirement after saving their home world. Everyone they know believes them to be dead, besides one person. Some are stuck in different forms, some are focused on getting home, some are focused on making a home and some are focused on brooding. 

It's been 10 years since they saved their world and were sent to this farm on Earth. 

It's a beautiful slow-burn build throughout that never feels dull or falls flat. 

Hell, Lemire even did the variant cover that tickled my fancy into a frenzy:

Ormston's art fascinates me. It always has, and this book is telling me that it always will. He is so damn good at portraying emotions and giving each character its own unique feel. The combination of Abraham Slam's dialogue and the way his emotions as the rock of this group is done through crotchety expressions and general old man grumpiness. 

Golden Gail is stuck in the body of a 9-year-old, she smokes, curses, flies and "misses her tits." The grandfather-granddaughter interactions between her and Slam are some of the best highlights of this issue. 

Each character feels unique, each feels consistent, and thanks to Ormstron's careful touch, each is consistent. 

Col. Weird and Walky-Talky appear to have never tried to give their new world a chance while Golden Gail and Barbalien are champions of sulking. 

The story ends with Slam bringing everyone together with a powerful speech that leads into an intriguing ending sure to keep readers of issue one coming back. Who is the Black Hammer? What was his great sacrifice? And what's the story on the girl back on their home planet looking for these lost heroes?

Rating: 10/10 Lemrie, Ormstron and Stewart's work on Abraham Slam is worth buying, reading and adoring this series, alone. With a top-billing group like that, this story, art, colors and tone do not disappoint.