"Gemini, standby for activation."
Dan Johnson is just a normal guy with a normal job... or so he thinks. What he doesn't know is that a secret organization called The Constellation is using him as their weapon against crime. Armed with enhanced strength and reflexes, Gemini is a superhero with an identity so secret, even he doesn't know it.
Although he keeps the streets safe, the whole operation is an ethical nightmare, as Dan's life is effectively controlled for him, and he is unknowingly thrust into mortal danger. When Gemini's old handler, a woman named Regan, decides to do something about it, things change very quickly.
Gemini is a five issue mini-series written by Jae Faerber, illustrated by Jon Sommariva, and published by Image Comics. The story takes place in the same slice of the Image universe that all of Faerber's superhero works occupy.
Gemini provides examples of:
- Action Girl:
- Gemini’s ally Luna, who kicks ass right along side him.
- Andromeda, so much so she ultimately defeats Gemini in combat.
- Affably Evil: The Man is quite jovial and kind to his employees despite the operation he's heading. Of course, he’s not evil at all.
- Animal Motif: The Constellation's foot soldiers resemble bees, wasps, or hornets. The idea is the same.
- Animal-Themed Superbeing: Lynx.
- Ambiguous Ending: Gemini is split into two people, with one ending up with Regan. However, the one acting as Gemini still has to be activated. It’s unclear what his situation outside of the costume is, or if there is simpky two Gemini's opertaing now.
- Amnesiac Hero: Effectively. Gemini has no idea who he is out of costume. Later still, his short-term memory is reset, so he is activated blind into a situation.
- Audience Surrogate: 91, Gemini’s new handler, who was rushed into the job and still needs a lot explained to her.
- Ax-Crazy: Andromeda. Quite literally.
- Back from the Dead: Technically, Gemini is clinically dead before his healing factor grows him a new head.
- Badass in Distress: Gemini has to rescue Luna from the Junkyard Gang, but once he does, she has no problem keeping up and taking them down.
- Benevolent Boss: The Man compliments his workers for forward thinking, and hands out a bonus to one who gives him Gemini’s location.
- Big Bad: The Man, head of The Constellation. Except not really.
- Boom Head Shot: The plot is kickstarted when Gemini’s head is blown off.
- Crossover: Faerber’s previous character Venture shows up in the first issue, and issue four is a full blown crossover with Dynamo5
- Cosmic Motifs: The Constellation, which names all its operatives after different, well, constellations.
- Distressed Dude: Venture, who Gemini rescues from the Junkyard Gang.
- Dumb Muscle: Villains Rumble and Deadweight.
- Expressive Mask: Gemini’s mask not only appears to be skin tight, but goes over his lips as if painted on.
- Fat Bastard: Deadweight, one of the Junkyard Gang.
- Geek Physique: 22 and 45 are fat and slim, respectively.
- Good All Along: The Constellation aren’t bad guys.
- Good Versus Good: All of Gemini’s enemies past issue one are heroes sent to subdue him over misunderstandings.
- Gravity Master: Gemini’s heroic ally Luna. She’s able to effectively fly, as well as make objects and people incredibly light or heavy.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: Gemini is perfectly bisected by Andromeda in the climax. He regrows into two people.
- Henshin Hero: Gemini, and by extension, all Constellation operatives.
- Heroes "R" Us: The Constellation, though their heroes aren't aware of it.
- Healing Factor: Gemini has an incredinly powerful one, up to and including growing regrowing half his body.
- Hero Antagonist: Gemini is pit against numerous other crime fighters who's current objective just happens to be apprehending or killing him.
- Hope Spot: Lynx delivers the deactivation message to Gemini, sending him home and setting things back to normal… and that very same night, Regan just happens to show up to deactivate him anyway.
- Identity Amnesia: Gemini only has to exist for superhero duties, so when he gets a look at his unmasked face, he doesn't recognise himself.
- Literal Split Personality: Dan and Gemini are seperate personalities.
- Male Gaze: Gemini can’t help oogling Luna, which then gets transmitted to his Mission Control’s gigantic HD screen.
- Meaningful Name: All of the Constellation operatives have Literal Split Personalities, but Gemini’s name is the only one to reflect as such.
- Mission Control: 22, 45, and 91 instruct and monitor Gemini from Constellation HQ. Unlike most examples, however, he's unaware of this, and their communications are effectively hypnotic commands.
- Ms. Fanservice: Luna is a very attractive woman, and spends most of her time posing weightlessly through the air.
- Not Herself: Andromeda is recalled from hero duty due to issues with her mental programming making her uncharacteristically aggressive.
Word of God says she’s usually much nicer. - Only Known by Their Nickname: Constellation staff are only to use their numbered code names.
- The Reveal: Dan, and all the Constellation operatives, agreed to becoming heroes willingly, and the Constellation have no villainous intentions whatsoever.
- Seen It All: 22 and 45 make bets on how long it’ll take Gemini to beat a villain, and can only laugh when said villain comes roaring towards their wall-sized screen.
- Shared Universe: With Dynamo5 and by extension, Faerber’s other Image properties.
- Small Role, Big Impact: The couple whose fighting ends up causing Gemini to regrow his head and see his unmasked face.
- Traintop Battle: Gemini battles Dynamo 5 atop a moving train.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Gemini saves a woman from her abusive husband. She shoots him.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Justified. 67 switches shifts with 91 in the first issue and never reappears afterwards. The story ends before her next shift.
- White-and-Grey Morality: The Constellation fights crime, but are forcing people to become their weapons to do so, putting them in danger, effectively spying on them, and totally uprooting their lives. Less so when we learn the operatives are actually volunteers.
- Wife-Basher Basher: Gemini defends a woman from her abusive partner. Or at least, he tries to.
- You Are Number 6: How The Constellation names its workers.
