Review - Captain Kid #1

Captain Kid #1 - 

AfterShock Comics

 

Written by Mark Waid

                    Tom Peyer

Art by Wilfredo Torres

Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick

Letters by A Larger World

 

Getting old isn't easy.  As a man on the cusp of 40, I seem to notice new things all the time that remind me that I'm not a kid anymore.  Imagine being able to actually be young again with just a thought, and have powers to make it even better.  Enter Captain Kid, a new series from AfterShock Comics.  Time to find out if this new hero is another home run for the ambitious new publisher.

 

The story surround a man named Chris, who is celebrating his birthday.  Chris has more than his fair share of problems, not just being old, but in his job and his personal life.  What his friends don't know is he is actually Captain Kid, a young hero he can transform into at a moment's notice.  The vast majority of this issue is very true to life, where Chris is spending his birthday with friends and there may be a fair amount of old people jokes.  He then runs in to a couple of mysterious people, which change the story going forward.  Each of them plays a different role (which I won't spoil here), but we find out that the problem is much bigger than a couple of random heroic acts by Captain Kid.  The final page leaves you with an interesting question...or does it?

 

The reason I leave it as a question is, quite frankly, this book is a bit all over the place.  I'm not sure if it's because that's how the character is, or if it's just truly all over the place.  I do like that part of this book is true to life, with real world problems, but it takes WAY too long to get going.  We also get what should be some emotional moments, or reasons we should care about the main character, but not enough back story to really hammer it home.  I'm sure they'll cover it in future issues, but if you fail to really grab the reader in Issue 1, you may not get a chance to tell them that story.  AfterShock has been known in the past for having that attention grabbing first issue, and maintaining it throughout the run.  Other than the solid art by Torres, I feel like Waid fails to give readers enough to invest in the main character or enough curiosity to maintain interest.  Even in a collection of diamonds, and AfterShock has plenty, you're bound to find one that is flawed.  I'm afraid this one is it.

 

RATING:  DROP  

Review - Lady Killer 2 #1

Lady Killer 2 #1 - 

Dark Horse Comics

 

 

Written by Joelle Jones

Art by Joelle Jones

Colors by Michelle Madsen

 

America, circa 1950.  It was a simpler time, right?  Door to door sales were the norm.  Everyone had one television, if they were lucky.  The nuclear family was on display in almost every household.  Then there's a family where things aren't always what they seem.  Joelle Jones captured that beautifully in Lady Killer, and now she has brought Josie Schuller back and looking for her next hit (see what I did there.)  So let's find out what's next after the aftermath of the first volume.

 

For the benefit of those readers who did not read the first volume, I will do my best not to spoil anything that happened there in this review.  The Schuller family has found a new home, and Josie is back to doing what she does best.  Tupperware sales seem to be a bit slow, but the assassination game seems to be going just fine.  There are some brutal hits in this book, and I do mean brutal.  I'm not stranger to books like these, but even I had to turn away for a couple of panels.  Then there is her home life, where things are basically normal, other than one key family member.  The first issue comes to a close when, under the cover of an errand, Josie is off on her next hit.  Things don't go exactly as planned, and we are left with a mystery headed into Issue 2.

 

Joelle Jones balances so much in this series.  The misogynist nature and stereotypes of the 1950s are on full display, matched with a brutal assassin who is trying to fully master her craft.  Madsen deserves a lot of credit here as well, as the colors really make this look like a period piece.  Jones makes you feel like Josie wants to be a good killer, but also a good housewife.  That balance is not easily pulled off, but it is in this book.  When I say it's brutal at times, it's BRUTAL!  What I love is that, it's the story that grabs you and not the brutality.  Often books like this have less substance, so they try to distract you with brutality.  Lady Killer doesn't have to do that.  Dark Horse is in Hall H at Comic-Con International this year with the great Joss Whedon.  The attention they are starting to garner is based not just on their licensed properties, but the kind of unique original titles that make you want to come back for more.  Books like this go a long way to showing that Dark Horse isn't trying  to be a major player in the comic book industry, they're flat out racing for one off the top spots.

 

RATING:  PULL 

Review - Powerpuff Girls #1 (2016)

Powerpuff Girls #1 (2016) - 

IDW Publishing

 

Written by Haley Mancini

                    Jake Goldman

Art by Derek Charm

Letters by Andworld Productions

 

Being born in the 70s, and a child of the 80s, I'm going to put my cards on the table here.  I was never a big fan of the Powerpuff Girls.  Before you stop reading, hear me out on this one.  It's not that I wasn't a fan of the idea, it's just that I was too old to appreciate the show for what it is.  As a new dad, part of my life now is trying to find things that my son may enjoy.  So when I saw this show was coming back, and that there would now be a comic book, my parental duty called out to me.  So let's see what Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles have to offer.

 

Judging from this first issue, it looks like each issue will be episodic and stick true to the format of the animated series itself.  In this issue they find themselves once again battling Mojo Jojo, who is taking a different approach to his evil.  It wouldn't be the first time someone tried to use fame to get what they want, but how often to they have the aid of the paparazzi?  In their quest to find out what is really going on, there is a lot of humor and we see this book break the Fourth Wall slightly a few times.  Much like an episode of an animated series, this book too has a satisfying end for the reader.

 

I must say I was surprised that I enjoyed this, shocked may be more like it.  Clearly this book is written for a younger age group to fit the show, but like most shows for younger audiences do, the writers sneak in some subtle adult humor that only an adult would pick up on.  It's nothing over the top or inappropriate, but definitely something that would give you a chuckle here and there.  For parents of younger readers, this was written by the same team that works on the show, so if you child is a fan this won't miss a beat.  The bright colors of the series are also very much at the forefront of this book.  With all that in mind, I think this is a book that not only your child would enjoy reading, but you could enjoy reading with them as well.  Sugar, spice, everything nice and some quality time with the kids.  Sounds like a winner to me.

 

RATING:  PULL 

Review - Justice League Rebirth

Justice League Rebirth #1 - 

DC Comics

 

Written by Bryan Hitch

Inks by Daniel Henriques

              Scott Hanna

Colors by Alex Sinclair

Letters by Richard Starkings

                  & Comicraft

Covers by Tony S. Daniel

                  Tomeu Morey

 

There are so many things to love about what DC Comics has been doing with Rebirth.  From sending characters back to their roots, to creating different dynamics for classic characters, the storytelling has been top notch.  The differences are certainly palpable as we dive into the Rebirth of the Justice League.  Let's see how the team comes together early on.  (Some spoilers may be ahead if you have not been reading some other DC Rebirth titles.  Please be advised.)

 

One thing I liked right from the beginning is that we did not see a complete reformation of the Justice League.  Instead we see the League faced with an incredible foe that is threatening a large number of civilians.  The undercurrent of this story is Superman, and if you have been reading the main Superman run, echo some of the family dynamic struggles going on in those issues.  Superman is not yet a member of the League and, other than the foe itself, seems to be the main focus of this initial issue.  I don't want to spoil the inner plot points of the story, other than to say that something is coming and it is very clear this will demand the attention of more than just a single hero.

 

The feel of the team dynamic is good, but I did feel there were a couple of missteps.  I feel that there really should have been more of a focus on the death of "their Superman" from the team.  That was part of this issue, but I think Hitch missed the opportunity to explore the raw emotion of the loss as a focal point.  I feel like this would have made the issue more powerful and give this new Superman a different viewpoint.  I also didn't get that wow factor that I got from many of the other Rebirth titles.  Maybe I am unfairly judging Hitch, but the singular titles have been so strong on their own that I was expecting a Justice League book to elevate that even more.  The imagery in this book was excellent.  The spotlight of each League member was done very well and there were a couple of panels that really gave you that iconic feel.  I certainly enjoyed this book, I just hope it reaches the level that was set by it's predecessors.

 

RATING:  PICK UP