In Review: Adventureman #1

Synopsis: In this WILDLY AFFORDABLE TRIPLE-LENGTH FIRST ISSUE, revisit how the legend of the greatest pulp hero of them all, ADVENTUREMAN, ended in a heartbreaking CLIFFHANGER with our hero facing execution at the vile hand of his ultra-nemesis BARON BIZARRE on the eve of the MACABRAPOCALYPSE…or did it?!? Eighty years after his apparent demise, single mother Claire and her Adventurefan son Tommy seem to be the only two people alive that remember the thrilling ADVENTUREMAN sagas…but from that memory burns THE SPARK OF RESURRECTION! WHERE HIS STORY ENDED…HER STORY BEGINS!

The Story

The issue starts with a recap of previous stories of Adventure Man, which sees him and his team defeated. Then things come into the present where we see Claire finishes reading the book to her Adventure fan son Tommy. It seems that these two are the only ones that remember these adventure stories, but the stories do give Claire’s life a bit of fun given that Friday meals with her family often prove a bit more difficult to navigate that the adventure stories. When a strange woman shows up at Claire’s book store. We learn that the story of Adventureman may not have ended the way it all seemed, which piques Tommy’s interest while Claire tries to remain the more sensible and grounded of the two.

The Artwork

The art by Terry and Rachel Dodson is absolutely fantastic. Especially the work at the start of the book, which recaps the Adventures of Adventure Man, which sees them all taking a potion and taking on Baron Bizarre. The visual style puts me in mind of what you can expect from any pulp comic. In fact, it put me in mind of Doc Savage and his team, which is what the whole set up reminds me of. I also loved the series of panels, which immediately followed on from Claire being given the book.

Overall

A promising start to what looks like it may be a good pulp-style story. My only criticism is that Claire’s meal with her family dragged on a little, but perhaps that was the point. Matt Fraction has something pretty cool brewing here. I’m ready for my second serving.