To say that this new super-hero/humor book owes its existence to a classic TV show of yesteryear -- namely, The Greatest American Hero -- would be an understatement. The influence isn't just obvious, it's glaring. While the TV show played the real-world super-hero bit somewhat straight, Scott (PvP) Kurtz and his co-writer, Aaron Williams, offer a zanier take on the concept, even immersing the story in a Cold War that's been all but forgotten. Artist Giuseppe Ferrario boasts a cartoony style that's perfectly suited to the goofy tone of the book, and it's clear the cartoonist has studied the work of other funny-book artists such as Sergio Aragones. The book's greatest flaw is the fact that the origin story is far too drawn out; the reader knows exactly where the story's headed, and forcing the audience to wait so long until the plot reaches that inevitable destination isn't the wisest storytelling decision.
A Russian agent races through an American metropolis, clinging to the mysterious alien artifact at his side. He successfully infiltrated the heart of the territory of his country's one-time enemy, but getting out with the retrieved object of strategic significance may prove to be more of a challenge. With a gung-ho federal agent hot on his tail, the Russian is forced to hide the secret item. Unfortunately for him -- and perhaps the entire planet -- a mailroom flunkie named Justin happens upon it, and apparently, with great power comes great stupidity.
The Aragones influence in Ferrario's line art is undeniable. He doesn't ape the Groo creator's style, though, but just the sort of sense of moment and the title character's facial expressions put me in mind of the master cartoonist's work. The work is also comparable to Phil (Girl Genius) Foglio's approach. Ferrario's style is one that I would expect to see on a black-and-white book, but I'm pleased to see this comic presented in color. The super-hero elements really lend themselves to the full-color treatment, but wisely, the colors are flashy and vibrant. There's no effort to instill a greater sense of realism in Justin's world with the use of computer color effects. That would run contrary to the tone of the book.
The creators dedicate a lot of space to putting the alien "weapon" in the hands of the title character, and perhaps I was meant to enjoy the ride a bit more, but the cover tells me everything I need to know about the plot. I realize this somewhat decompressed debut issue is also about introducing characters, but the setup and players are rather simple. There isn't a complex backstory to explain here.
The 1980s nostalgia riff in this book is strong. There's not just the inspiration of The Greatest American Hero at play; one can also see it in the Cold-War caricatures of the Russian and all-American government agents. Kurtz and Williams have combined those '80s ideas with the 1990s slacker archetype, and the comedic possibilities are obvious. It's easy to relate to Justin to a certain extent. We've all been in that early-20s, don't-know-what-I'm-going-to-do mode, revelling in the freedom of adulthood but none of the responsibility. I fear that might get old in a hurry, though, but hopefully, the writers will realize the title character needs to grow up, even if it is gradually. 6/10
