I first "met" Firestorm in the late 1970s when I bought my first issue of Justice League of America. The notion of two men making up one hero was an intriguing one, and Ronnie Raymond's fish-of-out-water attitude was something of a gateway for a kid such as myself into the world of adventure and danger populated by these colorful heroes that so caught my eye. There's certainly plenty of potential in the merged hero concept, and writer Dan Jolley makes the most of it here. He eases us into the world of this new Firestorm, though, focusing on the man as opposed to the super-man.
Jason Rusch has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He's doing his best to improve his life. He's got the marks to get into college, and he's full of promise. Unfortunately, he's not flush with cash. He's been busting his butt waiting tables, but an untimely shiner benches him from that job, leaving him desperate to attain his dreams. His desperation leads him to ask for the wrong kind of help. If all of that weren't enough, his new "job" brings him face to face with terrible dangers... including the explosive kind.
ChrisCross's sleek style captures the youth of the protagonist perfectly, as well as the emotional turmoil that seems to define Jason's life. Cross's work, which has always shown a strong Kevin (Formerly Known as the Justice League) Maguire influence, boasts a realistic tone that reinforces the grounded elements of the story perfectly. Of course, there's a dynamic, energetic aspect to his style as well that keeps these everyday moments from looking mundane. I'm pleased to see Cross is still teamed with Sotomayor for colors. The colorist maintains a rather grey, unfortunate atmosphere through the earlier half of the book, and I love the sharp contrast that the title character's fiery powers make against the darker backdrop later in the book.
Jason Rusch is a wonderful update of the Ronnie Raymond concept. Ronnie represented Comics Code-approved teen angst of the 1970s, but Jason Rusch is a far more developed take on the same idea. Of course, there's no denying that Jolley's new spin on the merged hero concept is a novel and promising one. Incorporating a different "second half" every time Firestorm manifests offers an opportunity for new spins on the hero protecting his secret identity as well as a variety of personalities to explore through the super-hero genre. It's almost something of a 100 Bullets scheme for super-hero storytelling, albeit in a different fashion that what we've seen in Will Pfeifer's H-E-R-O.
Truth be told, I had it pretty easy throughout my youth and today. The struggles that Jason faces in this story are ones I never really had to face. Nevertheless, I find it remarkably easy to relate to him. His desperation and determination are understandable. He's trying to make the awkward transition into adulthood and responsibility with a strong adult presence in his life. That's an incredibly strong foundation for a main character, and without that foundation, Jolley wouldn't have been able to construct as strong a story.
