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BIG DADDY DANGER #1
Recommended (8/10)
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DC Comics
Writer/Pencils: Adam Pollina
Inks: Tyson McAdoo
Colors: Thomas Chu
Editor: Mike Carlin
Price: $2.95 US/$4.95 CAN |
When news of Big Daddy Danger first hit the 'Net a while back, I honestly wasn't that interested. Pollina's art rarely interested me, and the notion of yet another writer/artist hitting the scene made me roll my eyes. On top of that, I'm not really one for espionage comics, and a wrestler-turned-secret-agent just isn't my thing. At least, I didn't think it would be. Pollina surprises me with the strength and innocence of this property. I can see why this property caught the eye of Hollywood types. It's a load of fun for all ages.
Big Daddy Danger is at the top of the world of professional wrestling, and has been for 10 years. But he's much more than a popular and skilled wrestler. When evil strikes -- such as when two ex-wrestlers snatch both the Mayor and his daughter -- Big Daddy Danger is the man who's called to come to the rescue. Unfortunately, Big Daddy Danger's popularity and immense responsibilities mean that he has little time for his number-one fan: his young son, Danny Danger.
If Pollina wasn't listed in the credits as the artist on this book, I never would have known. His elongated, sleek and gritty style that we've seen in super-hero books is gone, replaced with a far more cartoony look. In essence, he's created a cartoon here without the animation. He's clearly been heavily influenced by the Warner Bros. house style, but there's also a hint of Bruce Timm's square-jawed approach as well. Pollina also captures the energy and irreverence of such cartoons as Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls. It all adds up to create a visual romp.
Fans of Danger Girl and Codename: Knockout will enjoy this book, as it boasts the same kind of over-the-top action and adventure that those James Bond spoofs offer, but it presents it with a new face. I don't know if Pollina is tapping into the Mexican wrestling action genre here -- I've not sampled it myself -- but he has crafted an action series with a lot of personality.
What gives the book its heart is the notion that the title character is a working father who has trouble balancing his dual careers and responsibilities with his role as a parent. His regret over that reality gives Big Daddy Danger his humanity, but Pollina doesn't take it too far either. Sentimentality never threatens to intrude on the inherent fun of the title.
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