Having never read a single issue of this series I dove right in this week because of the green banner at the top that reads, “Starting Point for New Readers.” I accept your challenge Dark Horse…is it good?
Captain Midnight #12 (Dark Horse Comics)
Let’s get the comparisons out of the way, shall we? This character is very much like Captain America. He’s a hero from World War II who’s been jettisoned into the present day who also just so happened to be a captain. He was someone soldiers rooted for during the war and now in the present day he’s depressed and confused as to his role in society. Two major differences at face value are: He can fly and he’s an inventor and makes a ton of gadgets. The latter already makes him cooler than Captain America, plus he doesn’t have an American flag painted on his body.
The issue opens with Captain Midnight glossing over a nightmare of his losing some friends and being sent to a future New York that has been reduced to rubble. He then wakes up in a small dusty town and goes to the nearest diner for some breakfast. We quickly learn the man is down in the dumps, partly because he’s not so sure physically fighting crime is as good a choice as making inventions to prevent it. Writer Joshua Williamson does a good job showing this character’s depression all the while setting up a call to action for the hero. That call doesn’t occur just yet, so don’t expect full tilt action, but the flashbacks do the story enough justice for the action fans.
The issue does feel a bit circular. The character is upset and confused, we get it, but do we need almost a full issue to express this? That said, I’d be surprised if every comic reader didn’t get jazzed up for the next issue after the whopper of a cliffhanger drops.
The pencils by Manuel Garcia are strong and are aided by some exceptional inks by Bit and colors by Marta Martinez. All three together capture a slightly less detailed Bryan Hitch feel but subdued enough to handle all the dialogue. The flashbacks are incredibly vivid too, with a slightly more organic feel that makes them pop.
Is It Good?
This is a good jumping on point that is not boring in the slightest, even though it’s mostly exposition. It doesn’t necessarily jump right at you, but it tickles your curious bone enough to warrant a purchase of the next issue.
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