Comic Review: Adventureman #1

Adventureman #1

Image Comics

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artists: Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson

Adventureman is the greatest pulp superhero ever written. Unfortunately for all of his fans, the story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving fans to wonder what happens to the famed hero. It’s been nearly a century since that cliffhanger, and Claire and her superfan son still feel a connection to the story. Adventureman #1 tells their story as they fall into a new adventure that will continue the legacy of the character that they love so much.

Writer Matt Fraction’s script throws readers right into the middle of everything. There is little explanation and this cold open treats readers to a fun adventure without the chains of continuity. Readers are thrown into the middle of a pulp adventure, complete with campy dialogue and fun action. Fraction does a fantastic job of balancing the elements of pulp comics with modern storytelling, making this debut feel fresh and exciting.

Adventureman #1 features some fantastic character work, effectively establishing a strong female lead in only the first (Granted oversized) issue. Fraction plays around with a few of the tropes and spins them to make them suitable for the modern age. Despite being a noir book, it’s still a feminist title. Claire is a single mother and she is completely independent of the shackles that usually hold back female leads written by men. She is dynamic and full of layers, and it will be a joy to see how the character grows throughout these adventures.

The dialogue throughout the issue is authentic and full of witty banter. The inner monologues are revealing and avoid cliches. Getting to know the people that surround Claire through the dialogue is a joy, though there isn’t too much depth in the supporting cast just yet. There is a lot of information thrown at the reader throughout this issue and can be a bit overwhelming. Still, it’s nice that Fraction and company make the most out of every page and panel in this debut.

Clayton Cowles does a fantastic job with this issue’s lettering. Claire is a deaf lead, so Fraction and Cowles find creative ways to write the sounds that surround her. It’s all executed successfully and reminded me of the Pizza Dog issue in Hawkeye. Cowles’ lettering makes this easy to follow and readers are able to grasp Claire’s situation. The rest of the issue features fun choices when it comes to lettering, making the pulpy moments larger than life and the action full of energy.

Terry and Rachel Dodson have put some of their best work into this issue. The characters look fantastic, and the backgrounds are full of details. The Dodson’s have a style that lends itself well to grand adventures. Every panel is full of life, making Adventureman #1 just a fun book to look at. I’ve found that Terry Dodson tends to draw most of his women with the same face and body, but that isn’t the case in this issue. As mentioned before, Fraction’s script throws readers right into the action, and Dodson’s sequential art allows for the ride to be as smooth as possible.

Rachel Dodson’s colors give the pages tons of charm and personality. Throughout the issue the color palettes go through a few changes, effectively setting the tone for the each section of the comic. Both the artist and colorist have an incredible amount of chemistry here, making this one of the best-looking books in the stands.

Adventureman #1 is a stellar debut, taking the best elements of pulp stories and modernizing them. Fraction and the Dodsons have created something special, and those who have an appetite for adventure will want to pick this book up.

Click For More Comic Book Reviews