Comic Review: Faith: Dreamside #1

Faith: Dreamside #1

Valiant Entertainment

Writer: Jody Houser

Artist: MJ Kim

Faith is back! Following a massive PR disaster, Faith has been framed for murder and forced out of being a superhero. Now she is only Summer Smith and is unable to do superhero stuff.

Faith: Dreamside #1 takes place after the previous Faith series. She is now stuck at her job as a content writer, writing stories about Zephyr (Faith’s alias) as opposed to being her. Of course, Faith is a pretty heroic character, and she can’t stay in hiding for too long when someone needs saving.

Jody Houser returns as writer, and fans of the character wouldn’t have it any other way. Faith is as endearing as ever, representing the best and worst of all of us. She’s optimistic, flawed, and just wants to do good for those around her. She is also rather impulsive, emotional, and responsible to a fault. All of these traits lead to a compelling character that Houser has a fantastic grasp of.

The story itself is pretty simple so far, but off to a solid start. The issue has fine pacing throughout, with multiple beats that hit the mark. The jokes are mostly references, but not used in a way that comes off as obnoxious or annoying. Houser ensures that Faith and her nerdy references feel authentic throughout. The final page of the issue feels like it should be a cool revelation, but has been spoiled by both the solicitation and the cover. Otherwise, there isn’t too much to complain about.

MJ Kim returns from the Faith Wonderland Special to draw a great looking issue. Kim has some of the most striking art that the series has seen so far, with a cartoony style that is as expressive as one could ask for. Faith is easier to resonate here due to Kim’s use of facial expressions. The style matches Faith’s warm demeanor. Faith has never had a style that suits her more. Some expressions on other characters seem a bit off, but overall this issue looks wonderful.

Faith: Dreamside is a great start to Faith’s next chapter. Faith is a wonderful character who deserves more attention. This debut issue is great for both fans and new readers.