Comic Review: Prodigy #1

Prodigy #1

Image Comics

Writer: Mark Millar

Pencils and Inks: Rafael Albuquerque

Colors: Marcelo Maiolo

Prodigy is the latest Millarworld book, and the second book to come from Mark Millar’s Netflix deal. Drawn by his creative partner on Huck, Rafael Albuquerque, Prodigy is a surprising read. Not necessarily a good or bad read, but unexpected on multiple levels.

In Prodigy, we follow Edison Crane through different points in his life, leading up to his adult life where much of the story will presumably take place. Throughout these different points, we see Edison perform tasks that are equal parts astounding and ridiculous. That’s really what the book is about. It’s just hopping from one wacky feat to the next, each ramping up in its absurdity. There isn’t even a real plot, as every event is entirely disconnected from the previous. We see a hint of a real plot in just the last few pages, but I’m not even entirely sure that it won’t be resolved in the next issue before we move to something else.

On my first read through I was very sour on the book’s “plot” and protagonist. I thought it was bland because I didn’t really ‘get’ it. Upon reading it again I think I may have grasped what the book is going for: satire. Edison is your typical Sherlock Holmes-esque character, who makes unfounded leaps in logic, which always ends up being correct. The difference between Holmes and Edison is that with Edison we never get to hear his thought process to understand how he solved the problem. We take his word for it because he’s impossibly smart. Crane is just a parody of that archetype, which is entertaining for the length of the issue, but it’s important to keep in mind that this is not a one-shot. This book is at least six issues, and Edison must carry each one. If he continues being nothing more than a parody, then the rest of this series will likely be rough. There’s nothing to grasp onto, as he has no discernible personality or any meaningful relationships. The closest we get is some forced flashbacks of his parents and a brief representation of his relationship with them. If Millar doesn’t make it a priority to flesh this character out beyond the archetype, then there will be nothing to keep people interested beyond this issue.

The art by Albuquerque is the real selling point for the book. Every page is a marvel. From the over the top action to the expressive conversations, Albuquerque goes above and beyond. What’s especially impressive is that this issue takes place in the real world, meaning no costumes or masks to differentiate between characters, yet Albuquerque is able to make every character distinguishable from one another. Edison looks like Edison, who you’ll never confuse for anyone else, and the same goes for every other character in the book. That said, almost every character was so pointless that I’m not even sure if we’ll see them again, so the point is possibly moot.

Prodigy is a strange book. It’s enjoyable to lose yourself in its absurdity for 20 pages, but it doesn’t appear to have any staying power at all. What am I meant to grab onto to propel me through the rest of the issues? It isn’t Edison’s character, it isn’t any of the side characters, and it certainly isn’t the ‘plot’. The art by Albuquerque is the best thing the book has going for it, and if you just want to gawk at some pretty pages, this is a good book to do it with. I don’t regret reading it, but I can’t say I’m particularly compelled to pick up the next issue.