Comic Review: Quantum and Woody (2020) #1

Quantum and Woody #1

Valiant Entertainment

Writer: Christopher Hastings

Artist: Ryan Browne

Earth’s worst superheroes are finally back! It’s been well over a year since the finale of the previous Quantum and Woody series, but the duo is definitely back with a new creative team. Christopher Hastings and Ryan Browne are in charge of the heroes, and they have successfully started off the new series with a bang.

For those who aren’t familiar with the characters, Quantum and Woody are adoptive brothers who are brought together by the death of their father. They eventually get superpowers that come with nifty metal bracelets. If they don’t touch bracelets once every 24 hours, they will dissolve. Pretty neat, right?

The heroes are still fugitives following the events of the last series, and Christopher Hastings does a fine job at ensuring that new readers can catch up quickly. A decent amount of panels in the first few pages are dedicated to establishing the heroes’ relationship and their situation. Hastings doesn’t go into full flashback mode, but there is just enough to get the story rolling without getting stuck in the details. Longtime fans will instantly feel at home with this issue. Hastings has a clear grasp on Quantum and Woody, nailing their dynamic and all of the banter that comes with it.

If this was a one-shot this series would still be successful. It’s a complete story that does a stellar job at allowing readers to get a sense of what Quantum and Woody are all about. The story revolves around Woody getting some strange new powers and wanting to clear the brothers’ names. Their journey leads to an encounter with another family who uses their powers to cause some chaos for a bad client. The juxtaposition between the heroes and the villains in the issue leads to some great beats, and most of them are comedic. The jokes never stop in Quantum and Woody, and most of them stick the landing. Readers who want to check out something a little less serious will find plenty to love in this issue.

Most of the comedy succeeds because of the instant chemistry between Hastings and artist Ryan Browne. Browne is no stranger to outrageous comedy, with series like Curse Words and God Hates Astronauts on his agenda. He doesn’t let loose in the same way that he does in his previous series, but still perfectly nails the tone needed for this series. The action moves along smoothly, making this issue rather easy to follow throughout. Browne ensures that the book looks the part as both an action and comedy series.

Ruth Redmond accompanies Browne’s art and adds some great colors to the book. Redmond’s colors help the book to shine in all of its settings. The action looks especially great, with all of the energy powers glowing and looking fantastic.

This debut is not only one of the best Quantum and Woody issues in a long time, but it’s also one of the best stories for the characters. The entire creative team has come together and made the brothers feel and look their best. This is a great time to get to know the duo if you haven’t been introduced yet.

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