Skyman #1
The fact that Dark Horse is starting their own line of superhero comics is pretty exciting. While we have been treated to some excellent books already with Captain Midnight, X and Ghost, the time has come for another to step into the spotlight. Sporting some big name talent and a golden age premise, can Skyman fly above the rest? or is he just another neverwas who's stuck on the tarmac?
The Skyman program is a top-secret military organization that keeps them stocked with a superhero for their basic super needs. After the last Skyman blew up a building in New York, he turns his sights towards the bar. After a long night of drinking, Skyman attacks the bartender and drops some n-bombs all while being filmed from a patrons cell phone. Now, with the program exposed,
Joshua Hale Fialkov, coming in hot after a number of successful runs on I, Vampire, The Ultimates and his own The Bunker, finds a great mesh of humour and humanity yet misses the subtly needed to tackle the racist element he felt the book needed. This is of course referring to the fact that the former Skyman was apparently racist and in order to shed the negative stigma the Skyman program has received, the new Skyman needs to be a person of colour. This subplot seems to only exist to point out the fact that Skyman is indeed a person of colour, as if Fialkov would be damned if he didn’t get recognized for his efforts to create a black superhero. It’s unnecessary and frankly quite tacky. Aside from that however, Fialkov does an excellent job of making us care for the characters. His innate ability to create sympathetic and believable characters is in full force here.
Garcia’s pencils capture the free flowing superhero atmosphere perfectly. You really feel as if you are along for the ride as Skyman takes flight. Martinez's colours are what you would expect from a superhero book and I do not mean that in a negative way. The vibrant colours elevate the pages helping to put a bow on this already pretty package.
While there may be some questionable plot choices, I have faith that Fialkov and his team will not doubt overcome the hurdles they placed for themselves. All in all, Skyman is a good read and a welcome addition to Dark Horse’s superhero line.
Skyman #1
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Pencils: Manuel Garcia
Inks: Bit
Colours: Marta Martinez
Letters: Nate Piekos
Cover: Freddie Williams II & Dan Scott
Publisher: Mike Richardson for Dark Horse Comics
Purchase: http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-895/Skyman-1-Freddie-Williams-II-and-Dan-Scott-cover
The Skyman program is a top-secret military organization that keeps them stocked with a superhero for their basic super needs. After the last Skyman blew up a building in New York, he turns his sights towards the bar. After a long night of drinking, Skyman attacks the bartender and drops some n-bombs all while being filmed from a patrons cell phone. Now, with the program exposed,
Joshua Hale Fialkov, coming in hot after a number of successful runs on I, Vampire, The Ultimates and his own The Bunker, finds a great mesh of humour and humanity yet misses the subtly needed to tackle the racist element he felt the book needed. This is of course referring to the fact that the former Skyman was apparently racist and in order to shed the negative stigma the Skyman program has received, the new Skyman needs to be a person of colour. This subplot seems to only exist to point out the fact that Skyman is indeed a person of colour, as if Fialkov would be damned if he didn’t get recognized for his efforts to create a black superhero. It’s unnecessary and frankly quite tacky. Aside from that however, Fialkov does an excellent job of making us care for the characters. His innate ability to create sympathetic and believable characters is in full force here.
Garcia’s pencils capture the free flowing superhero atmosphere perfectly. You really feel as if you are along for the ride as Skyman takes flight. Martinez's colours are what you would expect from a superhero book and I do not mean that in a negative way. The vibrant colours elevate the pages helping to put a bow on this already pretty package.
While there may be some questionable plot choices, I have faith that Fialkov and his team will not doubt overcome the hurdles they placed for themselves. All in all, Skyman is a good read and a welcome addition to Dark Horse’s superhero line.
Skyman #1
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Pencils: Manuel Garcia
Inks: Bit
Colours: Marta Martinez
Letters: Nate Piekos
Cover: Freddie Williams II & Dan Scott
Publisher: Mike Richardson for Dark Horse Comics
Purchase: http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-895/Skyman-1-Freddie-Williams-II-and-Dan-Scott-cover
A Look Inside
