Quantum And Woody #1 (2017) –
Valiant Entertainment
Written by Daniel Kibblesmith
Art & Colors by Kano
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Cover by Julian Totino Tedesco
Christmas is just days away, but there is plenty of time to stop and get your KLANG on. Why not snuggle up with a story about a family…er…the worst superhero team ever. Valiant has been getting us ready for the return of Quantum and Woody for a while, but now it’s time to find out if it’s worthy of stuffing your stocking.
This book wastes no time jumping right into the fray. We see the brothers doing what they do best (or not, depending on your perspective) and their contrasting styles. You sort of get wrapped up in that, then you remember what you saw on the cover. Things may not be quite what you’d expect from the brothers, and that becomes apparent early. Something happens with one of them, which I will not spoil here, that injects a very significant change in their relationship. Luckily we don’t have to wait until the next issue to see the aftermath, and it takes the book in a direction I wasn’t expecting. The rest of the plot is hard to get into without giving away key details, but I will say that there may be an even bigger change coming for the brothers. The best way I can put it is: What if you got an offer that you couldn’t refuse, even if it affects someone in your family?
This book was definitely a fun read, but what I wasn’t expecting, was for the book to have as much depth as it did. I’m was fully expecting a Deadpool-esque trip down a 4th wall breaking story with plenty of action and inappropriate behavior. Well…there is some of that, but also brings a tension and emotion that I think any fan of a good story can appreciate. I admit, I’m not fully up on the lore of Quantum and Woody, but it would be pretty easy for a new reader to jump in here and enjoy this book. I’d say there is plenty for the diehard fan as well, maybe even more. Kano’s art really brings it in this issue, and I love the focal points on key objects/scenes. With the excitement of a TV series, this book comes at just the right time. It also makes me want Joel McHale for the role of Woody even more than I did before. Get this book, be as surprised as I was and be ready to start tracking down back issues. I’m a fan.
RATING: PULL / BUY