By Joshua Hale Fialkov, Manuel Garcia & Marta Martinez

Spinning out of the pages of Captain Midnight comes Skyman. The government realizes they need a new public figure for the Skyman program when one of their own causes unwanted attention. Their eyes fall upon the wounded veteran Sergeant Eric Reid. He now dons a new and improved suit with restrictions…

What was good about this first issue is that the reader isn’t required to have read Captain Midnight to enjoy the story. Sure, it will probably enhance the understanding, but the book definitely stands on its own feet. An interesting element within the comic is the allusion that can be drawn between Skyman and Captain America. In Skyman, a point was made that all the original candidates to be the next Skyman were Caucasian males in peak combat condition, but they wanted someone different. Instead they went with a man who was injured, but had the qualities of loyalty, bravery and tenacity. Selecting the least likely of candidates to undergo a human enhancing program, sounds somewhat familiar to me… hmmm. Regardless, an origin story is always worth a read. A key plot point/conflict that arises is how much control the government wants over this hero and his abilities. Hubris is usually the cause for one’s downfall, but this could also apply to Eric Reid too if he becomes consumed by the powers and strength the suit provides him. There will no doubt be some great internal and external conflicts in this series!

Manuel Garcia’s detail in the body designs of the characters is top-notch. He knows how to accentuate the strength of the body, which is important considering this story revolves around soldiers and a power suit. Also, Marta Martinez’s colors and BIT’s inking makes the comic really pop and draws the reader’s eyes and attention to each and every panel. The art team really came together on this.

This is a nice re-launch for a golden age hero. By placing him in modern conflicts and making the character relevant was no easy task. This creative team managed to pull it off! I’m left wondering: What will they come up with next?

skyman-cover

 

About The Author Erik Gonzalez

I was exposed to comics early on, one of my earliest vivid memories was picking up the entire run of Dark Horse’s Aliens vs. Predator(1990). Odd and perhaps morbid choice for a kid, I know...At the same time, I was immersed in the pop culture of the time which included, but not limited to: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and of course, Batman: The Animated Series. Upon reflection, it’s fairly evident why I’m such a zealous geek. My day job is in television operations, so basically I’m exposed to media at every turn, which is where I want to be! Writing comic book reviews is another outlet to convey my respect and fanaticism for the this graphic medium. I hope what I have to say will resonate with others and also spark heart-felt discussion. Simon Pegg said it best, “Being a geek is extremely liberating.”

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