Kickin’ It Old School: Solar, Man of the Atom #11

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for another new edition of Kickin’ It Old School, our weekly column in which we look to the past and review books from the original Valiant universe! This week, I’ll be discussing Solar, Man of the Atom #11

Solar, Man of the Atom #11

Published in July 1992
Written by Jim Shooter
Breakdowns by Steve Ditko
Finishes by Ted Halsted
Inked by Gonzalo Mayo
Colored byMike Cavallaro
Lettered byJoe Albelo
Edited by Bob Layton

Synopsis:

Harada’s Eggbreakers have Solar trapped in a “fort” constructed by one of their team. Geoff, the Geomancer, has convinced Gilad that Solar isn’t deserving of assassination like Harada says he is. Gilad tries to convince Harada’s troop that they need to stop their mission while Solar is trying to figure out how to diffuse the situation without having to hurt anybody. Gilad finally takes a radio from one of Harada’s men and convinces Harada to stop the attack or face having Gilad as an enemy. Harada finally concedes and both groups slip away while the authorities rush in to deal with the fire they caused.

Meanwhile, Doctor Pierce arrives home from the hospital after recovering from her last encounter with Solar. Her abusive husband starts smacking her around, and she loses it, unleashing her powers and killing him. Geoff is called there by the Earth. He calls Solar, who arrives to find Pierce and her husband dead. He assumes that Pierce killed her husband then allowed her energy to disperse after realizing what she had done. Geoff corrects him, saying that the Earth told him that Pierce was killed.

Review:

This is a great issue of Solar to finish Gilad’s introduction to the universe while preparing for Unity. Pierce has been killed, but what could have killed a being with powers the equivalent of Solar’s? What happened to Pierce’s son? Everything is falling into place for all of the inhabitants of the Valiant universe to stand in resistance to the threat that is coming. One more issue, and Unity is upon us!

The only complaint I have with this issue is that the fight seems lackluster. I think it’s just the limitation of 90s artwork, but the action gets lost. With the fight essentially being a stalemate, there’s just no punctuation to what’s happening. That’s the problem with a character with the power of Solar. There’s no legitimate challenge to his power and, if he chooses to not react, there’s just nothing to get excited about.

Kickin’ It Old School: Solar: Man of the Atom #1

Originally from ValiantCentral.com