Today’s Comic> New Crusaders #1

“Still think home schooling is a problem?”

New Crusaders #1

Archie/Red Circle Comics

The superheroes thought they finally defeated all of the world’s supervillains and settled into the town of Red Circle, retiring from superheroing and raising families. However, they learn years later that they missed one as the Brain Emperor has returned, forcing the former Shield to flee with the Crusaders’ kids.

What they got right: Archie re-obtained a number of their old superhero characters (after DC screwed up the “Red Circle” characters) and decided to put them into an all-ages superhero comic. (For the foolish, “all-ages” means kids AND adults can read and enjoy them.) With the “Big Two” all but ignoring kids, it’s nice to see a superhero comic they can read as well as those of us who don’t insist on “grim and gritty” as a requisite. We get an introduction to the characters, but not much else since this is a set-up issue. It seems they at least have some likable characters.

What they got wrong: As a set-up issue I can’t really judge beyond concept (unless you want me to praise the art, which I can), and I’ve seen this story before in Marvel Animation’s Direct-To-Video Next Avengers. However, since this is the only thing I can put into “got wrong”, you get the idea of how much I had to stretch. It all depends on where the story goes. Are the heroes actually dead, or will the New Crusaders have to rescue the originals? Could be interesting either way.

Recommendation: Ian Flynn has impressed me in his Sonic and Mega Man runs (especially Mega Man) so he’s earned a certain level of trust. I’m just happy to see a superhero team-up comic where heroes seem to like each other and I wouldn’t freak out if I saw a seven-year-old reading. Yes, even with Brain Emperor blasting the daylights out of superheroes.

Sure they get their butts handed to them in the next page, but that still looks cool

Related articles

• Red Circle Comics announces new regular New Crusaders artist Alitha Martinez (Graphic Policy)

I post that mostly because if I can get my video editor up and running someday you may see my quicky interview with her. If I ever get past the ConnectiCon and Brass City Comic Convention videos to REACH the ComiCONN videos.