“Yesterday’s” Comic> Lucky Comics Presents #1

“What do you mean, copy? We debuted at the same time!”

Lucky Comics Preview #1

Lucky Comics (December 25, 2017)

COVER: Dan Solano

This is the second time this week I won’t be doing a normal review, but for different reasons. Lucky Comics uses Golden Age pulp and comic heroes, or their relatives if you’re in Dan Garret’s family, since they’re in public domain, giving the characters new life and potentially a new audience. The comic story in this issue is only four pages, a sample from The Bat #1 since DC has used the Black Bat name recently in their Gotham heroes, most notably a new identity for Cassandra Cain I don’t think she’s using at the moment. Last I heard she was going by Orphan, a slap in daddy’s face really. Although, Moonstone used Black Bat for their take on the character.

There are also some one panel previews of other Lucky Comics releases from around the time and I want to take a quick look at them to see if anything seems interesting just from the teasers. First let’s look at the Bat in action.

“All Point Bulletin” part 1, but just the first four pages

WRITER: John Michael Helmer | ARTIST: Dan Solano | EDITOR: Michael Waggoner | ART DIRECTOR: Daniel Vardi

Two cops find a guy tied up with a Mayan symbol that isn’t explained. The lady officer in charge puts out an APB on The Bat, but then puts out another one after he defeats another cop and escapes without hurting her. So there’s two APBs, or does adding the rooftops count as needing a second one? The officer also shoots him in the shoulder, so I assume that will play into things. Frankly I don’t like the Bat’s design. He’s too thin with big lips. He also seems antagonistic to the cop despite insisting they’re on the same side. I just wasn’t drawn to this story.

The rest of the teasers are just covers:

• Girl Commandos #2: Featuring Beetle Girl, who hasn’t had the best showing in the previously reviewed Free Comic Book Day comics from this publisher, some woman dressed like a cross between Batgirl and the Black Panther, and in front Huntress using part of Nightwing’s first costume. Beetle Girl and Panthergirl are fighting guys in gas masks while Nighthuntress (if that’s not her name someone should use it…I don’t have a spot at the moment) runs at a guy on fire or crackling with energy or something. Given what I’ve seen of Beetle Girl I’m prepared to not be impressed if this comes my way.
• US Jones #1: Some woman in a spacesuit with the American flag on it is about to punch not-Ultron in the faceplate. Nice bit of artwork but it’s not the best showing for a first issue cover.
• Neptune: Queen Of The Sea #1: I don’t know what to make of this. It’s a black and white image when the covers thus far have been in color. She’s standing underwater wearing an outfit I’ve only seen in old Flash Gordon outfits. At least the others were in some kind of action sequence. This is more like a pin-up poster.
• Green Giant #1: Nice rough sketch, but where’s the final artwork? Also, Beetle Girl is here again.

I’m just not getting into what Lucky Comics is offering. It’s nice that they’re trying to give forgotten comic and pulp characters new life but their promotional skills need work. Doing better than me is not the goal you should be striving for because I kind of suck at promoting myself, but I’m only one guy.