All right, get your things, you’re coming with me. No, no. Go now. I don’t want to stop. Feeling better, good, then let’s go.
I want to take you on a journey, and we have to get up to 88 miles per hour before the lightning strikes the clock tower… we’re going back in time. Captain Ultimate is the kind of hero who demands a context, and we are going to get it!
Written by Benjamin Bailey and Joey Esposito
Illustrated by BoykoeshA long time ago, the world’s most renowned superhero disappeared and justice was handed over to the grim-n-gritty vigilantes that blurred the line between the righteous and the wicked. Everyone forgot what it truly meant to be a hero… until the day the Giant Robot Octopus Alien Monster attacked! When one little boy finds the courage to stand up to this alien invader, it just might be enough to inspire the return of the world’s greatest superhero… CAPTAIN ULTIMATE!
There was a time when superheroes were paragons of pride, packing powerful punches, and perpetuating pure perfection. They were John Wayne, or maybe Atticus Finch, or perhaps a bit Annie Oakley. These heroes fought the bad guys, and always won in the end. Eventually, super villains realized the threat posed by these tight-wearing, cape-donning extraordinary individuals, and made the landmark decision to start training their henchmen. These henchmen, these dastardly, newly-trained thugs, began landing punches, and the bruises began to show. These bruises glowed red with good intentions.
Merely illustrating the mortality or humanity of the heroes, these battle marks ushered in a new wave of superhero stories. These new heroes carried the weight of their own humanity, and related to audiences. They became James Dean overnight. Then the blood drawn to the surface began to turn an ugly purplish black, that could only be related to the cynicism and resentfulness that began to run rampant in the genre. These heroes began to bring their angst and personal strife to the center of the superhero discourse. Eventually these bruise will turn golden, as they begin to heal. Perhaps “Captain Ultimate” #1 is that golden moment of healing that the superhero genre needs.
“Captain Ultimate” #1 is a rollicking, joyous ode to the golden age of superheroes. Written by Benjamin Bailey and Joey Esposito, and illustrated by Boykoesh, this issue introduces us to a young boy named Milo, a lone believer in the good-old-fashioned superhero, Captain Ultimate. While Milo’s peers are admirers of the Super Revenging Society, a coalition of pensive super humans with snazzy matching uniforms, Milo remains a loyal fan of the near-forgotten, old-school good guy. When the city is in jeopardy, it becomes clear exactly what kind of hero the conflict demands. By following the events that take place through the eyes of a child, the creative team reminds us of the wonder and awe that larger-than-life superheroes were created to inspire.
“Captain Ultimate” #1 taps into a kind of innocence and hope that never feels heavy or syrupy sweet. The action in the story, rendered skillfully by Boykoesh, is fun and easy to follow. This kind of wham, bam, pow fighting helps the story keep an edge. The illustrative vibrance of “Captain Ultimate” #1, makes the work feel special and gives life to the characters. Clarity, and commitment to tone guide the visual storytelling in this bold first issue.
The characters who inhabit this world are likable and well realized. Milo is a brave, scrappy kid, who seems to have a heart-of-gold. The issue also introduces a pair of benevolent comic-shop employees who manage to get an old Captain Ultimate comic book into Milo’s hands. The kids Milo plays with seem misguided, but even their depiction seems hopeful. If only they could see the error of their ways, they might find a way to be good guys, too. One of the most inspired features of this issue is the imagining of the Super Revenging Society. These heroes portray new trends in the superhero genre in humorous ways, drawing attention to the growing gap between the old and new versions of heroes we choose to read about.
Continued belowThere is a sweetness in the writing, that never forgets to be humorous. The dialogue and narration in this issue balance nostalgia with novelty, creating a world that seems familiar and unique at the same time. While the tone could have easily become ironic, it remains sincere and earnest throughout this issue. There are genuinely funny moments in “Captain Ultimate” #1, and keeping that sense of humor intact makes the story really come alive. Never preachy, always entertaining, this book is a witty critique of the absurdity of forgetting the roots of superheroes.
“Captain Ultimate” #1 serves a powerful reminder that superheroes were created to engage the minds of children, to give young men and women something to aspire to, and to inspire them to believe in good. An achievement that is one part myth and one part bedtime story, “Captain Ultimate” #1 is a fantastic return to the delightful beginnings of the superhero genre that has captured the imagination of generations.
Final Verdict: 8.2 – Pick it up for a kid in your life, or for the kid in you.
