The popular webcomic from Thom Zahler hits newsstands with a look at what superheroes might be like if they’re expecting. But what should you expect? We let you know.
Written and Illustrated by Thom Zahler
Mark and Abby, comicdom’s favorite couple is having a baby, and they’re not telling anyone yet. But will they be able to keep the secret from Darkblade, the world’s best detective? And what problems come about when you’re expecting a super baby? Plus, Mark has a secret of his own.
“Love and Capes,” which is a webcomic I wasn’t terribly familiar with until I read this book, actually feels rather familiar. It borrows certain themes and concepts from the DC universe canon: our main romantic couple are analogues of Superman and Lois Lane, the Superman is a member of a Justice League-like group, he’s best friends with pastiches of Batman and Wonder Woman…you get the idea. It’s very similar to the DC Universe.
That works to the benefit of the readers, because there’s no real need to go back and try to figure out how these characters read; they read like those characters, so it’s easy to jump in. There are even some cute and unique ways of introducing these characters, from “Darkblade,” the Batman of this world to “Doc Karma,” a Doctor Strange/Doctor Fate wannabe. The former figures out about the pregnancy immediately but never figured out the ending to LOST because it, quote, “didn’t make any sense!” and the latter works as the expecting couple’s Obstetrician.
The sitcom format is something that really works for the concept, as a “Superheroic Family Situation Comedy” isn’t exactly something you can find anywhere else. In fact, this series can easily be described as “Baby Blues neets Superman” due to its twist on both genres. The fact there hasn’t’ been a superhero sitcom like this since The Tick incarnations over a decade ago seems like there’s a massive hole that needs to be filled, and this comic does its best to fill it.
The fact it’s an adapted webcomic works both to its advantage and disadvantage, however. On one hand, the book moves at a quite zippy pace, and doesn’t really slow down. Unfortunately, the conventional comic book format rather than an anthology collected format becomes really evident by the fourth page. Each page happens to be two strips and each separate strip has four panels. The layouts are very basic in that regard. Beyond that, each strip works either on its own or as part of the larger narrative, which is saying more than a lot of web comics can.
Thom Zahler, who does the writing and the illustration together, has a very consistent style throughout. The Crusader, our Superman, is very reminiscent of the Bruce Timm/Fleischer versions of the DC icon, as well as Amazonia, the Wonder Woman in this series. There is no action in the series, but it’s abundantly clear that that’s not the point of the series at all. It’s very obviously meant to take place in between all of those adventures, when the heroes are mostly living their mundane lives either with families or even in costume together. And for what it’s trying to do, it works well. But while there isn’t much action, Zahler has great comedic timing with his visuals as well as his writing. He can also hit the emotional notes he needs to while still being able to maintain that lighthearted humor.
When it comes to “Love and Capes,” the winner here is the concept and the impeccable humor throughout the first collection here. If you want something a little different from your standard superhero fare, you’ll do yourself a favor to pick this up. It’s a lot of fun, and despite a few things that might stilt your read, it never really loses its punch.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Buy
