Spinning out of “Captain Midnight,” “Skyman” #1 tackles government conspiracy, racism, and the hopeful exuberance of a man learning to fly.

Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Illustrated by Manuel GarciaAfter an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Captain Midnight, a drunken Skyman accidentally kills an innocent man! Needing a new face for their initiative ASAP, the Skyman Program turns to US Air Force Sgt. Eric Reid: a wounded veteran on the ropes, looking for a new lease on life.
Ultimates writer Joshua Hale Fialkov pens an all-new superhero series!
“Skyman” #1 launches with a rather large handicap; the protagonist looks terribly generic. To compensate, writer Joshua Hale Fialkov wisely focuses on the masked man’s human identity. While the plot is occasionally ham-fisted and overbearing with its real world issues, Eric Reid provides a solid grounding with lots of heart.
While “Skyman” spins out of events from “Captain Midnight,” Fialkov has designed the issue to be perfectly reader friendly. All you need to know is racist red-necks make poor super heroes. This central conceit launches a massive cover-up, necessitating a more progressive choice for the U.S. government’s super hero face.
This is where Eric Reid comes in. An ex-marine with a haunted past, a crippling war injury, and a happy family, Reid makes for an instantly relatable and likable lead. Fialkov touches on several tropes covered recently in books like “Venom” (paraplegic gets his legs back) and “Green Lantern” (grounded soldier gets his wings back). The image of a man, minutes after flying through the air, still in costume, limping away on crutches is a powerful and sobering one. Of course, the very concept of a flying man has been derived a thousand times over, and these concepts are extremely compelling. And though we’ve seen a man take his first flight in hundreds of stories, Fialkov and Garcia still perfectly capture that initial joy.
Of course, protagonists are traditionally meant to be likable, and antagonists are meant to be unlikable. While “Skyman” doesn’t feature a “villain” as of yet, Reid’s despicable handler fits the bill nicely. Over the course of the issue, Lieutenant Sharp makes countless racist, disparaging statements, manipulates Reid at every turn, and goes as far as threatening his wife. It’s almost laughable how vile Fialkov makes Sharp, who at times borders on gross caricature. While it’s true that some folks are just unbearable (expletive deleted), it’s a rather one dimensional character trait, not conducive to compelling conflict. Hopefully Fialkov has a bit more in store for their character dynamic.
While Manuel Garcia’s pencilling is solid, the inks and colors don’t particularly do his work many favors. The heavy inks, casting heavy shadows across everyone even in broad daylight, make much of the issue a dreary affair. Combined with the colors, the characters appear as stiff or plastic. There’s an artificial “sheen” that detracts from the work. That said, Garcia and company do a fantastic job of rendering Reid in his Skyman attire. The previously mentioned scene where he first takes flight, and a later scene where he plummets from a high altitude plane are gorgeous and terrifically dynamic. For a book called “Skyman,” it’s essential that the artists capture the thrill of being in the air, and this team definitely succeeds on that count.
On a minor note, it’s not entirely clear how Skyman’s “sails” function. The appear to be nothing like sails, alternating from two long, thin sheets of white fluttering fabric, to a more traditional cape. Neither of which appear to aid in any type of flight or gliding action, as is suggested at times by the dialogue. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding on my part, but it seems like an unclear design choice.
“Skyman” #1 is a bit of a conundrum. As a character piece, dealing with relevant social issues, it does a spectacular job, although its racism themes are often far too on the nose. However, it’s place and purpose in the burgeoning “Project Black Sky” initiative remains unclear, and the issue ends with no indication of where the book will head next. Even the book’s best dialogue and characterization aren’t quite enough to demand a second issue purchase. “Skyman” #1 is a far stronger start than one might guess from the cover, but not quite the success it needs to be.
Final Verdict: – 7.0 – Browse. An engaging lead and grounded conflict are hindered by an unclear vision and muddled art.