1985 #1

This is an intriguing contrast with Miller's Kick Ass.  Both books feature a protagonist in his mid teens with comic book fixations.  And I guess that's probably where the comparisons end.  Whilst Kick Ass is squeamishly realistic in terms of what happens when a kid really puts on a mask, this concentrates more on the dreams and mundane frustrations of teenage life.  Sure, at one point a load of Marvel villians suddently and bizarrely appear, but ignore that for a moment.  This book really excels in the dramatization of the relationships between Toby and his estranged father and, perhaps most peculiarly, between Toby and the guys down the comic book store.  In the latter in particular, Tommy Lee Edwards' attention to detail is so rewarding.  In the comic book shop, row after row of Marvel comics from the mid 80s line the shelves, whilst Toby converses with the store manager ( who I must confess I could not fail to read in the voice of the Simpsons' Comic Book Guy).  I loved the cool assistant who is scornful of Toby's obsession with Secret Wars and tries to convince him to pick up Cerebus or Love and Rockets.  I'm not quite sure where Miller's going to take this.  I think if it ends up in all out fantasy, it may move away from what I liked best about this issue.  But with Miller writing like this and Edwards drawing some seriously gorgeous artwork, this is highly recommended.