Idolized #1

“Don’t Stop Deceiving”

Writer: David Schwartz

Penciler: Micah Gunnell

Colorist: David Curiel

Letterer: Josh Reed

Editor: Vince Hernandez

Publisher: Aspen MLT

THE STORY

Leslie Linnell watched her family die when she was a child. She watched the burn in front of her and while she had her ability to control energy, she wasn’t able to save them. From that moment, Leslie has been preparing for the opportunity to avenge her family’s death and the new reality show “Superhero Idol” may be her means to that.

THE GOOD

There is a lot going for this new series. Leslie is a sympathetic character that readers can easily get behind because of her “origin”. She’s a tortured soul that is looking for redemption for something she really had no control over as a child, and that just gives her that added depth readers can easily grab hold to.

David Schwartz has developed a really good backstory and drive for Leslie. Schwartz gives each of the characters that have dialogue their own unique voices that go so well with the look and feel that Micah Gunnell provides with his linework.

The pencils by Micah Gunnell are amazing. The characters are really well designed and expressive with both the faces and their body language. There are some pretty humorous designs that seem thrown in there just for fun, and that really helps make this an enjoyable comic to look at. The colors by David Curiel are strong and really add that extra depth to Gunnell’s linework and bring the characters to life. Aspen continues to have some of the strongest and most talented colorists in the industry. And Josh Reed continues to position himself as an incredibly strong letterer with how he positions his work as well as how it blends itself into the artwork and becomes part of the flow from panel to panel.

THE BAD

This issue is a strong first issue *if* the reader did not pick up Idolized #0 a few weeks back. This issue develops more of the story told in the zero issue, which does not make this a bad issue, but more of a repetitive one. Beyond the re-telling and expansion of the zero issue story, that’s really the only “bad” thing that I can call out.

THE VERDICT

This issue is a solid first issue that gives readers a little bit of what has already happened, what Leslie’s motivations are, and the possibility of what will happen as this series progresses. The art is strong, and carries on the expectations Aspen fans have for the books Aspen publishers. If you’re looking for a new series to try out - this is one that you could have a lot of fun with. Recommended!