Okay I'm about a week behind reviewing this book as my local comic shop got shorted last week on this title. Regardless, I received my copy this Wednesday amidst news that the book was going back for a second printing. Which is incredibly good news for this book that I sincerely hope it finds it's audience.One of the things I'm concerned about is that people will overlook this book as a kids book when in fact it is more accurately described as all ages. For the die hard Marvel comic book fan you will find that the events and characters fit into continuity very well but it is still accessible for those of you picking up a comic for the first time.
It is also well worth noting that the cover art by Montreal's Karl Kerschl and interior pencils by Ig Guara are fantastic. Too often books like this get stuck with second string artists.
The book opens with a description of the Infinity Gems, an artifact of immense power that must be found before someone accidentally destroys the universe. Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four has tracked one of the gems to the moon where he meets with Inhumans who live in the oxygen bearing blue area of the moon. Just go with it. It is then that the Inhuman's dog, Lockjaw, finds one of the Infinity Gems and embarks on a quest to retrieve them all but first he must assemble a team of Pet Avengers!
Thankfully while assembling his team they avoid the typical super hero troupe where heroes meeting for the first time mistake each other as villains and fight. Lockjaw brings together Throg (Frog Thor), Lockheed (dragon), Redwing (falcon), Hairball (cat) and a mystery sixth member together to search for the missing gems and hilarity continues.
Easily the break out character of the first issue is Throg the Frog Thunder! I had a great time reading all of his dialog in a cross between a frog and old English accent for Anna my four year old daughter. After we finished reading the book I asked her what she thought to which she replied, That's a great comic book Daddy!So there you have it, a great read that is enjoyable by young and old alike. But you don't have to take my word for it. You can read this 12 page preview on-line then rush to your local comic shop and demand a copy of Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers.
Resources
- GeekDad interviews Chris Eliopoulos and Nate Cosby
- Video review of Lockjaw the Pet Avengers #1
- Chris Eliopoulos web comic Misery Loves Sherman
- Ig Guara's website
- Karl Kerschl's website
- Twitter accounts: @eliopoulos @karlkerschl
Picked it up this week and read it last night. Terrific first issue!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing what marvel does with its little band of adventurers.