Review: THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS Volume 3 #1

THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS, VOLUME 3 No. 1 (2018)
ARCHIE COMICS/Dark Circle Comics – @ArchieComics @DrkCircleComics

[This review was originally published on Patreon.]

STORY: Ian Flynn
ART: Kelsey Shannon
COLORS: Matt Herms
LETTERS: Jack Morelli
EDITORS: Alex Segura and Vincent Lovallo
COVER: Kelsey Shannon
VARIANT COVER: Matthew Dow Smith
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated Teen

“Heroes for Today”

The Mighty Crusaders is a superhero team from Archie Comic Publications, Inc.  The team debuted in the 1960s, apparently as an answer to DC Comics' Justice League of America and Marvel Comics' The Avengers.  Sporadically over the next 50 years, various Archie Comics and DC Comics imprints published comics titles featuring The Mighty Crusaders.

Under Archie Comics' Dark Circle Comics, there is a new title, The Mighty Crusaders (Vol. 3), that recently debuted.  It is written by Ian Flynn; drawn by Kelsey Shannon; colored by Matt Herms; and lettered by Jack Morelli.

The Mighty Crusaders, Vol. 3 #1 opens in Washington D.C. where the latest incarnation of The Crusaders is in a furious battle royale slash throw-down with the furious prehistoric terror, Dino Rex.  The current team is a mixture of veteran and new heroes sworn to be peacekeepers of the world.  They are The Shield (Victoria Adams); The Comet (Greg Reeves); Steel Sterling (Jack Sterling); Firefly (Kelly Brand); Jaguar (Ivette Velez); and Darkling.

But is this new team up to the task?  Team leader, The Shield, has her doubts.  Meanwhile, a sinister plan begins with the awakening with an ancient evil.

I cannot remember if I have ever read a comic book starring The Mighty Crusaders, and if I have, it was sooooooo long time ago.  This new Mighty Crusaders #1 is truly a teen superhero comic book.  It is not as intense or as big (in terms of scope or action) as current superhero comic books like The Avengers and Justice League are.  The character drama is the kind readers might encounter when watching an animated superhero television series like the various Justice League and Avengers animated TV series of the last two decades.  That means character drama that involves conflicts between teammates and certainly not the kind of dark interpersonal melodrama found in The Amazing Spider-Man as written by Dan Slott.

The art by Kelsey Shannon is mostly like the clear-line style, with the coloring by Matt Herms playing a big part in the composition.  It reminds me of the Disney animation-style comic book art found in IDW Publishing's recent Star Wars comic books.

That said:  I don't know if readers who gravitate towards Marvel and DC Comics' big superhero titles will care for this.  I don't think so, but I find myself a little intrigued by this.  I think there is probably an audience for The Mighty Crusaders, Vol. 3, but it might be outside the confines of the Direct Market.  I plan to take a look at future issues.  The Mighty Crusaders #1 is not great, but it looks like it could be a fun superhero comic book.

B+
7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

------------------------------------

Is DC Comics Rebooting Via Original Graphic Novels? - An I Reads You Juniors Special

From the DC Comics's The Source blog:

Monday, December 7th, 2009
By Alex Segura

That major publishing event we mentioned earlier today? Well, here it is.

Original stories featuring Batman and Superman in graphic novel form from the biggest creators out there. But these aren’t one-offs. We’re talking ongoing series of OGNs in a new continuity, on a new Earth.

Sound appealing?

Starting next year, DC Comics will unveil SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE and BATMAN: EARTH ONE, two graphic novels spotlighting the most powerful heroes of the DC Universe, with their first years and earliest moments retold in a standalone, original graphic novel format, on a new earth with an all-new continuity.

Return to Smallville and experience the journey of Earth’s greatest adopted son, as he grows from boy to Superman in SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE by J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis.

Watch from the darkest corners of Crime Alley as a young boy is struck by unbelievable tragedy that will forge the greatest crime-fighter to ever stalk the rooftops of Gotham City in BATMAN: EARTH ONE, by writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank.

What does JMS have to say? Well, here’s a snippet from his first interview on the subject: “What I’m trying to do is to dig in to the character and look at him through modern eyes. If you were to create the Superman story today, for the first time, but keep intact all that works, what would it look like?”

“It is monumental for us as comic readers to see Superman birthed for the first time,” Davis said. “It’s a privilege to realize that you’re the artist that gets to draw it, better yet having the luxury to do it in an original graphic novel. This is going to be epic!”

What about Geoff Johns? Well, we happen to have a bit from his first interview as well: “BATMAN: EARTH ONE allows Gary and I to break the restraints of any continuity and focus on two things: character and story.”

Want more? Sure you do. Why not check out the interviews AIN’T IT COOL NEWS just posted with the previously mentioned Johns and Straczynski? [END]

MY TAKE: I wonder if DC Comics is using these original graphic novels (OGNs) as a way of rebooting its universe and/or core characters for readers outside the comic book store market. Are they modernizing these characters or starting from scratch as a way to entice new readers who don't have to be familiar with the comic books sold in comic book stores through the Direct Market?

If DC markets these well, they could sell a lot of books to people who like super heroes and don't buy comics books, but are not resistant to reading a comic book. Do a lot of people like superheroes? Well, superhero movies sure seem to be doing well at the box office...

-------------------------