After serving in the LAFD for 25 years, Ruben Kwan is turning 50 and has no idea what to make of his life and the legacy that he’s tried to uphold but could never reach. His family life is a mess, and his job doesn’t make him happy. That is, until one day a situation occurs and he discovers that he is resistant to fire! What does Ruben make of this discovery? Who can he trust? And what will he do with his life at 50?
There are bits of commentary about what separates and connects people across generations, and given that the protagonist, Ruben Kwan, is having a midlife crisis questioning his existence as a Gen-X, a firefighter, and turning 50. Despite some of the fantastical elements that occur within this book, what really makes this book sing is the groundedness of Ruben’s real-life problems in contrast to the superhero stuff. It’s the kind of thing that is often lost in mainstream superhero books that unfortunately focus more on spectacle and less on character. Whether Gen X, Millennial, or current, anyone can relate to the difficulties of navigating life, trying to find direction in a world where this retirement is in sight. The conflict of Ruben wrestling with his father’s legacy as a firefighter amongst all else is a sound conflict that makes his story compelling as he tries to navigate what it means to be a hero. There is a nice slice-of-life element to this series that makes the stakes potentially interesting to follow through into the next issue.
Stefano Someone’s art style is sketchy, yet lively which adds to the charm due to the character acting as displayed between panels, beautiful color palettes, and dramatic compositions that lends itself to the story’s benefit. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou is a fantastic letterer and he displays it in a fashion that gives the book as much personality as the art and writing itself. From arranging the tails of a word balloon to match the tone of the writing and art of the book by thoughtfully placing dialogue where it fits in contrast to everything in a complimentary fashion. This is a breath of fresh air to read in the midst of the usual capes and tights fair and offers something a little different. If you’re looking for a comic with a cool premise, naturalistic dialogue, and stylistically more vibrant than the usual superhero fare, then add this to your pull list for New Comic Book Day.
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