Posted in: Comics, Review, Valiant | Tagged: comedy, Daniel Kibblesmith, Kano, Quantum & Woody, superheroes, valiant entertainment
Quantum and Woody #4 Review: The Electric Heart of the Issue
Quantum and Woody finally arrive in Australia with Negative One and Thedge. They are taken to the latter's employer underneath the Sydney Opera House and find an old rival waiting for them. While Quantum tries to plan an escape, Woody is taken to meet his birth father. Woody and Rutherford van Chelton have a lot to catch up on, needless to say.
Quantum and Woody #4 delivers another highly entertaining installment to Daniel Kibblesmith's revival of the series. The villain is suitably ridiculous, our heroes play off the baddie well, and Negative One and Thedge have plenty of subtler laughs to deliver.
Also, the goat gets another cameo, so you don't have to worry about him disappearing anytime soon.
Woody and his father get some decent scenes together, but that reunion doesn't receive a lot of page space yet. What we do see is about what one would expect: Woody punches his dad, and then the two share a beer. Presumably, it's going to get worse yet, especially when the next issue inevitably explains what Rutherford is doing in the base of the big bad for this story.
The big bad arguably gets a little too much time to explain the obvious, even if the book tries to lampshade that issue with a joke from Woody. However, it does take time away from the promised reunion between Woody and his birth father, which is should be the pivotal moment of the book.
Kano returns to the book, and he provides the lighter and more cartoonish aesthetic that this comic deserves. There's plenty of detail, but there is an understated nature to the visuals that helps maintain the dry comedy of the series. Plus, the paneling and sequencing gets some clever play on some pages. His color work is bright and low on saturation too, which helps contribute to that dry tone the comedy plays upon.
Quantum and Woody #4 is a fun and funny installment in this promising series. Our heroes get to be short and snide with one another, the villains are entertaining, and Kano's art looks great. This one gets a recommendation. Check it out.