The Deadman #1 was published this week by DC and the first issue has all the makings of a great series. In what is no doubt an underutlised character, this series offers an oportunity for a fresh take on the deceased hero. At the helm of the series are exacatly the right people to take Deadman to weird and wonderful places.
Spoilers ahead for The Deadman #1!
The Deadman creative team
Writer W. Maxwell Prince, artist Martin Morazzo, and colourist Chris O’Halloran are the team behind this new Deadman series. They are most notable for the brilliant, medium-stretching Ice Cream Man. Ice Cream Man is an anthology series that tells dark and twisted tales, with a strange seller of sweet treats seemingly behind the misadventures.
While Ice Cream Man is published by Image, this is not the first foray into the world of DC for this team. Earlier this year, they produced the wonderful Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum. In that five part storyline, Prince, Morazzo, and O’Halloran serve up something really fun, telling a Superman story like never before.
Robertsville: find your forever home
The hope is they can replicate their magic again and the first issue confirms that yes, they can. We are introduced to Boston Brand working at the Outer Gotham Rural Hospital. At least, none of the other staff are aware he is there. Deadman is working though, making sure patients can make the journey to the spirit world safely and at the right time.
“The Deadman! Guardians of spirits, souls… and other stuff like that!” – Deadman
After a hard day’s graft in the wards, Deadman takes the hilarious option of getting the bus home. His home is Robertsville, a sleepy little village with a surprisingly large number of sprits. It also just happens to be where his former partner Lorna as decided to take up residence. Like the doctors and nurses at the hospital, she is unaware of his existence.
Something dark is coming
Deadman’s role is no doubt strange, but from what we are shown, it is an important job. It also seems to be one that Deadman enjoys. Despite all the death, you could see his existence between the hospital and Robertsville as being quite pleasant. Sadly, this does not last.
“I’m a spring chicken that’s just hatched from its egg!” – Mr. M
There is a sinister force present aroud Robertsville. A demon first attacks a spirit Deadman was in the process of guiding. We then witness a mysterious Mr. M eat a person. This man of wealth and power has demons for maids, and a talent for saying disturbing things. This terrifying figure will no doubt be the main antagonist Deadman has to face as the story progresses.
A winning formula
So far it looks like Prince, Morazzo, and O’Halloran have done it again. That quirky humour is present throughout, like Deadman presenting Lord Kushna a pack of crayons. It is so effective when combined with the underlying sinister tones, which then escalate into violence and monsters. It is a book that will make you feel on edge because you just can’t predcit what the next panel will bring.
There is also some sprinkling of formatting magic too in this new Deadman series. A section of prose, with Deadman flipping the corner of the page demonstrates how much fun this team have. There will no doubt be some further testing of what can be done with sequential art.
It is a brilliant start, immersing readers into Deadman’s world. Every moment of tonal whiplash is deliberate and calculated. Deadman is getting the Ice Cream Man treatment, which will take readers to dark and twisted places. Somehow though, we will all going willingly.
Buy The Deadman #1 (Cover E Martin Morazzo Foil Variant) – Forbidden Planet UK
Buy The Deadman #2 – Forbidden Planet UK
Buy Deadman: How Many Times Can a Guy Die? – Bookshop.org US
Buy Deadman: How Many Times Can a Guy Die? – Bookshop.org UK
Purchasing any of the items in the above link earns Key Comics Vault a small commission.
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