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Quantum and Woody #1

By Jeremy Whitley
July 16, 2013 - 23:25

So, I have to admit to a shameful secret.

It's not something I do lightly and I know not everybody is going to be happy to hear it from a guy who writes and reviews comic books, but here it is...

I've never read a book by Valiant Entertainment.

It's difficult to explain why, but I'll try anyway.  Valiant exists within a peculiar part of the comics publishing sphere.  It's not creator-owned content.  It's not personal projects which a team is bringing with them.  But...it's also not Marvel or DC.  But...it kind of is.  Valiant runs a number of (more or less) superhero books which take place in a shared universe.  All of the creators are contract players just like they are at the Big Two, they're just not writing for characters you know from your youth.  In a lot of ways they are similar in model to IDW, except that all of the books are happening in the same world.

What I know about Valiant is that it existed in that crazy time of comics when comics were selling in exceptional numbers and that the business side of the original company was not always handled fantastically.  It burned down and sank into the swamp before I was really aware of comics.  Then a little more than a year ago it was revived by some fine comic loving folks (some of whom I've had the luxury of meeting) and they scooped up some of the comics world's most underused talent and put them to work on rebuilding the brand.

Now, I have had every Valiant comic endorsed to me at some point.  I know a bit about several of the products and, as I said, I've had extended conversations with CEO Dinesh Shamdasani.  But still, I never got around to reading these books.

But when the ads for Quantum and Woody started up a few months back, I was curious.  Superhero comedy has been severely lacking in the last few years and both of the creators involved in making the book do really solid work.  So, when the book popped up in stores, I took the plunge.

And boy am I glad I did.

Quantum and Woody does everything right.  It does things right that you didn't even know other books were doing wrong.  Both of the creators involved are at the top of their games and, honestly, this book couldn't be any better if it had a goat in it...WHICH IT DOESN'T!

Sorry, I was promised a goat and there is no goat.

Anyway, a little about the story, Eric and Woody are brothers.  Eric is black and Woody is white.  They don't always get along but the street smart Woody has Eric's back.  However, that's not always a good thing and more often than not, Woody is dragging Eric into trouble that their dad (Eric's biological dad, Woody's adopted dad) just doesn't know how to deal with.

Cut to the present where Eric is a soldier, Woody is a good-for-nothing street hustler, and their dad has suddenly and mysteriously died.  When Woody shows up for the funeral, the two end up in a chaotic and disastrous fistfight where they end up in handcuffs.  When the questioning betrays that the police have suspicions about their dad's death, the brothers each go their own way about uncovering the truth.

You know what's pretty amazing.  Woody, the street-smart hustling adopted brother, is the white kid.  Eric, the by-the-book straight as an arrow guy with the physicist dad is black.  Before you think any different, yes, in comics that's pretty darn amazing.  Not only does Asmus not stumble into lazy stereotypes, he goes out of his way to fight against them with real genuine people as his characters.  Woody thinks he's doing a favor when he beats up a racist bully for Eric, but Eric's dad is disappointed in him for being lured into a fight and not showing that he's the better man.  The conversation between the two absolutely reeks of real life experience.  The basis of great comics is great characters and Asmus gives Fowler a lot to work with, which is where I move to the art...

Tom Fowler is a modern master of comic book art.  His characters are lively and distinct.  Woody absolutely swaggers across the page.  All of the movements are dynamic and kinetic.  Eric is exactly as stiff as he needs to be, as a character with no swagger at all.  While it wouldn't be nearly the masterpiece it is, I suspect you could read this book without any of the text.  Facial expressions, movement, and relationships are all there on the page.

Some modern comic book artists have a hard time with physical comedy.  The timing isn't right or the character movements don't work.  Tom Fowler should teach these artists a seminar.  This book subsists on physical comedy and movement.  Pages flow and everything moves just as it should.

In short, I'm sold.  Valiant has delivered a story that's better than I could have imagined.  Just when you think you've seen everything, Quantum and Woody shows you something brand new.  I'm certainly not the first to say it, but if this book is any indication, Valiant's is the shared universe I want to be a part of!

Also, the next issue had better have a goat.  I WAS PROMISED A GOAT!

Rating: 9.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12