Review: ‘Quantum & Woody’ #1 Is A Triumphantly Ridiculous Return
by Tony Thornley
They’re the world’s worst superheroes. However in Quantum & Woody #1, all that means for Woody and Eric Henderson is that there’s nowhere to go but up.
The brothers kick off their new series thanks to Chris Hastings, Ryan Browne, Ruth Redmond, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
Eric and Woody aren’t just the world’s worst heroes. They’re also currently fugitives, on the run from the intelligence agencies that run the world’s superheroes. Of course, they’re not even good at that, as Woody is unable to keep anything to himself online, and then hatches an insane plot to regain their fame. It all starts with a vision of a terrorist attack, and attack they can stop…
Hastings initially made a name for himself with Doctor McNinja, a webcomic about a superhero doctor thrust into increasingly ridiculous situations, and this series is already the thematic sibling of those stories. Though the basic plot is standard superhero fare, he fills it with with an absolute wealth of perfectly done humor. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times while reading it, but even better, it isn’t just a silly book but has some interesting mysteries to explore.
Where Hastings was the perfect writer for the Hendersons to make a comeback, Browne was the perfect penciller. He has a great talent for the absurd, which pairs perfectly with the title and writer. He also has a great eye for storytelling, using different point of view angles and layouts to move the story along, even as his designs take the forefront of the pages.
Redmond and Otsmane-Elhaou take the spotlight extremely well at key moments too. Redmond’s color art pops off the page, making the world vibrant and exciting. Otsmane-Elhaou’s letters use a unique font to stand out, while also relaying the dialogue and exposition clearly, something some letterers fall short on.
Quantum and Woody are back in action, and their adventures are about to get crazier than they’ve ever been before. And that’s great for the readers.
Quantum & Woody #1 is available now from Valiant Entertainment.
