Released on July 1st, 2020
Sadly, Robert Kirkman Week is becoming two weeks long. But don't blame me, blame the 4th of July. Either way, today was Tuesday, July 7th, which meant that DC comics released their new books today. Thankfully I just read digitally now, as who the fuck wants to go to the comic book store on Tuesday and Wednesday? Granted, usually DC books wouldn't sell out or anything so you could just go on Wednesday. But they do sell out sometimes. I thought that this pandemic would maybe try to strengthen comic book stores when they begin to open up but it seems like it hasn't. Supposedly comic book stores in Canada are all pissed off because the shipping costs for DC books now are super high. Diamond used to ship the books to a warehouse in Canada first to save stores from having to pay to ship the books all the way from the U.S. Eh. I still marvel that comic book stores exist or even make a profit. I also heard that Diamond was the reason that comic books stopped being sold in supermarkets, book stores, pharmacies, etc., because their only clients are comic book stores and Diamond used to be the only comic book distributor in town. Maybe things will change eventually for the better when the dust settles...as the pandemic is actually at it's worst right now, this second, in the U.S. It's gotten a lot better here in the Philly area and in New York, but now it's getting really bad in Florida and Texas and Arizona. So while we here in the Philly suburbs have comic book stores open, who the hell knows what's going on in other states. DC had a ton of new books out today, so it seems like the comic book schedule is back to normal at least. For now. We're still getting a lot of books that were supposed to come out months ago finally being released. Fire Power #1 was supposed to come out on Free Comic Book Day, which was the first Saturday in May. While it didn't come out then it still has to be considered the best Free Comic Book Day comic book to ever be released. Usually the books that are free are lame preview books or something. I do remember Savage Dragon releasing a full, free, regular issue on FCBD years ago...but Fire Power #1 beats that since it's the free first issue of a new book by the hottest comic book creator today, Robert Kirkman. I suppose it's beside the point that it's a complete and utter rip-off of Iron Fist. Which, as we noted yesterday, is a copy of some comic book character from the 30's. In this free, first issue, we find the kung-fu hero in suburbia having a barbecue with family and friends. He has apparently given up his kung-fu hero status, and his wife and kids are oblivious about his past. But a fellow, ninja warrior that trained with him has returned to ask him to return. The hero declines. Honestly, this book is a pretty poor #1 issue...but only if you didn't read the graphic novel prelude. The big idea behind the book is that we'll slowly start getting tidbits about why he gave up on his kung-fu life and why his love interest died and of course he'll return to being a superhero and his wife and kids will find out everything. Which is compelling. Even mediocre Robert Kirkman books are usually at least entertaining. They're also super easy to read, as he never uses a lot of words in his books. He also has a knack for delivering a good climax/ending to his issues to keep you interested in next month's installment. And I adore all of his book's letters pages. So Fire Power is so far a winner. It certainly helps that artist Chris Samnee is drawing it. And Matt Wilson is doing a hell of a job coloring it. While this particular issue wasn't as good as the epic graphic novel prelude, it was free. Quit bitching. **1/2
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