Launched in 1991, Darkwing Duck was a cartoon that I made sure to catch every new episode. It’s Disney meets Batman concept beat Batman: The Animated Series to the small screen by about a year and was part of a golden age of animated shows. Geared towards kids, it was just one example of shows that could be enjoyed by far more than just that audience. Lasting 91 episodes, the show and character is one that has had revivals but never quite caught on, despite how amazing it all is. Over 30 years since its debut, Darkwing Duck #1 is like returning to that time as a kid when after school cartoons was must see tv.
Written by Amanda Deibert, Darkwing Duck #1 has everything that made the original cartoon so great. It clearly both loves and spoofs classic superhero comics with a lead that’s a bit bumbling but a team that’s competent. Everyone is here for the launch, Darkwing, Launchpad, Gosalyn, and Honker. It’ll take them all to stop Megavolt whose plan is… well that doesn’t really matter.
Deibert captures the fun of the original cartoon with superheroics that don’t go as planned. But, most importantly, Deibert captures the heart of the series. While Darkwing Duck is in the title, it was always about the group of characters and how they worked together in their own ways. It was never about just the title character, it was about a group of lovable characters. The specifics of the villain and their plan was never the focus or even the draw. The series, and as this comic shows, had an amazing rogues gallery of villains to choose from. It was how the heroes were able to come together to defeat them, even if it was by accident or not quite as they originally planned.
The art by Carlo Lauro with lettering by Jeff Eckleberry feels like it’s right out of the cartoon. Everyone looks great and the static images still pick up the motion that made the cartoon great. It had solid action and a lot of physical comedy and Lauro is able to capture that so well.
Darkwing Duck #1 is such a fun and welcome return of the series. Here’s hoping it has a run that goes longer than the animated series it’s based on.
Story: Amanda Deibert Art: Carlo Lauro
Color: Carlo Lauro Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle
Source: Graphic Policy
